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Mountain bikes are great. They give you an alternative to pavement, a
way out of the concrete jungle. They guarantee your freedom from auto
traffic. They take you into the woods and the wild, to places of natural
beauty.
On the other hand, mountain bikes are the cause of a lot of controversy.
In the past 15 years, mountain bikers have shown up on trails that were
once the exclusive domain of hikers and horseback riders. Some say the
peace and quiet has been shattered. Some say that trail surfaces are
being ruined by the weight and force of mountain bikes. Some say that
bikes are too fast and clumsy to share the trail with other types of
users.
Much of the debate can be resolved if bikers follow a few simple rules,
and if non-bikers practice a little tolerance. The following are a list
of rules for low-impact, "soft cycling." If you obey them, you'll help
to give mountain biking the good name it deserves:
1) Ride only on trails where bikes are permitted. Obey all signs and
trail closures.
2) Yield to equestrians. Horses can be badly spooked by bicyclists, so
give them plenty of room. If horses are approaching you, stop alongside
the trail until they pass. If horses are traveling in your direction and
you need to pass them, call out politely to the rider and ask
permission. If the horse and rider moves off the trail and the rider
tells you it's okay, then pass.
3) Yield to hikers. Bikers travel much faster than hikers. Understand
that you have the potential to scare the daylights out of hikers as you
speed downhill around a curve and overtake them from behind, or race at
them head-on. Make sure you give other trail users plenty of room, and
keep your speed down when you are near them. If you see a hiker, slow
down to a crawl, or even stop.
4) Be as friendly and polite as possible. Potential ill will can be
eliminated by friendly greetings as you pass: "Hello, beautiful day
today..." Always say thank you to other trail users for allowing you to
pass.
5) Avoid riding on wet trails. Bike tires leave ruts in wet soil that
accelerate erosion.
6) Riders going downhill should always yield to riders going uphill on
narrow trails. Get out of their way so they can keep their momentum as
they climb.
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