Judging from the comments cited in Brian Maffly’s article on the foothill trails and those posted on the facebook page of Mountain bike Enthusiasts of Utah, no one is really happy with the changes in the trail system. Perhaps that means that the design successfully balances the needs of hikers and mountain bikers, even though both sides think the other side has the advantage. Both sides “lost” some traditional routes. Hikers had the uphill BST from City Creek “taken” but they have a new nicer, albeit steeper in sections, new alternative. Bikes lost some social trails that were quasi legal anyway so neither side has much to gripe about.
Maffly’s article does contain some misconceptions. First off, he states that “choice pathways are set aside for downhill biking.” The downhill trails are all new (except for the old BST mentioned above) and new hiking only trails get users to the same point. Who is to say which new route is the “choice pathway”? Secondly he states the “most conspicuous trails are two mountain biking routes, one for uphill and the other for downhill”. Not true. There is no new uphill trail for bikes only. The climb to the downhill route is on a multi-use trail and follows the old and new BST.
Finally Mr. Schelling is quoted as saying the plan favors mountain bikes over hiking. He also complains that the trails “are no longer safe for children or dog walking.” If the latter is true (it’s not!), why are downhill specific trails a problem? I would also point out that the new trail allowing a circuit of Bonneville Boulevard is hiker only. Thus hikers have several miles of trail where they never have to see a bike. And the new design allows hikers to get all the way to the ridge with upper City Creek without seeing a downhill bike. Seems pretty safe for children and dogs to me.
Personally I would like to see more multi-use trails, especially the new trail being built at the top of Dry Creek. For better than 20 years people got along on these trails with minimal conflict. New multi-use trails will make more loops possible for everyone and allow less experienced mountain bikers an alternative to jump oriented trails.
Richard Steiner, Salt Lake City
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