by Open Space Administration and Education Services
comments open from February 2 until February 21

"Yielding is sometimes the best way of succeeding."--Italian proverb

Through a process involving many of our trail users, staff proposed a new Open Space Yielding Regulation C.25 that was approved by the Board of County Commissioners last week. Regulations, by their nature, are unable to address every possible scenario. In working with the Trail Use Task Force (a volunteer group of hikers, bikers and equestrians) and other members of the public, staff compiled a list of Trail Use Etiquette principles that identify "successful" behaviors in our parks.

• Expect and respect other trail users
• Use a friendly greeting when approaching another trail user and gain their attention
• At approximately 50 feet of encountering horseback riders, communicate to allow safe passage
• Be aware of your surroundings at all times
• When using ear phones, turn down the volume and keep one ear free to hear others on the trail
• Step off the trail when using a cell phone
• When appropriate, voluntarily yield the trail
• Move to the side to allow passage
• Stay right, pass left
• When possible, yield to trail users traveling uphill
• Acknowledge communication attempts
• Slow down and use caution when approaching corners, switchbacks and blind spots

Common sense and courtesy are always the better choice for park visitors in every situation. Although most users are cooperative, cordial and compliant, conflicts on the trails occur when one user passes another at a different pace or where trail width or line of sight was limiting. The Open Space Yielding Regulation C.25 was expanded to describe desired passing movements for trail users.

Find the new regulation on the Open Space Web site under "Rules and Regulations."