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Who is
CORBA?
The
Concerned Off-Road Bicycle Association (CORBA) is a 501(C) 3
non-profit educational organization. Founded in 1987 to represent the
mountain bicycling community in the Santa Monica Mountains National
Recreation Area, CORBA has been widely recognized as a leader in
issues related to multiple-use trails and management, trail design,
construction and maintenance, and educational programs.
CORBA developed the first volunteer mountain bike patrol recognized
by the National Park Service, the
Mountain Bike Unit (MBU). The MBU has
continued as very successful program and still provides hundreds of
volunteer hours. Their volunteer trail program has been in effect from the
first days of CORBA, and their approach to multiple-use trail
elements has been nationally recognized.
CORBA’s Youth Adventures program has
brought hundreds of disadvantaged and at-risk youth to experience open
space through mountain bicycling, many of whom have never ventured beyond
their own block.
CORBA offers Skills Classes so that
novices as well as experienced riders can improve their riding ability and
enhance their trail etiquette.
Several of CORBA’s founders, still active today, are also founding
members of the International Mountain
Biking Association, which represents nearly 3 million mountain
bicyclists in more than 20 countries.
The CORBA members of Palos Verdes and the
City of RPV are fortunate to have access to this well-established
resource, and CORBA is very pleased to assist in any issues that
may arise.
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Bikes Banned from Trails - Not Exactly
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The RPV City Council
voted on the the trail access portion of the Forrestal Nature
Preserve Management Plan on Dec. 4.
Bikes are temporarily restricted from trails A-14, A-15,
A-16, and L-1 because of safety and stability (map).
As soon as a revised map is available, we'll post it on this website
so you can understand exactly what trails are involved.
Here is the city statement.
At first, we were disappointed the council did not adopt the
Forrestal Steering Committee Management Plan as proposed, but we
realize the council’s approval of any mountain bike use in the
preserve is a success for our efforts. Remember that bicycle use was
not even considered before we became involved.
The city council’s vote was premised on putting a high priority on
improvements to the upper trails. CORBA-PV will focus our efforts on
getting these improvements started as soon as possible. We hope you
will volunteer for the trail work involved.
A big thank you to everyone who attended meetings, volunteered for
trail work, and demonstrated responsible riding on the trails. You
made this possible. You’re continued support will make a difference.
No date has been set for actual implementation of the plan. We will
keep you updated.
We did make a difference.
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The concept of
multi-use trails was accepted.
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We have confirmed that
our volunteerism is essential for the management plan to work.
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Trail safety and
stability were the reasons for closure, not habitat destruction or
user conflict.
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We know the closures
can be reversed by physical means.
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The city council has
agreed to place a high priority on making trails suitable for
multi-use.
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The city will allow
CORBA guided rides while work is done to open trails to the
general biking public
We need your support.
This year we learned that volunteerism is our strongest asset. We
are deeply grateful to all of you who made the effort to come out
and work. You are our heroes. If we maintain this level of
commitment in 2005 we can achieve all of our goals.
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