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posted Jan 27, 2021

Conflicts On Multiple-Use Trails

by Roger Moore with North Carolina State University

This synthesis is intended to establish a baseline of the current state of knowledge and practice and to serve as a guide for trail managers and researchers.


posted Dec 22, 2020

Unauthorized Mountain Bike Trails: A Guide for Land Managers and Riders

This guidance has been created to help mountain bikers and land managers understand different perspectives on this issue, in the context of the Scottish access rights, and to suggest ways in which they can work together and try where possible to find solutions.


posted Dec 22, 2020

Mountain Biking Comes to Town

by International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA), Southern Off-Road Bicycle Association (SORBA)

Bike parks are not trails. They are managed similarly to city parks. They require a higher standard of care. They need to be professionally designed and constructed.


posted Dec 22, 2020

Estimating the Benefits and Costs to Mountain Bikers of Changes in Trail Characteristics, Access Fees, and Site Closures: Choice Experiments and Benefits Transfer

Tens of millions of North Americans and Europeans own mountain bikes and millions of them are avid trail riders. The growing popularity of mountain biking in many areas has led to increased trail degradation and conflicts among users on single track. This study could be used as a template to estimate benefits and costs to other users (hikers and equestrians), a critical component of any analysis of the types of policies managers must consider.


posted Dec 22, 2020

Recreational Mountain Biking: A Management Perspective

This study offers direction for future studies on mountain bike riding, including: characteristics of mountain bike riders and their use patterns, identification of resource degradation problems, identification and resolution of conflict issues, wilderness trespass issues, partnership issues, communication issues, and testing of management strategies related to mountain bike use.


posted Oct 27, 2020

Perceptions of Conflict Surrounding Future E-Bike Use on the Arizona Trail

On average, the majority of survey respondents disapprove of e-bikes being allowed on the trail. This remains true across the board for each of the major user groups; however, mountain bike rider respondents are less likely to disapprove of allowing e-bikes on non-motorized trails and equestrian respondents are more likely to disapprove.


posted Sep 13, 2020

Equestrian Etiquette - Protecting Trees and Park Structures

by Lora Goerlich with Equestrian Trails and Facilities Consultant LLC

Responsible equestrians should actively protect trees and other park structures when out on the trail. Equine expert Lora Goerlich gives her take on this topic.


posted Aug 17, 2020

The Emergence of “Fat Bikes” in the USA; Trends, potential consequences and management implications

In the USA, sales and use of “fat bikes” (bicycles with 75–120 mm-wide tires) have increased dramatically in the past five years. These bikes are designed to open new terrain to cyclists, including snow-covered trails and softer ground surfaces impossible to ride with a standard mountain bike. In this paper, we discuss the extent and possible trends of fat bike use, potential impacts, conflicts and land management approaches.


posted Aug 14, 2020

Assessment of Tracked OHV Use on Groomed Snowmobile Trails

by American Council of Snowmobile Assns. (ACSA)

Many snowmobile trail managers are facing new management challenges related to OHV use that have been evolving over the past ten to fifteen years. This evolution has included significant growth in overall OHV numbers, the addition of wider side-by-side utility vehicles (UTVs), and some OHVs now being equipped with tracks. Consequently a growing number of local administrators must evaluate what’s best for their local area: continuing to provide only ‘single use’ motorized trails for snowmobiles – or integrating concurrent snowmobile/OHV use onto some groomed trails.


posted Aug 14, 2020

Evaluation of ATV Use On Groomed Snowmobile Trails

The growth in ATV numbers has driven a desire for more places to operate them recreationally on trails. In some areas of the Snowbelt this has led to a growing interest for ATV operation on groomed snowmobile trails during the winter season. This can be a challenge for land and trail managers.


posted Aug 14, 2020

Management Factors to Consider Regarding Concurrent Fat Tire Bicycle Use on Groomed Snowmobile Trails

by American Council of Snowmobile Assns. (ACSA)

All recreational trail use, whether motorized or nonmotorized, requires active management. Trail management should ensure adherence to private or public land use prescriptions, adequate resource protection, and that appropriate visitor experiences are provided. Trail management policies should be set at the local level to ensure they best fit local circumstances.


posted Jul 30, 2020

2014 WMBC Rider Survey

by Headwaters Economics

The WMBC conducted a survey to target trail users recreating on Galbraith Mountain and elsewhere in Whatcom County. This survey was done entirely online utilizing surveymonkey web-based software.