Download - Managing Mountain Bike Trails

Managing Mountain Biking IMBA’s guide to Providing Great Riding

The 3 Major Issues of Mountain Bike Management

1. Can public safety be ensured?

2. Can environmental impacts be mitigated?

3. Can different types of users share the same trail?

Webber, Pete. (2007). Managing Mountain Biking, IMBA's Guide to Providing Great Riding. Denver: Publication Printers Corp.

I. WHAT DO MOUNTAIN BIKERS WANT?

Connection to Nature

Escape

Fun

Challenge

Exercise

Variety

Connections

Camaraderie

A sense of belonging

Facilities


Types of Mountain Bikers

Beginner Cross Country Rider

Avid Cross Country Rider

All Mountain Rider

Downhillers

Freeriders

Dirt Jumpers


12 Tips for Marketing Mountain Bike Trails

1. Build Great Trails

2. Provide supporting facilities

3. Install effective signs

4. Share the local knowledge

5. Team up with local bike shops

6. Get other local businesses involved

7. Create a cool website

8. Offer free trail maps

9. Tell great stories

10. Photograph your trails professionally

11. Develop region-wide destination

12. Track the numbers


II. PLANNING AND DESIGNING TRAILS

13 steps for creating a successful Systemwide Trail Plan

1. Understand the importance of systemwide planning

2. Research existing trail strategies and planning templates

3. Establish goals and objectives

4. Engage in collaborative planning and develop partnerships

5. Analyze users

6. Analyze the landscape

7. Understand constraints

8. Draw the plan

9. Establish design and management criteria

10. Establish phases and priorities

11. Strategize funding

12. Adopt your master plan

13. Develop an action Plan


Shared or Single Use?

“When trails are well designed and visitors observe basic trails etiquette, most people, whatever their means of conveyance, will have a satisfying experience on shared use trails.

However, there are specific situations where separating trail users may be a better choice….”


Single Use (or Preferred-Use) Trails

Here is a list of situations where separating visitors may be the best option…

Crowded trails

Crowded trailheads

Extraordinary mountain bike trails

High speed trails

Bike parks

Nature trails


Shared Use Trails

7 Reasons why shared use trails make sense:

1. Shared use trails best accommodate the needs of the most users

2. Sharing helps build a trail community

3. Shared trails are most cost effective for land managers

4. Shared trails empower responsible, experienced users

5. Shared use trails take better advantage of the available space

6. Trail systems with shared trails require fewer trail miles and therefore have less impact

7. Shared use trails manage the most users


Should an Existing Trail be Open to Mountain Bikers?

15 questions to ask: 1. Are there any federal or local regulations that prohibit MTB’ing on the property?

2. What are the pre-existing uses?

3. Will the pre-existing use patterns mesh with MTB’ers?

4. Does the trail have a sustainable alignment?

5. Could the trail be altered to have a more sustainable alignment?

6. Is the trail well located?

7. Will the trail meet local needs?

8. What kind of trails do local cyclists seek?

9. Would MTB’ers like to ride the trail?

10. Will the trail fit within an existing MTB trail network?

11. If not part of an existing network, will the trail fill a local need for MTB trails?

12. Are there presently sufficient trailhead resources, and if not, what would be needed?

13. Are resources available to meet maintenance needs that may arise with increased use?

14. Is there a local bike club available and willing to support the trail?

15. If no local bike club exists, can one be created?


Managing Unauthorized Trails

“Most trails today are built as part of a master plan that considers multiple factors. The construction of unauthorized trails undermines this process – not only because it defies the spirit of cooperation between trail users and land managers, but also because it poses environmental uncertainties.

To keep those partnerships moving forward, it is essential that unauthorized trail construction be discouraged, and that existing unauthorized trails be either closed or incorporated into a larger, managed system.”


Tactics and Solutions for Dealing with “Renegade” Trails

Collect information

Build partnerships

Provide adequate trail opportunities

Provide diverse trail experiences

Set fair and logical mountain biking policies

Learn from unauthorized trails

Offer opportunities for authorized trailwork

Add challenging lines

Add single-use mountain bike trails

Create special-use bike parks

Replace closed trails with appealing alternatives

Provide logical connections

Avoid dead end trails

Plan for shuttling

Enforce regulations


12 Elements for Creating a Trail Proposal

1. Who are you?

2. Who will benefit from this trail?

3. Who will build the trail?

4. Who will manage the trail once it is built?

5. How long will it take to complete the project?

6. How much will it cost to built the trail and who will pay for it?

7. Where (on a map) will the trail be located?

8. How will you manage risk and liability?

9. How will you minimize environmental impacts?

10. What steps will be taken to ensure that the trail won’t affect neighboring property?

11. How do you plan to deal with parking and litter?

12. Will the public be able to participate in the planning of the trail?


11 Steps for Designing Great Trails

1. Build a partnership

2. Identify boundaries

3. Determine trail users

4. Identify control points

5. Configure loops

6. Plan a contour route

7. Determine type of trail flow

8. Walk and flag the corridor

9. Develop a construction plan

10. Conduct an assessment study

11. Flag the final alignment and confirm permission


III. PARTNERSHIPS

“The process of managing mountain biking begins by forming solid relationships. Today, successful trail systems involve collaboration between land managers, volunteer groups, and other local stakeholders, such as business, private landowners, environmental organizations, and community leaders.”


10 Partnership Principles

Write specific agreements

Start simple

Have patience

Respect each others viewpoint

Be civil

Plan for ongoing communication

Adapt to change

Upgrade knowledge and skills

Keep your eyes on the prize

Think locally


Memorandum of Understanding

Key elements of an MOU:

Which organizations will be involved in this project?

What is the goal of the partnership?

Who (by title) will represent the interests of each organization?

What trail or specific section of land will be included?

What, specifically, will be done in the name of mountain bike management? (New trails, bike patrol, signage?)

What management philosophies will be employed? (design, education, trail revamps?)

What trail design and construction strategies will you use?

Who will be responsible for what task?

What’s the timeline for each stage of the project?


Become More Political Savvy

1. Mobilize

2. Know the players

3. Use your voice for the greater good

4. Pick up the phone

5. Keep your message simple

6. Invite elected officials to address your group

7. Get mountain bikers appointed to trails councils

8. Solicit a guest newsletter column

9. Be a part of the trails community

10. Consider changing your clubs non-profit status

11. Volunteer for political campaigns

12. Run for office

13. Follow up


Balancing Trail Access and Game Land Management

Understand and accommodate all stakeholders needs

Emphasize common stakeholders interests

Acknowledge funding sources

Emphasize the positive impacts mountain bikers bring


IV. MANAGING VOLUNTEERS

Common pitfalls facing volunteer groups:

Right volunteer, wrong job

No succession plans

Short term thinking

Abandoning ship

Going it alone


10 Tips for Recruiting and Keeping Volunteers

1. Just ask

2. Publicize

3. Take it to the people

4. Look beyond the usual suspects

5. Host regular group rides

6. Celebrate good times

7. Chuck it down

8. Swag it up

9. Nurture newcomers

10. Stay regular


Planning Trailwork

12-4 months before the event: • Identify goals and develop a plan • Set dates early • Designate point people

4 months-2 weeks before the event: • Secure sponsorship • Get the word out • Pre-register volunteers • Identify and train project leaders

2 weeks before the event: • Match leaders project to the expected turnout • Finalize project preparedness • Coordinate social aspects of the event


Tips for Successful Volunteer Work Days

Be prepared

Emphasize fun

Provide trained leaders

Share knowledge

Be safe

Don’t waste time

Feed the troops

Keep the workday short

Avoid leaving a job half finished

Thank and reward them

Record your success

Stay in touch


V. Mountain Biking and the Environment

“All trail users affect the trail surface and surrounding environment, especially when trails are poorly constructed. However, there is no evidence that mountain bikers cause greater environmental impact that other trail users. The current research suggests that mountain biking impacts are similar to hiking, and far less damaging that equestrian and motorized users.

The major issue is not the user, but the way the trail is designed and built. If a trail is properly located and constructed, it can handle a variety of users without damaging the environment.”


Common Environmental Impacts Associated with Recreational Use

Vegetation loss and compositional changes

Soil compaction

Erosion

Muddiness

Degraded water quality

Disruption of wildlife Webber, Pete. (2007). Managing Mountain Biking, IMBA's Guide to Providing Great Riding. Denver: Publication Printers Corp.

Recommendations to Reduce Vegetation Impacts Design trails that provide the experience trail users seek to

reduce their desire to venture off trail.

Locate trails away from rare plants and animals and from sensitive or critical habitats of other species. Involve resource professionals in designing and approving new trail alignments.

Keep trails narrow to reduce the total are of intensive tread disturbance, slow trail users, and minimize vegetation and soil impacts.

Limit vegetation disturbance outside the corridor when constructing trails.

Locate trails on side-hills where possible. Constructing on a side-hill requires greater initial vegetation and soil disturbance but sloping topography above and below the trail bench will clearly define the tread and concentrate traffic on it.


Four Common Form of Soil Degradation on Trails

Compaction – caused by the weight of trail users and their equipment, which passes through feet, hooves, or tires to the tread surface.

Muddiness – commonly associated with locations where water flows across or becomes trapped with flat or low-lying areas.

Displacement – users can also push soils laterally, causing displacement and development of ruts, berms, or cupped treads.

Erosion – generally caused by flowing water. Subsequent use compacts and/or displaces soils over time to create cupped or in sloped tread surface that intercepts and carries water.


Recommendations to Reduce Impacts to Soil

Discourage or prohibit off-trail travel. Exceptions could include areas of solid rock or non-vegetated cobble.

Design trails with sustainable grades and avoid fall-line alignments.

When possible, build trails in dry, cohesive soils that easily compacts and contain a larger percentage of course material or rocks.

Minimize tread muddiness by avoiding flat terrain, wet soils, and drainage-bottom locations.

Use grade reversals to remove water from trail treads.


Recommendations to Reduce Impacts to Water Resources

Trails should avoid close proximity to water resources.

It is best to minimize the number of stream crossings.

Design water crossings so the trail descends into and climbs out of the stream crossing, preventing stream water from flowing down the trail.

Armor trail at stream crossings with rock, geotextiles, or gravel to prevent erosion.

Include grade reversals, regularly maintained out sloped treads, and/or drainage features to divert water off the trail near stream crossings.

On heavily used trails, a bridge may be needed to provide a sustainable crossing.

Where permanent or intermittent stream channels cross trails, use wheel-friendly open rock culverts or properly sized buried drainage culverts to allow water to cross properly, with out flowing down the trail.


Recommendations to Reduce Impacts to Wildlife

Route trails to avoid riparian or wetland areas, particularly in environments where they are uncommon. Consult with fish and wildlife specialists early in the planning of the trail phase.

For existing trails, consider discouraging or restricting access during sensitive times/seasons (e.g., mating or birding seasons) to protect wildlife from undue stress.


Key Observations About the Environmental Impacts of

Mountain Biking

1. Environmental degradation can be substantially avoided or minimized when trail users are restricted to designated formal trails.

2. Trail design and management are much larger factors in environmental degradation than the types or amount of use.

3. The environmental degradation caused by mountain biking is generally equivalent or less than that caused by hiking, and both are substantially less impacting than horse or motorized activities.


The 11 Essential Elements of Sustainable Trails

1. Trail location

2. Sustainable trail alignment

3. Half rule

4. Sustainable grade

5. Maximum sustainable grade

6. Grade reversals

7. Outsloped

8. Adapt trail design to soil texture

9. Minimize user-caused soil displacement

10. Prevent user-created soils

11. Maintenance


VI. MANANGING USER CONFLICT

Types of Conflict:

o Environmental – The perception that mountain biking causes excessive trail damage and unacceptable environmental impacts.

o Safety – The perception that mountain biking threatens the safety of the rider and other visitors.

o Social – The perception that mountain bikers have goals and values that are incompatible with those of other users.


4 Solutions to User Conflict

1. Information and Education

a. Signs

b. Setting expectations

c. Paid staff trail patrols

d. Volunteer trail patrols

e. Peer education

f. Clinics

g. Handouts

h. Interpretive trails

i. Passing etiquette



2. User Involvement and Partnerships

a. Mountain bike clubs

b. Trail advisory groups

c. User group coalitions

d. Volunteer trailwork

e. Shared-use events



3. Trail System Design

a. Provide adequate trail opportunities

b. Provide diverse trail experiences

c. Trail design to control speed

d. Spread them out

e. Concentrate use

f. Use stacked loops

g. Think region wide

h. Preferred-use and Single-use trails

i. One-way loops



4. Regulations

a. Favor light handed management

b. Fair and logistical policies

c. Open communication with all user groups

d. Rules of the trail

e. Single use trails

f. One-way trails

g. Alternating user restrictions

h. Speed limits


VII. SAFETY AND RISK MANAGEMENT

At the most basic level, there are two trail related risk management goals:

1. Manage the risk on your trails.

2. Minimize the threat and losses from lawsuits.

To accomplish these goals, you’ll need to tackle 3 things:

1. Design trails appropriately

2. Manage and maintain them consistently and responsibly

3. Employ insurance coverage or other “risk transference” strategies, such as waivers.


16 Considerations for Risk Management Planning 1. Create a risk management team and designate a leader

2. Write a philosophy plan

3. Establish a trail design and construction policy

4. Establish a trail inspection and maintenance policy

5. Maintain the trail system consistent with policy

6. Eliminate unreasonable hazards

7. Develop an effective sign system

8. Implement a trail difficulty rating system

9. Institute rules and advise visitors

10. Develop an emergency plan

11. Purchase or review an insurance policy

12. Create a record keeping system

13. Develop an incident reporting and analysis system

14. Deploy a trail patrol

15. Recruit outside advisors

16. Perform periodic reviews of the program


Risk Management Best Practices

1. Design and construct the trail appropriately

2. Inspect and maintain the trail appropriately

3. Address unreasonable hazards and post warnings

4. Anticipate foreseeable activities and take reasonable steps to protect or warn users


VIII. MOUNTAIN BIKE PATROLS

Bike patrols help manage trails by:

o Enhancing visitor experiences

• Providing trail information

• Offering mechanical assistance to other bikers

• Providing water, food, sunscreen and other amenities

o Assisting land managers

• Keeping tabs on trail conditions, hazards, and maintenance needs

• Observing visitor and trail use trends

• Helping with trail and sign maintenance

• Educating users about trail etiquette, safety, and stewardship

o Promoting trail stewardship

• Providing information about proper trail use and local resources

• Explaining policies to visitors

• Organizing volunteer trail work projects

o Incident response

• Administering first aide for minor trail injuries

• Helping to mobilize professional emergency medical services


10 Traits of Highly Successful Patrols

1. Professional and organized

2. Regularly communicate with patrol members

3. Are a part of the bike and trail community

4. Offer frequent training

5. Are visible and recognizable on the trail

6. Partner with local EMS providers to keep costs low

7. Are effective volunteer managers

8. Are media savvy and share their success

9. Are effective fundraisers

10. Keep it fun!


IX. SIGNS

What signs accomplish o Trail identification

o Route selection

o Route reassurance and confirmation

o Guidance to destinations and key points of interest

o Describe regulations and allowed users

o Location identification

o Visitor education about responsible recreation and trail etiquette

o Resource protection

o Risk and hazard description


Types of Signage

1. Informational/Directional Signs

a. Trailhead identification signs

b. Trailhead signs

c. Primary trailheads

d. Secondary trailheads

e. Tertiary trailheads

f. Trail intersection signs

g. Waymarks

h. Difficulty rating system

i. Trail length and elevation gain/loss


Types of Signage

2. Regulatory/Warning Signs

a. Visitor rules & regulations

b. Allowed activities

c. Warning signs

d. Road/trail intersections

e. Emergency signs


Types of Signage

3. Educational/Interpretive Signs

a. Responsible use

b. Interpretive signs


How to Rate a Trail

1. Rate technical challenge only

2. Collect trail measurements to measure technical challenge

3. Include difficulty and trail length on signs and maps

4. Evaluate difficulty relative to local trails

5. Use good judgment

6. Consider other trail qualities

7. Use common sense and seek input


IMBA Trail Difficulty Rating System


X. PROVIDING CHALLENGING TRAILS

How to design challenging trails

o Understand what advanced riders want

o Look at the larger trail system

o Determine shared use, preferred use, or single use

o Develop risk management tools

o Offer opportunities for all skill levels

o Emphasize skill instead of consequences

o Understand relative speed versus absolute speed

o Provide clear sightlines

o Make it flow

o Provide optional lines

o Anchor the trail

o Install choke points

o Modify the surface texture

o Use gateways to filter visitors

o Provide for skills progression

o Provide appropriate fall zones

o Make space between technical challenges


15 Steps for Building a Bike Park

1. Get permission and build a partnership

2. Form a team and seek input

3. Select a location

4. Design a visually appealing facility

5. Develop a risk management plan

6. Develop an effective signage system

7. Acquire insurance

8. Develop a scheduled inspection and maintenance program

9. Design the jumps and features

10. Include jumps and obstacles for all abilities

11. Develop a construction plan

12. Consider hiring a professional builder

13. Grade the site for drainage

14. Encourage stewardship

15. Plan for growth


In Closing…

“There will always be several solutions for each management challenge. One approach may have been developed by a federal land management agency decades ago, while another may have been recently devised by an IMBA expert. The solution you choose will depend on several factors, and the type and number of visitors you serve. It’s up to you – the land managers and volunteers – to choose the most appropriate methods and techniques for your particular situation.”
