Irvine Ranch Conservancy
  • Home
    • Landmarks Blog
  • What We Do
    • Programs >
      • Habitat Restoration and Enhancement
      • Wildfire Prevention
      • Community Engagement and Education
      • Invasive Species Control
      • Plant Materials
      • Monitoring and Research
      • Planning and Infrastructure
      • Volunteer Management
    • Where We Work
    • About Us >
      • Meet the Team
      • Our Partners
      • Careers
      • Contact Us
  • Volunteer
  • Donate

Handling Spring Trail Traffic

3/13/2015

 
Picture
Whether on foot, peddling on a bike, or mounted on horseback, following trail rules helps everyone enjoy the Landmarks.

Spring is a great time to hit the trails in the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks. While you explore the canyons and ridges of these open spaces and nature preserves, please keep in mind that most trails within the Landmarks are multi-use trails – they are shared by hikers and bikers, and many are shared with equestrians as well. Knowing proper trail etiquette and courtesies is a good way to ensure trail safety and enjoyment for everyone.

Picture
Luckily, the rules for sharing multi-use trails are fairly straightforward and simple to remember. You may have seen the “Yield Triangle” posted along local trails, which is a graphic representation of the basic rule: Bikers yield to equestrians and hikers, hikers yield to equestrians. Fast-moving mountain bikers yield to trail users who may not have time to react if not given enough notice to clear the way for the biker. Hikers should yield to equestrians as well, since horses have natural instincts of their own that may make their behavior unpredictable. Hikers and bikers should communicate with equestrians when they meet, to determine the safest way for you to pass each other on a trail. 

It's important to remember that truly sharing a trail is everyone's responsibility, no matter the situation. For instance, a biker should call out to a hiker when approaching from behind, but that hiker should also step to their right and allow the biker room to pass. Here are some trail etiquette tips that will help everyone enjoy their time in the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks.

 Multi-use trail etiquette: Remember that bikers yield to hikers and that bikers and hikers yield to equestrians.

For Everyone
  • Speak courteously and call out appropriately to others. Give them time to react after you alert        them to your presence, and never assume that they know you are approaching.
  • Stay on the trail. Creating your own paths, using unmarked trails or creating switchbacks creates erosion, damages habitat and could lead to illegal trespassing.
  • Respect other users; expect other users. When in doubt, give other users the right of way.
  • Keep your ears open for approaching trail users. If using headphones, keep the volume low or use one earbud.
  • Don't assume your fellow trail users know trail etiquette – they may be new to trial use and still learning. If someone acts in error, be kind and courteous in suggesting a correction, stressing safe shared trail use. Be an ambassador for trail etiquette, not an enforcer. 

For Hikers and Runners
  • Stay single-file. Even on wide double-track trails, staying in line on the right will help avoid collisions with less cautious trail users. It also keeps a passing path open for faster movers.
  • If you are approaching an equestrian, call out to let them know you would like to pass. Then give the equestrian time to wave you on or stop.
  • Don't stop suddenly or step to the left without looking behind you. Riders or runners coming up will not be able to anticipate an unexpected move, which may lead to a collision.
 
For Bikers
  • Travel at a speed that allows you to watch for trail hazards as well as pedestrians. If you are too focused on the trail, you may not see pedestrians ahead.
  • Allow time for pedestrians to move aside. Some newer hikers may not be accustomed to the protocols of shared use, so call out "on your left," and slow down to allow them time to react and allow you to pass.
  • If you are in a group, let hikers know how many riders are behind you as you pass.
  • When approaching equestrians from either direction, stop and call out to the rider. Their horse may or may not be accustomed to having bikes ride by, so they may prefer you to stop and allow their horse to pass. If they prefer to stop and allow you to pass, wait for them to waive you on.
  • Avoid using bells to alert equestrians – bells or horns may startle the horses.
  • Slow for blind turns and always be alert for oncoming traffic.

For Equestrians
  • Bikers and hikers yield to your horse. Be courteous and clear about how you want to manage the passage. Does your horse prefer to stop and let others pass, or vice versa? Know your horse and communicate clearly with other trail users.
  • Be sure your horse is prepared to travel on multi-use trails. Desensitizing them to passing or being passed by hikers or bikers is critical to their safety.
  • Be prepared to instruct other trail users on how to act around a horse. Especially small children, who may approach your horse.
  • Less experienced riders should follow more "trail wise" equestrians.


Comments are closed.

    About

    Welcome to the Irvine Ranch Conservancy "News from the Field" blog. These articles are written by Conservancy staff about activities and projects in and near the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks. 

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012

    Categories

    All
    Agua Chinon
    Baker Canyon
    Big Canyon
    Birds
    Black Star Canyon
    Bommer Canyon
    Buck Gully
    City Of Irvine
    City Of Newport Beach
    Crystal Cove
    Dripping Springs
    Equestrian
    Family Friendly
    Fire
    Fire Watch
    Fremont Canyon
    Grasslands
    Habitat Restoration
    Hicks Haul Road
    Hiking & Fitness
    Interpretive
    Invasive Plants
    Irvine Open Space Preserve
    Irvine Ranch Open Space
    Irvine Regional Park
    Laguna Coast
    Limestone Canyon
    Mesa Loop
    Mountain Biking
    Native Plant Nursery
    Native Plants
    Native Seed Farm
    Nighttime
    OC Parks
    OC Zoo
    O'Neill Regional Park
    Orchard Hills
    Peters Canyon Regional Park
    Quail Hill
    Red Rocks
    Round Canyon
    Safety
    San Joaquin
    Santiago Oaks Regional Park
    Stewardship
    The Sinks
    Tracking
    Trails
    Trail Work
    Upper Newport Bay
    Volunteers
    Weir Canyon
    Wilderness Access Day
    Wildflowers
    Wildlife

    RSS Feed

Irvine Ranch Conservancy  •  4727 Portola Pkwy. Irvine, CA 92620  •  714-508-4757  •  info@irconservancy.org

© 2016 Irvine Ranch Conservancy, All Rights Reserved.   Irvine Ranch Conservancy reserves all rights under copyright, including (without limitation) rights to photographs. No permission to copy or publish any portion of this web
site or any material posted on the website is granted without the express written permission of Irvine Ranch Conservancy. 
  • Home
    • Landmarks Blog
  • What We Do
    • Programs >
      • Habitat Restoration and Enhancement
      • Wildfire Prevention
      • Community Engagement and Education
      • Invasive Species Control
      • Plant Materials
      • Monitoring and Research
      • Planning and Infrastructure
      • Volunteer Management
    • Where We Work
    • About Us >
      • Meet the Team
      • Our Partners
      • Careers
      • Contact Us
  • Volunteer
  • Donate