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Numerous studies have found the environmental impact from biking and hiking to
be about the same, and the impact from equestrian use greater than either
biking or hiking. A quick Google search will turn up several papers.
Tire tracks leading in and out of mud puddles is actually a good thing. It
means bikers are following IMBA trail etiquette and staying on the trail
tread. Hikers will often walk around a puddle to avoid getting their feet wet.
Walking or biking around a mud puddle leads to trail widening and often
secondary trails or "braids" arise, increasing the environmental impact.
What's the #1 factor in trail damage? Not biking. Not hiking. Not equestrian
use. It's trail design. Design a trail well, and it will last. Design it
poorly, and it will fall apart in short order no matter who is using it.
There is a perception that droves of mountain bikers are damaging trails, but
often the reality is the trail was never designed properly in the first place,
and it's falling apart from a drastic increase in use, not the type of use.
Replace the droves of mountain bikers with droves of hikers or horses and a
poorly designed trail will fall apart like house of cards.
Feb. 3, 2015, 1:59 p.m. - Ray
#!markdown Numerous studies have found the environmental impact from biking and hiking to be about the same, and the impact from equestrian use greater than either biking or hiking. A quick Google search will turn up several papers. Tire tracks leading in and out of mud puddles is actually a good thing. It means bikers are following IMBA trail etiquette and staying on the trail tread. Hikers will often walk around a puddle to avoid getting their feet wet. Walking or biking around a mud puddle leads to trail widening and often secondary trails or "braids" arise, increasing the environmental impact. What's the #1 factor in trail damage? Not biking. Not hiking. Not equestrian use. It's trail design. Design a trail well, and it will last. Design it poorly, and it will fall apart in short order no matter who is using it. There is a perception that droves of mountain bikers are damaging trails, but often the reality is the trail was never designed properly in the first place, and it's falling apart from a drastic increase in use, not the type of use. Replace the droves of mountain bikers with droves of hikers or horses and a poorly designed trail will fall apart like house of cards.