The Bicycle Trails Council of the East Bay (also known as the BTCEB) is a non-profit advocacy group that promotes mountain biking in the Bay Area. Earlier this week they put on a movie screening and held a raffle to raise money for their efforts. With a crowd numbering 470 showing up to view the screening of the RAAM documentary “Bicycle Dreams” (which isn’t even a mountain bike-centric film) and $2800 worth of raffle tickets sold, the event was the largest event in the history of the club to date.
The crowd for "Bicycle Dreams" at the movie showing fund raiser for the BTCEB
The BTCEB runs a number of programs aimed at growing the number of mountain bikers. These include the Bike Patrol, their Trail Maintenance Crew for local area trails, the Ride Like a Girl group, and their monthly Gala Rides, large supported group rides aimed at multiple skill levels. They also sponsor 10 local NorCal High School Racing teams. On top of that, the club is more than open to the formation of a subcommittee dedicated towards creating new opportunities for Downhill, Freeriding, and other gravity oriented mountain biking.
The East Bay still doesn’t have a legal downhill trail, much less a purpose-built mountain bike trail. The only way these things can happen is through the support of the mountain biking community, and a solid number of individuals that want it bad enough, to get involved. Just over two years ago we saw a similar committee form under the umbrella of Portland, Oregon’s Northwest Trail Alliance. (AKA the NWTA) They now have a freshly rebuilt BMX Park and a new pump track, with a lot more in progress. It is exciting stuff, and the Bay Area is long overdue.
In the meantime here are a few more shots from the event:
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- The audience at Bicycle Dreams in Oakland, CA
Live in the East Bay? Learn more about the BTCEB here.
