There are fewer and fewer places to escape the daily grind than trails, whether you ride or hike. We love these strips of bare ground in our open spaces, but sometimes it seems that other civilizations escape from them at the same time, so the possibility of less-than-civilized encounters arises. Etiquette plays a vital role here. You don’t need to hold out your pinky when you take afternoon tea to practice etiquette; it’s also helpful on the trail. If you lack proper etiquette, you can be a hindrance to the sport, regardless of how much skill and fitness you may have. Let’s start by looking at a few reasons why trail etiquette is so important before moving on to the high points.
Ride Open Trails
Road and trail closures must be respected. When in doubt about the status of a trial, inquire with the appropriate land manager. Private property should never be trespassed on. Be sure to obtain the appropriate permits and authorizations. The federal and state laws prohibit riding bicycles in wilderness areas. NB: Provincial, national, and conservation parks in British Columbia have bicycle access restrictions.
Leave No Trace:
Pay attention to the dirt under your feet. Muddy and wet trails are more likely to damage your feet. Other riding options should be considered when the trails are soft. This doesn’t mean you have to create new trails when the trails are soft. Avoid cutting switchbacks when the trails are soft. Make sure you pack out at least everything you pack in.
Going the Wrong way
Almost all trail centers are one-way, so you can merrily fly along, sure that you’re not going to bump into someone speeding toward you. Remember to follow signage that indicates one-way traffic. It’s strange, but downhill tracks aren’t so bad… but if you’re downhill,
You can reach the top by pushing up the separate push-up tracks instead of pushing up the trails. It’s not ideal to have a rubber meet face.
Greet fellow trail users.
Common courtesy dictates this. A smile, a nod, and a wave (or all three) is a quick and easy way to say “hello”, and you’ll instantly put everyone at ease. There may be a hiker about to snap at you after you startled them. You can diffuse the situation with a cheerful greeting. It is sometimes unfair that mountain biking clothing has a reputation among other groups of users, so we must work extra hard to rectify that. Therefore, you ought to be the bigger person and welcome those other guys, regardless of what you might be tempted to do.
Respect signage.
You will see signs indicating which trails are directional. It’s the damn “trail closed” sign that everyone dreads. Almost everyone has seen it. A favorite descent was closed after we climbed all the way to the top, either for maintenance, construction, logging, fire danger, a local event, or for any number of other reasons. Choose another option in a responsible manner. Once it’s ready, the trial will be available again to you. If the trail is permanently closed, well, you can’t do anything about it. Try to recall the good times you enjoyed when it was open and be grateful for the experience (it might take a while because it was a really, really fantastic trial). If you would like to give your local trail advocacy group more power when negotiating access to trails, now might be a good time to join.
Leave no trace
The Leave No Trace principle applies to anyone who spends any time outdoors. The following principles are included:
Surfaces should always be durable. Use trails and campsites on which you have already hiked or camped. Do your best not to create new trails or campsites if the area you’re in does not already have them.
Dispose of waste properly. Pack waste in and pack waste out. Leave nothing behind, including apple cores and banana peels. These are bad for wildlife. Bathrooms are available, or you can dig a hole about 70 steps from trails, campgrounds, and water sources. Do not pack out feminine products or used toilet paper; just leave your waste in the hole and cover it up.
Take no souvenirs with you. You gotta have something, right? Photograph it.
Campfires should be minimized. Learn whether campfires are permitted where you are camping. Don’t let your fire get out of control by using only wood scraps from dead trees.
Be respectful of wildlife. Stay away from it. Avoid feeding it or leaving garbage that may harm it. Don’t let your dog hunt or harm wildlife if you have it under control.
You should be considerate of others. Respect others’ property and space. Play quiet music so others don’t get disturbed.
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