West Vancouver is holding public consultation on it's Plan for Trails on Public Land.

Interested riders should attend the Information Session on May 10, 3:30 - 7 pm at the West Van Community Centre. Alternate dates are May 11 & 16. Talk to staff about the need for authorized bike trails. Ask how unauthorized trails can become authorized.

There's also an online survey with a couple of points you'll want to contribute to. The survey asks what you consider most important in 5 areas.

• Managing and maintaining District trails
• Trail usage: increasing, evolving, mixed
• Managing environmental impacts on trails
• Insufficient amenities
• Lack of connectivity and land ownership

Considering the lack of authorized bike trails, many would expect this to covered under Trail usage. Wrong! You have to dig into Managing environmental impacts to find a draft recommendation supporting authorized trails for all uses. Look carefully. Can you find it?

The survey also covers access to public trails on private land. Most people don't realize how many hiking trails are on private property, such as Millstream, Brewis and Ballantree. Recently the property owner at Ballantree Park put up no trespassing signs. It's for reasons like this that people should support the draft recommendation to work with land owners to enhance connectivity, and formalize public access through cooperation and negotiation.

Take the online survey and vote for the draft recommendations most important to you.

NO TRESPASSING!!

This is the private property sign in West Van at Ballantree Park.

This is why the top priority should be working with land owners to secure access to trails, starting with hiking trails.

This is why interested riders should show up at the May 10 Info Session 3:30–7 pm and tell staff what's most import to them.

This is why bikers, hikers, trail runners and dog walkers, should fill in the online survey and say that working with land owners to secure access to trails is a top priority.

Can't make it out tomorrow, but survey complete!

Many thanks to everyone that attended today's event. It was a wonderful balance of expertise and interest without overwhelming staff or others wishing to express their views.

Please continue to fill in the online survey, putting a high importance on working with land owners to secure access to trails on private land. The objective is to raise awareness of this issue with all levels in the District.

I've been remiss in not mentioning a couple of other items in the survey that mountain bikers will care about. Look for items addressing working with volunteers and having trails for ALL uses.

Survey complete.