The Big Sioux trail loop was developed several decades ago to control flooding, but Sioux Falls continues to invest in the trail to connect inter-urban areas. This study includes planning and design processes, appropriate infrastructure, costs, timing, potential obstacles, design standards, implementation policies and funding. It is an aesthetically pleasing plan that presents several options for the trail with maps and graphics to complement it.
The core of this plan is evaluating trail alternatives and identifying a most feasible concept for eventual implementation. Therefore, the factors selected to evaluate alternatives are extremely important and reflect the values and perspectives of the trail development program. Because these criteria reflect different objectives, they are not consistent with each other: an option that may rank high on one objective may have a low rating for another. For example, one alternative may offer a superior trail user experience, but might involve acquisition of private property over the objection of property owners. The result is that the trail project, while desirable from one perspective, would probably never be accomplished. In the case of trail development, the most feasible alternative often represents the best balance of different attributes.
Published January 01, 2011
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FAQ: What is the definition of a trail?
Defining a trail corridor in law, policy, and planning.
Design for Understanding: Protecting Trail Users in the Time of Covid-19
Don Meeker, president of Terrabilt, reflects on trails as a critical sanctuary during COVID-19, and provides guidance on signage to keep everyone on trails safe. Terrabilt will also provide the production artwork for their COVID-19 trail sign for free.
Mountain Bike Trails Concept Plan for Moose River Plains Wild Forest
IMBA Trail Solutions visited the Moose River Plains Wild Forest for one week in October of 2013 to conduct field research, meet with stakeholders, and to begin the process of developing a conceptual design for mountain bike use in the area. All of the designs presented in this report are conceptual in nature and have not been completely field verified. Additional work will need to be done in the field to finalize the designs of reroutes and proposed trails described in this report.
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.
