Re: Sharing the trails

Sullys Maze (Sully@Forsythe.Stanford.EDU)
Wed, 11 Dec 96 17:58:29 PST

REPLY TO 12/11/96 17:05 FROM ridecamp@endurance.net: Sharing the trails

The condition of the roads in Caspers Park on Sunday after the ride was
DEPLORABLE. Much of the mud had dried up by the time and (were it not
for the 3in of rain we have had in the last two days) these roads were
completely unpassable for bicycles and very unpleasant travel for people
on foot. In fact the single track trails, because of the higher traffic
all in one place, were in MUCH better condition.

My question is this: If ride management at the rider's meeting the
night before were to encourage(?) riders to stay to the left/right when
riding on roads...even if you have it all to yourself, would endurance
riders do it???

Paul says, "No." He thinks it is too hard for riders to remember such a
thing. (Is this a function of DIMR??)

My question is...and here I am not trying to be judgemental or
provocative...is this really too much to ask?

Just curious.

kat
Orange County, Calif.

--------------
I believe it is NOT too much to ask. Horses do considerable
damage to trails in wet weather. I am all in favor of trail
closures in bad areas. I guess I am lucky in that in the winter,
I do have access to miles of hard dirt roads that become decent
footing-in the summer they are pretty hard to ride on.

To those of you who ride Pt. Reyes, and are aware of Rift
Zone trail; seems to me this is one that would benefit from
closure in the winter. It gets to be an absolute bog in
areas, impassable for anyone on foot or a bike, while the riders
churn every last foot into much and mud. Instead of a trail,
you end up with a 20 ft. wide mud wallow, with all vegetation
destroyed.

Just as riders need to be considerate of other trail users
(hikers, bikers, etc), they also need to give some consideration
to the destruction they are causing. It comes down to general
selfishness.

I would think this is something ride managers could mention-
maybe with some folks it just doesn't occur to them?

Karen

To: ridecamp@endurance.net