Hikers complain about bikers. Mountain bikers grumble about motorcycles. Horse riders complain about cyclists. Non-motorized cyclists grouse about e-bikes. Everyone gripes about dog poop and manure on trails. 

Rules exist to ensure that all trail lovers have positive experiences on Bountiful’s multi-use trails. Basic etiquette covers the gray areas. But there will always be rule breakers and impolite trail users.

What are the issues recreational users face on the city’s multi-use trails and what can be done to resolve them?

“I’ve heard there are complaints about e-bikes being able to go so much faster than non-motorized bikes, which increases the risk of running into each other going up or downhill,” said Todd Christensen, assistant Bountiful City engineer who also works with the city’s trail system.

The city has no intention to ban e-bikes from the trails, however, because as Christensen says, “Even motorcycles and horses are allowed on our trails.”

What the city is trying to do with its master plan is create more trail options so there are fewer opportunities for conflicts with many more miles of trails. It is also incorporating some directional or bike-only single-use trails, according to Christensen. 

Other trail challenges are cyclists flying downhill around blind curves without warning bells and running into hikers, or more commonly, simply frightening them or causing them to leap off the trail.

Motorcycles cause the opposite problem by disturbing the peace with noisy engines and creating fumes. Even hikers can disturb the peace with music blaring from their backpacks. Horse riders say motorcycles and cyclists make their horses skittish. In turn, the list of complaints about equestrians includes their intimidating size and manure left on the trail. And no one appreciates the dog owner who blithely ignores Fido’s waste or lets her dog off-leash. 

“Maybe when you know better, you do better,” Kate Bradshaw, Bountiful City Councilmember and avid biker and hiker, said. “I like people to get outside. But how we share our resources can sometimes be a challenge.”

She advocates better education about trail usage – something the Bountiful City Trail Advisory Committee is in the process of doing. A short video about trail user etiquette will soon be released on social media channels and on the committee’s website www.bountifulutah.gov/trails.

In terms of specific rules, signs posted on the city’s multi-use trails indicate that all users yield to horses. Bikers yield to hikers. As a matter of practicality, downhill bikers yield to uphill bikers, or whoever has the easier path yields to the harder. Motorcyclists yield to everyone – both up and downhill.

Beyond the simple rules, basic etiquette should prevail. 

“We encourage common sense and courtesy,” said Melanie Ogden-Larsen, longtime member of the Bountiful Trail Advisory Committee and one of the creators of the video along with Lindsay Wing. “In the video, we say, ‘It’s simple: It comes down to be nice. Say hi.’”

Bells on bikes fall into the “Be nice” category. Adding a bell to her bike was a later-in-life decision, said Bradshaw. “It just seemed like an easy thing I could do to be courteous. I actually have two bells: One dings continually and the other I purposefully ring as needed.”

Bikers who choose not to use bells can call out verbal cues. Hikers could do the same on blind curves to alert bikers.

“Say thank you when someone yields,” said Bradshaw. “Alert other users to snakes on the trail. Help with a flat tire or assist a hiker with a rolled ankle. Our foothills make Bountiful awesome. And how we engage with each other enhances our collective experience. I don’t think there’s any one group that should be targeted. I think we could all do better.”