Trail Usage

[EmL34]

Hey, Lebanon Hills is getting an incredible amount of use, even compared to last year. It seems to me that the trail is taking a pounding.

Does anyone have any stats? I think the number of laps ridden must be 3 or 4 times as many as last year.

What is Dakota's opinion? Are they pleased with this? Are they aware? What about 3 Rivers? Have they seen this and do they view this as a success?

[SickBoy]

I think everyone here would agree that it's been a success given the shape of the trail after hundreds of thousands of passes over the last two years.

It'd be nice if Tim could set up the pass counter (in secret) again sometime over the next couple of weeks to get some comparison stats between now and last year. Hard evidence to present to the other Parks districts and land managers would be nice. I think everyone who has been around trail building and maintaining for a while would say that Lebanon is a jewel of an example for maintainable, sustainable trails.

[socrates]

Originally posted by SickBoy
I think everyone here would agree that it's been a success given the shape of the trail after hundreds of thousands of passes over the last two years.

It'd be nice if Tim could set up the pass counter (in secret) again sometime over the next couple of weeks to get some comparison stats between now and last year. Hard evidence to present to the other Parks districts and land managers would be nice. I think everyone who has been around trail building and maintaining for a while would say that Lebanon is a jewel of an example for maintainable, sustainable trails.

But it would be hard to get an accurate count these days...if it's busy I'll usually skip the XX loop as it tends to be the busiest and ride the rest of the trail at least twice...if it's slow I'll sometimes just keep riding the XX loop without exiting to the rest of the trail

[gopherhockey]

It is indeed taking a beating this year even more than other years. I'm seeing roots & rocks uncovered almost every week.

One issue with a counter is that so many people do internal X-XX loops that it is a bit harder to get an accurate "loop" count like it was last year. We might have to use more than one counter... I know I used to do multiple laps the entire loop until the XX opened up, now I mix it up and sometimes do more on the XX and less all the way around.

I know the level of cars in the lot has really increased this year.

There are few if any trails in the metro that could withstand this kind of abuse. It is the trail design that has kept things together thus far - but we do need other trails to open up in the metro area to help relieve the pressure on Lebanon.

I know Dakota seems thrilled that there is an increase in usage. I don't think they mind seeing the park being used like it is now as long as they don't have to get involved in maintenance.

[Trevize1138]

So ...

When are we opening more trails?

:)

:banana:

[socrates]

Originally posted by Trevize1138
So ...

When are we opening more trails?

:)

:banana:

As soon as Mrs. D let's you out

[manual63]

I think having an organization like MORC has really saved these trails. One of the reasons Cedar trails was closed to MTBers was that is became popular and trails started expanding everywhere. The place soon became more wide open and no one knew how to maintain the trails as hills eroded away and a lot of damage was done to the environment there.

MORC has set guidelines and rules that most cyclists follow. MORC also organizes work to be done on trails. This has allowed trails to last longer and local governments to be more understanding.

I really appreciate what MORC is doing. Good job and when I am past my budget crunch with my wife and I going to school, I will certainly dump same cash into MORC so I have good safe trails to ride in the future.

[Maverick]

How long is that counter? If it was long enough, why not stretch it all the way across the Y intersection (the one that goes intermediate to the right and expert/XX on the left)? Of course it would be hard to hide there but at least everyone would be passing over it even if they rode the XX over and over again.

Just a thought...

[gopherhockey]

Yea, if you had a good enough counter you'd get everyone passing through that area regardless.

I think the best thing would be to take a measure in the original spot to get total laps, then perhaps one at the entrance of the X, then maybe the XX as well.

It would be interesting to see what each would say. I'd also love to have one placed at the exit of the old X loop - I am guessing that part of the trail is not ridden as often as it used to be.

I always see people downtown in the skyway sitting on a chair holding a clicker - maybe we can get them to go out and sit on the trails and do the same for us ;)