We are all trail users.

 

We know that the overwhelming majority of trail users are courteous, polite, and follow the rules.  But we all stand to lose if we can’t remember to treat each other with respect both on and off the trail.  The growing anti-bike segment will take the one bad apple, point to it repeatedly, and demand that the land managers burn down the orchard.  It is more important than ever to prove the nay-sayers, shade-throwers, and doubters wrong.  Remember these basic rules while on the trail.

Whether you’re mountain biking, hiking, running, walking your dog, or enjoying the trails in some other way, being a responsible trail user means following the same basic etiquette rules that apply to everyone.  We can’t promise that you won’t meet someone who’s a jerk.  But the best thing you can do when you’re riding your bike is remember these rules and how you act as a mountain biker reflects on everyone who rides their bikes on trails.  So be polite, courteous, and friendly when you’re out enjoying trails.  And if you do meet someone who’s a jerk – which we all have – kill them with kindness and laugh at their ignorance later on.

Stay on the established trail.  This helps protect resources and limits the creation of social trails (We’re looking at you No Name Trail).

Look and listen for what’s around the corner or someone asking to pass you.  If you can’t see around the corner, then slow down.  Look ahead, not at your front tire.  Also, we know that headphones are great and we’ll be the first to admit that taking in a podcast and riding is a fantastic way to spend a couple hours.  But it is extremely important that you can hear and can be heard, so if you are riding, use only one ear bud and keep the volume reasonable!

Bikers should yield to hikers, horses, and trail runners except on specifically marked trails.   And such has been the case since time immortal.  Be nice and pull onto the uphill side to let other uphill or other users pass, and let the other users know how many are in your group.  And if a hiker yields the trail to you, be sure to thank them!

Downhill riders yield to uphill riders.  Why?  Because it’s a pain in the butt to get started again going uphill.

Leave our trails better than we find them.  Pick up trash.  Control your braking.  Ride through puddles.  If you see a problem with an area, let someone know so it can be fixed.

When travelling the same direction as other trail users, communicate when passing.  Slow down and say hello.  This can be intimidating or even frustrating when you’re coming up behind someone with headphones in and cannot hear anything, but remember to be polite and courteous and it’ll pay itself back three-fold.

Have pets under voice control.  Follow on-leash rules at trail heads and parking lots.  Pack out your pet’s waste.  Sorry kids, the dog poop fairy is not real.  If your pooch is with you, take your poop bags and clean up after your pet.  Don’t leave your dog’s waste AND a plastic bag on the side of the trail.  Also, no, based on the number of bags I’ve found and packed out from the South Hills in the last year, I don’t believe that you’ll be back later to pick it up.

Ride in control and know your limits.  Just like with everything else in life, you have to make sure you’re taking care of yourself.  Doing that means you’re helping to make sure that others are safe.