It’s no secret that some of Colorado’s most popular trails have been getting more crowded in recent years. In response, one of the state’s outdoor recreation hubs is considering a less-discussed option for limiting trail traffic and conflict with the goal of improving the overall trailgoer experience.
Boulder County is seeking public input for a proposed ‘alternating use pilot’ program. Essentially, the change would limit trail use to certain types of users on certain days instead of allowing all activities at the same time, focusing on activities of hiking, biking, and horseback riding. For example, perhaps only hikers could use the trail on Monday, only bikers on Tuesday, only horses on Wednesday, etcetera. Not only would this be designed to limit crowds, it could also help to reduce friction between various trail users traveling via different means – higher-speed bikers posing a risk to lower-speed hikers and vice versa, for example.
Per a press release on the matter, a short-term test would first take place to “help identify what works and what does not” before any sort of more permanent change would occur…