4.2 - Support Programs |
As mentioned in various sections of this plan, the establishment of a trails system entails much more than simply determining routes and seeing to their construction. Route designation is certainly the key to the overall project, but other associated programs must be simultaneously initiated if the trails system is to be satisfactorily Implemented.
In the trails staging program, the importance of maintenance must be stressed. The tendency is to develop new facilities and let already established routes gradually deteriorate thus making them undesirable for use. Maintenance should be coordinated through the Public Works Department and design standards should be used which minimize maintenance costs. Special concern should be given to drainage grate modification, pothole repair, and bikeway sweeping programs. Inadequately maintained shoulder conditions may cause bicyclists to compete with motorists for lane space. This can result in bicycle-vehicle accidents. The consistant loser in this situation is not the motorist.
Educational and associated law enforcement programs directed at trail users and motorists should be implemented as crucial elements of the trails program. People must be made aware of rules for trails use, particularly those related to safe trail conduct and respect for private property. Enforcement of rules (Ref. Appendix C.1) and laws must accompany educational programs to assure that the people using trails and the people and property affected by trails are protected to the greatest extent possible. However, law enforcement personnel can not be effective in preventing trails violations if the judicial system is not responsive to penalizing violators because of inadequate court time. Given typical court case loads, it will be difficult to prosecute minor trails related violations in the misdemeanor category. Because of this dilemma, violations relating to such issues as motorcycles on trails, minor trails related trespass, and other minor offenses should be dolt with as an infraction rather than a misdemeanor (Ref. 5.9) Violators are then directly penalized by having to pay a fine as with a parking ticket. In this way, violators do not escape some form of penalization due to lack of court time for the hearing of comparatively minor violations. This categorical shift of minor violations from misdemeanor status to infraction status has worked well in other areas where trails have been established on or adjacent to private lands. Of course, more serious violations should be treated accordingly.
The social, economic, and environmental benefits of trails development and use have been discussed in various sections of this plan (Ref. 1.5, 2.2.2, 2.2.3). Because trail development can result in enhanced physical and mental well-being for those people who choose to utilize the trails system, the promotion of trails use should be an on-going part of the overall trails program. Generally, public knowledge of trail route potentials is limited. An active program to identify and publicize trail locations should be initiated on the basis of the various benefits of trails use.
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