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This Month's Magazine
Rules to Ride By
Written by: JB Brockman
Posted: Monday, 05 May 2008
Ahh spring. More daylight, warmer temperatures and tons of
mountain bike trails just calling your name—yours and the names of thousands of
other Front Range hikers, runners, cyclists and equestrians. Trail etiquette
can make or break access rights for mountain bikers, so using common sense and
manners is always wise.
To brush up on the subject, we talked to representatives from the International Mountain Bike Association (IMBA) and the Colorado Mountain Bike Association (COMBA). Here are IMBA’s rules that are considered standard code of conduct on the trails:
• Ride on open trails only. Don’t trespass on private land; get a permit if you need one. All federal and state wilderness areas are closed to cycling.
• Leave no trace. Practice low-impact cycling by considering other options when your favorite trail is wet and muddy. Stay on existing trails, don’t create new ones, don’t cut switchbacks and pack out what you pack in.
• Control your bicycle. Pay attention and keep your speed in check.
• Always yield trail. Bikes must always yield to hikers and equestrians. Slow down, let others know you’re coming, pass safely and be prepared to stop.
• Never scare animals. Give animals extra room and time to adjust to you. Be careful when passing horses and horseback riders, and when in doubt, ask the rider.
• Plan ahead. Know your ability, your equipment and the terrain. Carry supplies for changing conditions.
“In my opinion, always yield trail is the most important rule to understand if you ride in the Denver area,” explains Tom Roan, vice president of COMBA and an IMBA state rep. “If you’re a biker, yielding to hikers and equestrians isn’t just a suggestion, it’s the law. If you don’t yield on a Jefferson County Open Space trail and a ranger sees you, you may be cited and fined.”
When you encounter another biker on the trail, courtesy is that descending cyclists should yield to climbing cyclists. But you need to be prepared to stop if you don’t think you can pass safely.
“Even in instances where nobody gets hurt, rude behavior may result in a complaint to Jefferson County,” notes Roan. “Boulder County has long banned cyclists from many of its trails and we don’t want Jefferson County to consider similar measures. Be smart and help us keep the peace.”
Leave no trace is another IMBA rule that seems simple enough but often has not-so-obvious environmental implications. Consider a trail’s condition before you ride it. For some, a mud puddle makes the ride more fun; others see it as an inconvenience and ride around it.
“The damage caused by riding muddy trails can be stunning,” says Roan. “Last spring was a wet one on Green Mountain and a large puddle formed on the trail. Apparently getting dirty wasn’t part of the thrill. By the time the trail dried in that spot, it had grown by 20 or more times its original width.”
Most cyclists won’t bag a 15-mile ride because 10 feet of the trail is muddy, so try to minimize the damage as much as possible. Riding around the mud causes more damage than if you ride through it. And if the trail is closed—whether with a sign or with intentionally placed logs and rocks—don’t ride it.
“Following IMBA’s rules of the trail isn’t that hard. If we all do it, I’m confident that our trail access would be secure for years to come,” says Roan.
In addition to following the rules of the trail, you can help ensure trails stay open to mountain bikers by:
• Donating. Support grassroots mountain bike advocacy. Consider writing a check to more than one organization. For example, COMBA (local) doesn’t necessarily see any of your (national and international) IMBA dues, but both organizations need the support. Plus, many groups are run solely by volunteers.
• Volunteering. Sign up to do trail maintenance; man an IMBA education booth at an event like 24 hours of Elephant Rock or VeloSwap; become a bike patroller; or help out at COMBA’s Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day (see below).
Start ‘Em Young
Promote responsible riding from the start at Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day. While it’s a worldwide event, you can participate locally with COMBA on Saturday, October 4—most likely at Bear Creek Lake Park in Lakewood, last year’s site. “Last year’s event was so successful that we want to make it even bigger this year,” says Terry Breheny, COMBA special events director. About 100 people—kids, parents and volunteers—participated in workshops and did a six-mile singletrack ride. This year, COMBA is partnering with REI and Trips for Kids, an organization that helps disadvantaged kids discover the joy of mountain biking. As the event gets closer, COMBA will update its website (www.comba.org) with details.
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