This series of photos shows the Eastern section of Big Trees Trail as it runs parallel to Skyline Boulevard. The fallen tree across the trail in this photo has led cyclists to go around it. This leads to formation of a new "volunteer" section of trail, albeit only 15' long, that shouldn't happen. This is just one of the ways that trails get out of their proper alignment and it is necessary for the park to clear this obstacle and clearly define the trail tread.

On February 10, 2000 the Director of Oakland Parks and Recreation announced the closure of Big Trees Trail in its entirety. This action was taken to "protect the park's redwood forest from potential damage due to accelerated erosion and to eliminate the possibility of bicycle/pedestrian accidents". These concerns are valid, but according to the city's Life Enrichment Agency not a single bicycle/pedestrian accident has been reported in the last five years. In addition absolutely no scientific research was done to actually assess the environmental impacts that were cited by proponents of the bicycle ban.

South of the Duke Ruffin Picnic area is a spring that sends water across Big Trees Trail, exposing redwood roots, and creating a streambed that runs down to Sequoia Bayview Trail. This was the type of photo used as evidence that bikes were causing "over 8 inches of erosion." We observed twelve inches of erosion in this watercourse; all due to channeling of water as it ran down the hill.

Park Personnel put brush across a water channel that had been misused as a trail bed. Despite the "No entry" sign hikers and cyclists continued to use this route. Finally a split rail fence was constructed and the area showed marked improvement. A long term goal might be to realigned this section of Big Trees incorporating switchback to reduce the gradient, removing this area from being a problem. To ban cyclist, however, is not the answer. A properly designed trail will serve the needs of ALL park users while protecting the natural environment.