When a few interests stop a well-supported plan

The extension of a coastal bike trail has been on hold for more than a generation in my hometown and is likely to stay that way for another generation. 

What’s unique about this widely supported project ending in defeat? Absolutely nothing.

The Round-the-Bay Trail would extend a world-class recreational trail along the California coast from Monterey to Santa Cruz and has had tremendous support from locals, elected officials, environmental groups, and outdoor enthusiasts. 

Why is a resoundingly popular project stuck on the shelf?

It’s NOT a lack of funding, effort, or political will as noted in one local paper’s Letter to the Editor:

 “All that stands in the way is red tape and those few who put narrow personal interests over the benefits for all.”

Although the author of the letter wasn’t wrong, we see a different problem than the selfishness of a few.

99% of the time, when popular public initiatives are defeated, it’s almost always by a handful of opponents (and a few of their friends). 

We don’t see objections like these as “selfish”, even if they come down to stopping what’s best for the greater good because of impacts on property value, concerns about aesthetics, or even personal agendas.

The real problem is not seeing beyond these objections for a way forward…

We mentor our students to develop a new way of seeing objections to their projects and proposals. Once they realize this phenomenon isn’t an anomaly, they’re more likely to see ways to prevent it, rather than be frustrated by it.

Seeing these objections in a new light makes resolving them less “impossible”, and gives our students the insight into how to get well-supported proposals unstuck.

Until we get beyond seeing opponents with “selfish interests”, we’re unlikely to ever see this trail get built.

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