Metroparks rant

[mattc]

Anyone who has lived in northeast Ohio for more than five seconds knows what a terrific resource we have in the Cleveland Metroparks and attached park systems such as the CVNRA and Lake Metroparks. I spend a LOT of time there in the warmer months. Even in winter, I run there several days a week. And as I work on the east side and now live on the west, I cover just about all of the “Emerald Necklace” by foot or bicycle in a typical summer week.

But while I love the parks and all they offer, I do have a few bones to pick with my fellow park-goers. I am not even going to get into the issue of drivers and cyclists sharing the road (both the stuff I see cars do when around cyclists, as well as some of the stuff I see cyclists pull when they’re around cars). In fact, my rant deals with the super-popular All-Purpose trail.

Here is my list.

--- Drivers who blow through crosswalks. I believe it’s the law that you’re supposed to stop at a crosswalk when a pedestrian is going through it, whether they're running, walking, skipping rope or moonwalking.

--- People who don’t leash their dogs, and don’t clean up after their dog. This should be fairly self explanatory. If Rover wants to run free, take him to the dog park near Detroit Road.

--- “High-speed” and “Daredevil” cyclists on the AP trail – The AP trail is supposedly for everyone, but if you’re on a bike I don’t think you should be going more than 10 MPH on the AP. There are too many people in too close quarters. If you want to ride faster, get out on the road. I think this goes for inline skaters too.

--- Out of control kids. I know kids get wild and crazy (we all do sometimes), but take them to a picnic area to work off their sugar high. I have no interest in hurdling your out-of-control five-year-old during a 2-hour run.

--- Speaking of hurdles… Horse poop on the AP trail. I expect to find “piles” on the bridle trail, but if Trigger decides he needs to go right when you get to the intersection of the bridle and AP trail, then get off the horse and clean it up. Carry a shovel! Why should we expect horse owners to do differently than dog owners?

--- Large groups of hikers on the AP trail. At North Chagrin I will occasionally cross paths with large groups of 10-15 birdwatchers who will stop dead in their tracks in the middle of the AP trail. In spite of my loud “excuse me” or "head's up" or "passing left" they typically make no room for me to pass (or just don’t mosey out of the way in time) so I end up running off trail to get around them. Birdwatching is a fine hobby, but please step aside when you’re scanning the trees for the spotted warbler or tufted titmouse.

[Dan Runion]

Hm, I agree on most of your points. Not sure about bikes on the trail though. Agreed cyclists should slow down when passing walkers/runners/etc, but I think it's better to be on the trail than deal w/ traffic on the street.

My .02

danny

[mattc]

Better for the cyclist...

[Dan Runion]

MattC said:

Better for the cyclist...

Well yes that's true. Thus the reason cyclists should slow down while passing thus not harming anyone else. Including drivers.

[mattc]

Fast riders should slow down, but I see many who just don't, regardless of how many people they endanger. They might be okay riding on a weekday when fewer people are out there, but hit the Rocky River or North Chagrin AP trail on a nice Sunday morning and there are usually way too many people for this.

I used to think there was room for everybody, but now I know that is not true. Perhaps years of running have made me blind to only the dark side of human nature.

And so, I rant...

[Kathied]

Hi Matt,

I totally agree with you about your rant. I belong to one of those large hiking groups - Cleveland Hiking Club - and we always emphasize to our members to stay to the right on the ap and we call out ahead if we hear a biker approaching. The parks ARE big enough for all of us if everyone uses a little consideration. I feel that bikers who choose to ride fast should be on the road. I love kids and take my grandkids to the park, but you are absolutely right - parents need to be considerate and teach their kids (including teenagers!) to be courteous in using the trails.

Kathie

[MIKEY]

hmm- I must agree with most everything. Are you talking about unleashed dogs on the AP trail? Or does this include playing out in an empty field. I take my dog all the time, and while I keep him leashed on the trail, (which I mostly stay off of anyway- because i find it rather silly in many ways), I play tons fetch and chase in empty fields. My dog is very well behaved and we stay away from people, as I know not everyone is a dog lover. And yes- I clean his poo- stepping in any kind of poo is just nasty.
Here's my rant- Are we living in the 60's?? Actually- I think that even in the sixties bikes were allowed off road (hence the invention of MTN bikes). Why the heck can't we MTN bike in the Metroparks?? It's like I am thrown back to the stone age!! Could we form an angry mob and storm the Administration building or something? Being new to the area- I am not sure on past spats with the metroparks on this- but I would think that in this day in age one could have at least a few trails to ride on.

[mattc]

"Are you talking about unleashed dogs on the AP trail? Or does this include playing out in an empty field."

Dogs in open fields are excluded from my rant. They're fine. It's the ones on the AP trail that raise my ire, particularly the ones that are unleashed. In fact, I believe North Chagrin has signs to keep dogs off the trail surface.

I should clarify - it's not the dogs with which I have an issue. It's their owners.

The metroparks bridle trail has a long history. I read once, I believe in the Plain Dealer, that the creation and preservation of those trails for the purpose of horseback riding was part of the parks' charter. At any rate, I wouldn't expect to be able to MTB there any time soon.

[Dan Runion]

MattC said:

Fast riders should slow down, but I see many who just don't, regardless of how many people they endanger. They might be okay riding on a weekday when fewer people are out there, but hit the Rocky River or North Chagrin AP trail on a nice Sunday morning and there are usually way too many people for this.

I used to think there was room for everybody, but now I know that is not true. Perhaps years of running have made me blind to only the dark side of human nature.

And so, I rant...

Agreed. I'm pretty slow as I'm new to cycling, but I'm getting faster. Perhaps I'll need to reconsider riding on the road in few months. Also, the time of day is key as well. I've been commuting mostly and the Bedford Reservation is mostly dead to the world at 7:30 am on a weekday. Given that fact I don't see the need to take my chances on the street w/ sleepy drivers.

On another note: Did I say "thus" twice in my last post? I *must* be a geek. Sorry about that.

[Angie]

Well... bans of MB in the metroparks has been attacked for a while.

---Check out this link on the camba (Cleveland Area MB Association) website about the current state of MB in cleveland.

www.camba.us/pn/modules.php?op=modload&name=Sections&file=index&req=viewarticle&artid=9&page=1

---If you think MB should be allowed off-road in the metroparks... join CAMBA... they are very active and have been fighting this since their inception.

I agree that fast road bike riders should not ride on the AP trail. It is too dangerous for all involved. Yes... you are taking your chances on the road but better than colliding with a rollerbladerer or runner. When I run on the AP trail I do not like it when cyclists "buzz" pass me.

ANGIE

[scott]

People make fun of my squeeze horn on my MTB and my ding bell on my road bike, but they prove to be invaluable on busy paths or trails.

For some reason, people can hear a bell or a horn first before they can hear me shout "Passing!"

Go figure....



Scott

[joehofstetter]

I enjoy mountain biking as much as the next person, and even catch myself sneaking onto the MP trails every now and then, but I have to say I agree with the metropark on this one... The park (although seems big to us clevelanders) is actually about the size of someone's back yard in the middle of the Rockies. If everyone in this area could mountain bike in the park, it would be destroyed in the matter of a few years. Look at how much use the knob gets, and that's in the middle of no where, and pretty used only by respectful riders. The park is so narrow that If any teenage kid could access the park by mountain bike or BMX bike it would be over run by trails. Our park system just isn't that subjectable to mountain biking in my opinion.

I will say it would be incredible to have a few areas up here (not necessarily metro park) designated for MBs. perhaps Boston Mills Brandywine ski resorts... Although now that its part of the National park system I doubt that can happen either.

[atrejbal]

I think it is a shame that these parks aren't doing more to set aside or allow trails to be built for mountain biking. Agreed resources in the park must be preserved, but at the same time, the resources are meant to be enjoyed. I just joined CAMBA and am planning on doing a few xterra races this year. Would be great to have more trails to train on and enjoy. There's plenty of room and I hope the metroparks will do more to work with groups like CAMBA and be more receptive to expanding the recreational opportunities offered. We're lucky in triathlon to have plenty of lakes to swim in, roads to ride on and trails to run on.

[Brian Lennon]

Actally mountain biking can be a very appropriate activity in local, state and national parks. I'm a leader of CAMBA and we have worked very hard with Cleveland Metroparks and the Cuyahoga Valley National Park in educating them what mountain biking is all about. Both parks have recognized our club and the sport as a ligitimate activity and something that would benefit tha park and the users without negativly impacting the environment. We were very fortunate several years ago to have an opportunity to build trails at West Branch. We now have an excellent trail that is sustainable (even on West Branch's less than ideal terrain) because it was built with knowledge and experience we gained from working with the International Mountain Bike Association. The reason vulture's knob has not held up to it's many riders is because of trail construction. The Knob is a very fun trail to ride, but it is mainly constructed of non-benched fall line trails. A trail can be sustainable to high mountain bike/hiker/horse use, but it must be a benched contour line trail.
Recently and memorandum of understanding was created between the International Mountain BIke Association and the National Park system. This ground breaking event (for mountian bikers) will allow each park to evaluate the possibility of mountain bike trails on their land.
I love mountian biking and devote a large amount of time to spreading the word to fellow riders. I could talk mountain bike advocacy all day, but i'll stop myself. Please check out www.camba.us for more informtion on mountain bike advocac or e-mail me at [e-mail]

[Mikey]

I just moved from Portland Oregon, where we have the largest city park in the Nation. The park is open to all users. It has a parge gravel trail (well, road that isn't used by cars) for everyone, as well as hundreds (yes, hundreds) of trails which vary from multi-use, to hikers only, to bikers only. It works out great, with very little side effects. I think that the metroparks would be awesome with MTB trails. Even if they put the trails in less used parts (like brecksville), it would be an improvement. I used to work trail mantainence for the US Forest Service- and I can tell you, a well built trail can withstand mountain biking very well. To be honest, the largest "trail predator" is horses (who need their own space as well, mind you). Keep up the good work, CAMBA!!!!

[TriHippie]

Guest-mikey said:

Here's my rant- Are we living in the 60's?? Actually- I think that even in the sixties bikes were allowed off road (hence the invention of MTN bikes). Why the heck can't we MTN bike in the Metroparks?? It's like I am thrown back to the stone age!! Could we form an angry mob and storm the Administration building or something? Being new to the area- I am not sure on past spats with the metroparks on this- but I would think that in this day in age one could have at least a few trails to ride on.

The 60's!? Hey man, it's so far out that you mention that! See, back in the 60's the parks weren't about riding bikes and running. No way, man, we went to the park for free love and rock and roll and to find mushrooms to eat! Yeah man! We were so [glow=red,2,300]GrOoVy[/glow] back then!

But, hey, if you want to go protest the Administration building, I love a good protest! Power to the people!

Peace!

[MIKEY]

Hey- if the parks offered free love, rock and roll and mushrooms now- then forget mtn biking!!! Scrap the biking, I want some free love!! ;D

[ben]

Matt.....Do you really run off the side of the trail if hikers don't get out of your way? There is nothing more satisfying than sticking your shoulder into some hikers ribcage as you shove through on your run. What are they going to do, run after you? You just can't run back on the same trail. They carry these really big sticks and for old people thay are surprisingly accurate with those suckers.

[mattc]

They'd probably be severely traumatized and hire a personal injury attorney to sue me and... wait a minute!