By Erica Meltzer, Boulder Daily Camera

Citing environmental concerns and the potential for conflicts with other users, Boulder's Open Space and Mountain Parks director decided not to recommend allowing mountain bikes on existing open space trails.

The long-awaited West Trail Study Area draft plan, posted on the city's Web site at 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, proposes no new mountain biking opportunities in the city's most heavily used open space areas. However, the city will continue to try to buy private land along Chapman Drive to connect Boulder Canyon with Flagstaff Road and to work to connect Eldorado Canyon and Walker Ranch.

The recommendation means that mountain bikers will not get a trail connecting the northern and southern portions of the western open space.

"The potential for conflict was enormous," Open Space and Mountain Parks Director Michael Patton said. "This is our most heavily, intensively used open space area, with countless people having backyard access. Introducing another highly popular activity did not seem like a good idea."

Patton said the city is in "active negotiations" to buy private land along Chapman Drive and a deal could be announced "within weeks."