A Guide to Trail Safety

Even in a nation with shocking numbers of obese and overweight people, many Americans use multi-use trails through parks and other green areas. On relatively narrow trails adult and child runners, bicyclists, walkers and even a few skaters are creating dangerous conditions. On some trails there may also be people on horseback. Plus there are nature watchers stopping frequently. Making things even more dicey are groups of people “doing their thing” and intent on staying together regardless of whomever else is in the way. And then there are the mothers and nannies pushing strollers. Now take all this diversity and notch it up. Why? Because a whole lot of these trail users are also talking on cell phones or listening to music from their iPods. Distracted car drivers are a known threat on roads and distracted trail users have become just as dangerous. Add to all this intersections on trails with other trails, roads and rest areas that cause trail users to stop or pause. Making matters even more risky are bends and curves and steep inclines that cause problems for users moving at relatively high speeds.

Statistically it may seem that way too few Americans are getting healthy outdoor physical activity, but with population growth and all the talk about the perils of bad eating and a sedentary lifestyle a lot more people are heading for trails, often driving long distances to get to one. In many urban areas the high cost of gasoline is causing people to use their bicycles rather than their cars. Though the numbers do not reduce traffic congestion on roads significantly, they can add greatly to trail congestion. The end result is that trail fever is causing problems nationwide. Instead of obtaining good health, some trail users are taking risks that threaten health, theirs and that of other people.