Access to trails throughout various public lands in the state is not consistent. While some places allow unlimited use, other areas have gratuitous bans on use by cyclists. At the same time, trail conditions and the state of user conflicts also vary considerably across the state. In some instances trails have suffered from overuse. No consistent trail policy governs whether trails are open to bikes or not. This trail policy provides NYMBC's vision on how trails should be managed in order provide the maximum opportunities for trail cycling and to maintain long-term sustainable access and enjoyment of New York's trails.
It is NYMBC's policy that all trails on public land should be open to bicycles except where there are unmitigatable or nonpreventable impacts to the trail. Bicycles belong on trails. Cycling on trails is a real and valid activity for trails through New York's woods, mountains, and meadows as is hiking, cross country skiing, canoeing, and other recreational outdoor activities. Cyclists' enjoyment of the trails and the land through which they pass is no more nor less valid and important than other users of the trails. Trails should never be closed to bicycles because "bikes don't belong" or because the experience of a cyclist is perceived to be less true or pure than other users of a trail.
Not only do bicycles belong on the trails, but what cyclists want regarding trails and public land is the same as other user groups. Cyclists want access to trails in good condition leading to places of great natural beauty. We want trails to be well designed and constructed and sustainable. Cyclists do not want trails that are degraded through excessive erosion or through widening in wet areas. Furthermore, cyclists want abundant public land in which to explore, and need to fight the continuing loss of public open spaces. Because cyclists share these goals with other user groups such as hikers, we should all work together for better trails, rather than against one another on divisive issues that detract from our common goals.
Because trails in good condition are integral to mountain biking, NYMBC supports efforts to ensure that trail quality is maintained for all trails throughout the state. In some cases, this may require seasonal or permanent closure of trails to bicycles and/or other users. More often, it would require the attention of local user groups such as the NYMBC member clubs and other trail user organizations to maintain the trails, principally through proactive approaches like good construction and design, but also through remedial measures.
All users contribute to trail wear. When operated properly, bicycles have no greater impact on trails than hiking boots. Limitations on use for the goal of trail health are best considered for all users, and not just for cyclists. However, cyclists tend to cover more distance than hikers, and not all cyclists refrain from bad techniques such as skidding. NYMBC supports closure of some popular trails during spring and other times of the year when wet conditions accelerate trail wear. While some trails may be so poorly designed that they should be permanently closed to bicycles, more often alternative management strategies such as seasonal closures, temporary wet period closures, or other designated riding times are a more effective management approach.
NYMBC believes that simply evidence of the use of a trail does not constitute damage to a trail, requiring restrictive management. Some trail wear is expected and acceptable on any popular trail. Trail work and/or restrictive management is only required where continuing, unsustainable trail wear is encountered, such as in sections of deep "V" erosion, or significant and continuing trail widening or braiding. Furthermore, impacts to isolated sections of a trail should not constitute grounds for implementing restrictive management of the entire trail. Restrictive management should only be considered where a large percentage of the trail is affected by poor trail design.
Determining whether specific management programs need to be implemented should not be through uniform standards applying indiscriminately across the state, but through considerations specific to the trails in question. For example seasonal closure policies that may be appropriate for popular trails near urban areas need not be applied to more remote forests and trails which see less frequent use. Decisions that may be limit use of trails by bicycles should not be made without consultation with local mountain bicycling groups such as the members of NYMBC. In the absence of a local bicycle organization (for example in sparsely populated areas of the state), NYMBC should be participate in formulating trail use policy.
Similarly, policy on use of trails by bicycles should not be governed by overarching descriptions or standards that describe what types of trails are suitable to bicycles. Bicycles should not be limited to only wide trails with shallow grades or long turn radii. It is more appropriate to establish trail policy based on local conditions. These local policies should consider the full range of possible management options for singletrack trails, such as mandatory walking sections for example, rather than limiting use of an entire trail. Relegating bicycles to only wide, smooth trails only perpetuates the myth that cyclists are only interested in riding fast, since wide, smooth trails encourage faster speeds.