Rocky Mountain National Park staff is looking into allowing bicycle use on a two-mile section of the East Shore Trail on the west side of the national park.
The East Shore Trail runs roughly parallel to the east shore of Shadow Mountain Lake.
RMNP spokeswoman Kyle Patterson said the National Park Service has prepared an environment assessment to analyze the effects of allowing bicycle use on the northern two miles of the trail within the park, looking at two alternatives — continuing as now with pedestrian use only or making minor improvements to the two-mile section to accommodate bikes and other current uses.
The park staff will host two public meetings to present the project and answer questions.
The first will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 11, at the Grand Lake Fire Station, 201 West Portal Road in Grand Lake, and the second will be at 7:15 p.m. Monday, Feb. 24, at the Alfalfa’s Market Community Room, 1651 Broadway in Boulder.
Participants can submit written comments at the meetings.
Patterson said the environmental assessment is available for public review and comment, and comments must be received in writing by close of business on March 3.
The preferred method for reviewing the document and submitting comments is to use the NPS Planning, Environment and Public Comment (PEPC) website at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/romo, where viewers will find a list of current planning projects, including the “East Shore Trail Environmental Assessment.”
Comments can be submitted on the website. Those unable to access the Internet can request printed copies or a compact disk of the document by calling the park’s information office at 970-586-1206.
Comments can also be submitted at the two public meetings; by mail to Superintendent, Rocky Mountain National Park, 1000 U.S. Highway 36, Estes Park, Colorado 80517; by fax to 970-586-1397; or hand-delivered to the Rocky Mountain National Park Headquarters, 1000 U.S. 36, Estes Park, or to the Kawuneeche Visitor Center, Rocky Mountain National Park, 16018 U.S. 34, Grand Lake.
Patterson added that before including an address, phone number, email address or other personal identifying information in a comment, people should be aware that the entire comment, including your personal identifying information, may be made publicly available at any time.
