When the Boulder County Commissioner proposed a schedule of “alternating use” for the area’s many trails, it sounded like something else to the area’s mountain bikers. It sounded a lot more like an alternating ban on mountain bikes. That could be b because, while there are many trails bike’s aren’t allowed on to start with, there are currently no bike-only trails in the Boulder network. An alternating use effectively just proposed further limitations on where mountain bikers could go.
The reaction was immediate and sustained. Boulder Mountainbike Alliance (BMA) led the response, but the proposed plan was so one-sided that even non-mountain bikers were speaking up against the proposal.
BMA gets a win
Now, BMA is reporting a win. On Tuesday, the Boulder County Commissioners voted to not move forward with the proposed “alternating-use” trail pilot.
“Boulder Mountainbike Alliance (BMA) thanks the community for the overwhelming response and the Commissioners for choosing a path that better represents visitor needs and keeps Boulder County focused on collaboration, shared access, and better long-term solutions for everyone who uses and loves these trails,” BMA stated in a press release announcing the decision.
BMA said thousands of people responded to the proposal by filling out surveys, showing up in meetings, showing up in the comments to share what Boulder’s trails mean to their lives.
“The right response to a popular trail system is not to make access more complicated or less reliable. The right response is to understand demand, plan for it, and provide high-quality experiences that serve the community while protecting the land.” said Wendy Sweet, executive director of Boulder Mountainbike Alliance.
Not just opposing a plan, presenting a way forward
BMA’s strategy wasn’t just a blanket opposition to the alternating-use proposal. The trail organisation presented alternative paths to achieving the Commissioner’s stated goal of reducing trail conflict. The strategies reflect a local take on approaches that are solidly proven in other areas.
The suggestions include practices that are taken for granted in other areas. Improving trail design to reduce unexpected head-on traffic, improving sight lines, reroutes to avoid conflict areas, directional trails including mountain bike only descents, clear signage, education and more opportunities for volunteer stewardship.
All of these strategies, BMA points out, “improve trail experiences without restricting access.”
Looking further into the future
It is always exciting to see a riding community rally together to protect the trails they love. Fighting against limiting access is hard. The next steps are more exciting.
Getting the proposed plan shelved is just the first step in BMA’s work. The trail organisation is very organised and focused on supporting changes that will actually make trail use better for all kinds of activities, not just mountain biking.
If you’re interested in supporting BMA’s work, or learning more about how BMA is advocating for better trail experiences for all users, head to the organisation’s website to read its full response, plan and proposed way forward.