My advise would be a little different than Dave's... I'd tell the writer to Socialize
I'm dead serious here. If you want good trails, get to know the regulars, get out to the meetings, make people see a face when they think of what you want.
Something transformative happens over time when you interact, and people have a face, and a positive image of you when it comes time to plan trail work. Those hikers, equestrian users, and residents, will start going to bat for you. All it costs you is a stop, a wave, a hello.
I recently attended a meeting where the planners wanted to take out all the technical single track, add a large wildlife reserve area, and make the trails wider in general. When I stood up in defiance, the regulars, and locals, had my back. The conversation turned from bikers v. other users to, "we share this park with Geoff, he's a nice guy". We all banded together and the trails at my park are freaking epic.
So if you want to make trails worse. Make anonymous complaints on the internet, charge the trails like its raceday, stop for no one, and never making a greeting. However, if you really want to make trails better, just say hi to people, take a moment to comment back, and show up to the meetings. You can literally charm your way to better trails, and make a few friends in the process.
This post goes out to the guy in the Cubs hat who walks his dog off leash everyday at lunch. Sometimes he annoys me, but he really came through for me at the trail meeting.
Jan. 9, 2018, 11:45 a.m. - Geoffrey Hamilton
My advise would be a little different than Dave's... I'd tell the writer to Socialize I'm dead serious here. If you want good trails, get to know the regulars, get out to the meetings, make people see a face when they think of what you want. Something transformative happens over time when you interact, and people have a face, and a positive image of you when it comes time to plan trail work. Those hikers, equestrian users, and residents, will start going to bat for you. All it costs you is a stop, a wave, a hello. I recently attended a meeting where the planners wanted to take out all the technical single track, add a large wildlife reserve area, and make the trails wider in general. When I stood up in defiance, the regulars, and locals, had my back. The conversation turned from bikers v. other users to, "we share this park with Geoff, he's a nice guy". We all banded together and the trails at my park are freaking epic. So if you want to make trails worse. Make anonymous complaints on the internet, charge the trails like its raceday, stop for no one, and never making a greeting. However, if you really want to make trails better, just say hi to people, take a moment to comment back, and show up to the meetings. You can literally charm your way to better trails, and make a few friends in the process. This post goes out to the guy in the Cubs hat who walks his dog off leash everyday at lunch. Sometimes he annoys me, but he really came through for me at the trail meeting.