[pct-l] Ca Parks to look at expanding trail uses-action to take NOW

[Ken Murray]

Rather than get in a lather about something to take place in the future, 
there is an issue that merits attention NOW:

The state of Ca park system is about to undertake a review of:
"Road and Trail Change-in-Use Program"
 
This is the draft EIR.  Section 8 is a significant section on user conflicts:
http://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/980/files/v1_csp_r&t_chginuseprogrameir_10.5.12.pdf

Note that public comment period ends on Dec 4.

Among other things it says:

"Trail use conflict is an important concern to CSP. Multi-use trail cooperation is one of the key Program Goals of the CSP Recreational Trails Plan (CSP 2002; pp. 23 – 24). Collaboration and cooperative relationships among trail users and advocates are recognized as important in progress made toward implementing this plan"

"Despite implementation of design features to accommodate different modes of use and reduce safety issues, recreationists report trail use conflict issues. Examples include excessive mountain bike speeds, one type of user’s failure to yield properly to another, or inexperienced horses or riders not allowing adequate room for others to pass."

"Facts support a conclusion that trail use conflicts are not a source of significant environmental impacts and that while the level of concern about conflicts is high among trail managers and users, the number of actual reported trail use conflict incidents is very low by comparison and accidents affecting the safety of users are rare

"Interestingly, the objectives of users representing different groups are expressed in very similar terms, i.e., to enjoy the resources offered by the park. However, opinions also exist among different types of users about what are acceptable modes of travel, the focus of the trips people take, expectations of encounters with other users, attitudes about the environment or wilderness, level of tolerance of others, and different norms or stereotypes held by different users.
When a change in use is proposed, these social values are seldom directly expressed by users, who instead tend to reflect perceptions that a change of use would be unsafe or that they are bothered by the presence of other types of trail users. Concerns about mountain bikers failing to yield, traveling too fast, or passing too quickly are examples of the types of comments expressed about a potential change in use adding cyclists as a trail user.