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Sharing Trails
Why Sharing Trails Is Important
In many parts of the country, trails are open to and shared by equestrians, OHV riders, bicycle riders, runners and hikers. Trail sharing can and does work when people respect each other and work cooperatively to keep each other safe.
Guidelines for all trail enthusiasts: Common Courtesy
- Respect all trail restrictions and use only trails
open to your mode of transportation. - Be considerate of others on the road or trail.
- When traveling on shared-use trails, continually
watch for other types of recreationists.
- Slow down when sight lines are poor.
- Keep speeds low around other recreationists.
- Keep noise and dust down.
- Keep your ears open – no ear buds for an MP3. Listening to headphones or ear buds can make it difficult to hear and communicate with other recreationists. In some areas, it is illegal to operate vehicles or bikes with both ears covered.
- Keep pets under control. Some trails require dogs to be leashed. Be familiar with local rules.
Yielding
- Yield the right of way to those passing you from
behind or traveling uphill.
- Motorized vehicles yield to mountain bikes, runners, hikers, and horses.
- Mountain bikes yield to runners, hikers and horses.
- Runners and hikers yield to horses.
Guidelines for bicyclists when encountering horses on the trail
While it is important for people to respect each other on the trail, it is important to remember that equestrians are dealing not only with other trail enthusiasts’ personalities, they also are working with horses whose temperaments are as individual as our own. Horses’ natural instincts can influence their behaviors and affect the way they react to circumstances encountered on the trail.
Pull to the side of the trail far enough for horses to pass safely as soon as you see them.
Pull to the downhill side of the trail if possible since horses tend to perceive unknown threats on the uphill side as predators.
Speak to the rider and horse in a friendly, relaxed tone. Remove your helmet if it conceals part of your face. The horse will be more likely to recognize you as a human.
When approaching horses from behind, stop, call ahead and make yourself known to the rider. Ask them if it is OK to pass and the best way to
do so.
Horsemen may pull to the side of the trail a safe distance if they hear a bicycle approaching but this does not necessarily mean it is safe for you to ride by. Stop and wait for instructions from the horseman.
Ask the horseman how he/she would like to proceed.
- The horseman will know his/her horse and how the horse reacts to other trail enthusiasts.
- The horseman may ask you to stay put and ride past you.
- The horseman may ride to the side of the trail and ask you to ride or push past them.
If you ride by a horse, do so at a slow, steady pace and avoid making any sudden movements or sounds that might startle the horse.
Be alert –
When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments. Here was a machine of precision and balance for the convenience of man. And (unlike subsequent inventions for man's convenience) the more he used it, the fitter his body became. Here, for once, was a product of man's brain that was entirely beneficial to those who used it, and of no harm or irritation to others. Progress should have stopped when man invented the bicycle.
Links: Bike Zion - Cycling Utah - Cactus Hugger Cycling Club - Color Country Cycling - Cacuus Huggar Cycling Festival - Over the Edge Sports
Zion Century Early Spring Ride - Cycling Escapes - Classic Rides - Southern Utah Brevet - Cycling Utah - St.George area mountain bike trails
