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Trail Safety

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A Piece of our Mission: Trail Safety

As trail users, you can help protect yourself, friends and family by practicing trail safety.

Whenever safe-distancing guidelines are in place make sure you’re keeping at least 6 feet away from other trail users. Have your face coverings on hand and ready to put on when others are nearby.

Multi-Use Trail: Trail Etiquette and Safety Guidelines

Basic Guidelines

  • Stay ALERT and aware of your surroundings.
  • Be courteous and respectful of other trail users.
  • Pass only to the left, giving proper clearance.
  • When being warned of being passed, acknowledge the warning by saying “Thanks for the warning” or similar.
  • Do not clog the trail by walking 3 or 4 abreast.
  • When stopping, move off of the trail. Be aware of others behind you and ensure they know you are pulling off the trail.
  • Respect private property and the privacy of people living along the trail.
  • Bikers and walkers ALWAYS yield to horses.

Health Guidelines

  • Practice physical distancing from other trail users
  • Face coverings recommended for those unvaccinated (COVID)

Safety Guidelines

  • Yield to others when entering the trail and at crosswalks.
  • Stop at stop signs – they indicate potential danger from a roadway and motor vehicle traffic.
  • Wear proper attire and safety gear for your activity – reflective gear, hat, sunblock, helmet, protective pads, etc.
  • Refrain from using headphones or other devices that distract your ability to hear.

Guidelines for Children

  • Do not let children run freely across the trail.
  • Stay immediately behind or to the left of your children.

Bicycle Guidelines

  • Bicyclists should always wear a helmet. By law, riders under the age of 18 MUST wear an ANSI-approved helmet.
  • Travel at a safe and controlled speed. High-speed racing jeopardizes the safety of fellow trail users.
  • Control your bike and be ready to stop.
  • Adjust your speed to trail congestion and surface conditions.
  • When bicycling at night, use headlights and taillights.
  • Child bikers should be skilled enough to control the bike and maneuver as needed in order to stay safe.
  • Travel in single file, especially during busy  times.
  • Stay to the right at all times except when passing.
  • When passing a slower trail user, ring bell, whistle, or call out well before passing on the left.

Environmental Guidelines

  • Do not leave trash or any other debris on or near the trail. Dispose of items in proper containers or take with you to dispose of at home.
  • Stay on the trail and don’t create new paths that could disrupt environmentally sensitive areas.

Pet Guidelines

  • Keep your pet on a very short leash and under control.
  • Clean up after your pet and dispose of waste in proper trash receptacles.

Learn More about Trail Safety

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