Sharing trails

[mn_ultra_guy]

Hi all,
I am former resident returning a decade away and I have a few comments and question.:
1. I was really bummed to see the trails closed to biking, as when I was here they were all fair game.
2. It is GREAT to see a group like Morc getting some of the access back, I will be joining once I get settled in.
My question is I am currently MTBless, as I just moved here and my ride is back waiting for movers, so I to stay in shape I do long trail runs and I was wondering what the attitude is by the bikers on sharing the MTB trails with runners. My long trail runs border on 20+ miles, as I am pretty sure I will need to all the trails at Wirth to add that up and I want to know honestly if I am looking at a lynching.
I know this sounds like a setup, but I both ride and run, so I know the conflicts between both parties.
Take care and see you on the trails.
Devin Quince

[nitrousflame]

I don't know what the official rule is, but I have seen runners at wirth while on my bike. They just step to the side and let me by. I see no problem in that. Just realize that when on a biking trail, expect to see bikes. There are lots of "no-bike" trails at Theo as well though:cool:

[Heuy]

Welcome back Devin,

I recognized this discussion and knew I've read it somewhere on morc before. Check out the "so doc. I have a friend who" thread under the lebanon forum from 5/20/2006. I didn't take time to read the whole thing, but the concensus is that it is "legal" in Wirth, however I am concerned about how safe this would be.

I would definitely make sure to leave the ipod at home so you notice when someone is getting close to you.

Best bet is to get the bike here as quick as possible. If you do 20 mile runs we need you on a bike and on a 24 hours of Afton team.

[BKocka]

I know that out at mammoth they are all about the walkers and runners.

berry said to me "We want these trails to be around a long time, and so when the general public is interested in them it means that more than just cyclist will be using them". However that is just at mommoth- but it would be a pretty cool run.

also, at leb there are hiking trails- I dont know how good they are tho. It might be hazardous to run on the cycling trails tho.

maybe shad would have a good answer to this one...

[flombe]

Welcome back!

Wirth is a designated multi-use trail. Run on it to your heart's content. I am not sure what trail ettiquette is, but I assume the slower moving user has the right of way.

I see an occassional runner, but not often. I would try to avoid peak use times for your own sanity and safety as I do not think riders will be expecting to see runners on a regular basis.

[Sevadari]

Welcome back Devin,

I recognized this discussion and knew I've read it somewhere on morc before. Check out the "so doc. I have a friend who" thread under the lebanon forum from 5/20/2006. I didn't take time to read the whole thing, but the concensus is that it is "legal" in Wirth, however I am concerned about how safe this would be.

I would definitely make sure to leave the ipod at home so you notice when someone is getting close to you.

Best bet is to get the bike here as quick as possible. If you do 20 mile runs we need you on a bike and on a 24 hours of Afton team.

Yeah, that was a thread I started when I had a runner friend coming into town. From what some of the regular Theo Wirthers and Leb Hills folks said, Theo Wirth is totally fine for runners, but as mentioned above make sure you are wide awake and aware of what's happening on the trail.

The MTB trail at Leb Hill is off limits for runners, one lap there on the new trails and you will quickly understand why this is the case. It is fast in some sections with plenty of technical sections and it would be a recipe for disaster having runners and bikers crammed into those small singletrack spaces.

My runner friend (long distance also) really liked Theo Wirth. Only problem for the longer distances, however, is that the trail is pretty short and is quite twisty. So, it's a bit hard to just put it on auto pilot and go.

Either way, enjoy your time and the trails!

[gopherhockey]

also, at leb there are hiking trails- I dont know how good they are tho. It might be hazardous to run on the cycling trails tho.



You are right, there is no running or walking of any type on the bike trails at Leb. They are all single purpose and one-way.

The hiking trails are boring, but there are some hills and I see a lot of trail runners out there. There are some good trails in the other 1000+ acres of Lebanon Hills that we have not been allowed into yet.

[Wheels]

Yes, the trails at Theo are multi-use - this was part of our agreement with the Minneapolis Park and Rec Board. Running is allowed, bikers should yield to runners and notify them of their presence, and runners should give the right of way to the biker by stepping off the trail.

We do ask that you leave your iPod and dog at home though - both are dangerous on a multi-use trail.

[mn_ultra_guy]

Thanks for all the replys. I do not run with a dog or an ipod, so that is not a worry. I almost always run a dawn or dusk, so traffic should be light if I even ever have to run on the MTB trails.
Take care and ride safe,
Devin

[Whatsmymantra?]

A couple of weeks ago I went to check out the tree with the boards on it, cleared it and finished by going to the left. Went past some people partying, then over to the tracks and back to the trail. I was almost back to the trail when a hiker comes along, I start to yield the trail and he starts bitching at me. "you got to stay on your trails, that's the deal they made with the bikers"

Is this true?

[Wheels]

Well, I wouldn't say it exactly like that, but if you're crossing the tracks you're not on the trail. That's why we took it over the bridge - because the tracks are private property.

[Whatsmymantra?]

No never crossed the tracks. You come up from the lake to the tracks and then cut back up the hill on a trail. It is one of those climbs that sometimes I make and sometimes I don't. A good test.
The hiker was definately talking about the hiking trail that the bike trail crosses in the southwest corner of the woods.

[Wheels]

Oh,

Well, that's not part of the official trail - but I often see people riding down to the lake (MTBr's or otherwise), it's a nice place to cool off if it's not too crowded.

If you were just doing a loop, and not riding down to the lake, I guess the hiker would have a legitimate gripe. Part of being legit is that you can't ride every little trail in the park, there are 4 miles of trail designated for biking.

[Whatsmymantra?]

I just wanted to be sure that I undertstood. The biking trail is to be shared with hikers and runners and the older existing trails are now for hikers only.
Thanks

[Wheels]

I just wanted to be sure that I undertstood. The biking trail is to be shared with hikers and runners and the older existing trails are now for hikers only.
Thanks

I guess that could sound like we got the short end of the stick, but then - there's 4 miles of sweet trail now - it's not such a bad deal.

Hope you're enjoying.