MTB & Trail Etiquette

Can't we all just get along? We love to ride, and we hate trail damage. Let's not damage relationships, either! Trail access is important to everybody! Mountain Bikers need to be careful about offending other trails users. Face it, we're dangerous. We have chosen to engage in risky behaviour. People have a right to fear us, and they do. We engaged in a sport where we hurtle our bodies at speeds often well above a fast run, in places that normally never experience anything faster than a slow walk. So let us show lots of courtesy for the others out there and hopefully we can all get along.

Hikers and joggers: These trails wouldn't exist without their support. Don't pass at excessive speed, and don't surprise them. Be sure to announce your coming with a kind greeting or a bell. Get their attention before you can pass faster than a walk. Always thank anyone who yields their right-of-way to you, or holds pets or young children as you pass.

Horses: Try to look human. Talk to the rider, and talk to the horse. Get out of shadows so the horse can see you. Most horse riders will appreciate and thank you for dismounting.

The Environment: Don't leave anything on the trail, other then sweat! Don't leave energy bar wrappers, bike parts, gel tube tops, patch kits or anything on the trail!

Other Mountain Bikers: Never, ever tailgate. Pass with care. Announce yourself. The rider heading uphill, even though they are going slower, always has the right of way (though they often yield it to a fast downhiller.) The group with children has right of way. Next, the larger group has right of way (CTS). Last, the group with the most rigid frames has right of way! (You might have to stop and count to achieve this level of etiquette!)

Trains and Train Tracks: Trains go really, really fast. Aside from the pain your family and friends might feel if you get killed by a train while mountain biking, it's also true that train engineers are real people too, and they don't deserve to have to suffer the emotional trauma of ruining your bike and killing your sorry ass. Dismount and cross tracks quickly at a 90 degree angle after stopping, looking both ways. Don't try to bunny-hop tracks even if you're good at it. Don't ride on or along tracks even if they look unused to you. Stay off highways too.

Small Children & dogs: Toddlers an dogs do very strange, unexpected things. You really have to slow down near them. If you hit a kid or dog, it's your fault. Period. So unless a parent or owner has seen you approach and has grabbed the child or dog, there's nothing you can do but keep slowing down as you approach so that as you pass, you are going at a walking pace.