Can Equestrians and Cyclists Find Common Ground?

An incident in which two women horseback riding in the Indian Tree Open Space were injured after their horses were spooked by mountain bikers on the trail, has sparked a discussion about what Marin County can do to increase trail access for both equestrians and mountain bikers.

Lisa Zeppegno, 44, and an Oakland resident, suffered spinal injuries in the June 20 accident and was airlifted. Her friend, Nicole Devito, was also thrown off and suffered neck pain, although she did not need hospitalization.

The incident has prompted the Marin Horse Council to take an aggressive stance against “illegal cyclists” who they say are putting equestrians at risk.

“Trails that are narrow, steep or that offer limited visibility cannot be used safely by both mountain bikers and hikers/equestrians,” wrote the council in a statement posted on its Facebook page. “We as a community need to join together to no longer tolerate illegal trail use...You wouldn’t let your teenager drive a car through a an elementary school play ground; Don’t let them ride illegally on our trails." 

The group is urging concerned residents to attend a July 23 Board of Supervisors meeting where road and trail management will be discussed.

But cycling enthusiasts say there just aren’t enough trails for mountain biking in the area and that cyclists should not be blamed. Following the incident, the Marin County Bicycle Coalition sent a letter apologizing for the behavior of the young bikers and said it was not "representative of the Marin mountain bike community."

The coalition also said it was collaborating with land managers to produce better trail signage that "focuses on education and sensitive habitat identification, rather than unfriendly prohibition" and are planning a workshop to educate young riders about appropriate behaviors for horse/bike interactions.

Since the accident, Zeppegno has not been able to work and is now facing steep medical bills. To help her offset the expenses, the Marin Horse Council and the Novato Horsemen are holding a Dinner Dance Saturday, July 27. For more information about tickets, call415-259-5783 or email contact@marinhorsecouncil.org.

Are there enough mountain biking trails in and around Novato? And should the young cyclists who were riding illegally on the Vineyard Road trail be held responsible? Sound off in the comments below.