All Things Bikes and Tacos! (...and every vehicle imaginable)

Worth sharing from our local trail group (copy/paste from email so not perfect formatting):

HELP PREVENT THE SPREAD OF DISEASE ON THE TRAILS

Stay Safe Out There! MBOSC Recommendations for Trail Use Amid COVID-19

At a time of shelter-in-place restrictions and widespread work-from-home practices, trails have become more popular than usual. Whether you’re a casual cruiser or a hardcore enthusiast, now is the time to prioritize safe trail use and interactions above thrill-seeking fun with friends.

As a community of outdoor enthusiasts, we have a tremendous opportunity in front of us -- to help stop a global pandemic and be model trail citizens during this difficult, scary time.

It’s on us to follow CA guidelines, keep rides short and mellow in open public lands, and to remain a safe distance from other riders while out on the trails. Take a peek at our below recommendations for trail use to learn about how you can help keep the outdoors safe and enjoyable for all users.



MBOSC Recommendations:

• Stay home as much as possible!
  • Exercise and sanity are absolutely important, however, we recommend that everyone stay at home as much as possible until this situation passes. Countries that have figured out how to stop the rapid spread of COVID-19 have all enacted much stricter social distancing measures than we are experiencing here in California.
• If you do go out, act as if everyone you encounter out on the trails has the virus (even if they don’t!)
  • Give plenty of room (at least 6 feet), wash your hands frequently, and bring hand sanitizer with you on rides just in case you need it.
• Do not drive to a riding location
  • Following California guidelines, only drive across town for the absolute essentials! Car crashes are no joke, and driving to the trailhead is unacceptable right now, as automotive transport facilitates virus spread between communities. Get to know your local park, or explore new areas nearby home.
• Please, do not ride/hike/do anything in large groups, aim for solo activities as much as possible!
  • Gathering in a large group and hitting the trails increases the chance of virus transmission between members of your group as well as transmission to other trail users. As a large group, you create a bigger obstacle for other users and set a bad example for the outdoor community.
    
    
  • Tell your housemates your route, share your location with them on your phone and provide them with an expected return time if you are concerned for your safety when heading out for a solo ride.
• Building on the previous warning, do not shuttle under any circumstances!
  • Gathering together in a car, driving to a new area, and riding in a group is a dangerous and unnecessary risk to put on yourself and the community you are visiting. Maintaining the recommended 6’ between yourself and others is not possible in a car with all your buds.
• In the event that parks shut down, please respect closures
  • If closures do occur, they are for the best of our community’s health. Respect the experts here, and avoid closed areas at all times.
• Pick off-hours to ride, and avoid times of heavy traffic
  • If you do choose to enjoy the outdoors, pick a time when you believe there will be low traffic on the trails.
    
    
  • For example, riding at 4:00 p.m. on a Saturday is likely better than riding at 10:00 a.m.
• Keep rides short and conservative if you do choose to enjoy the trails
  • We know that injuring yourself is never the goal when enjoying the outdoors. That said, stay in your comfort zone and do not put unnecessary pressure on emergency services or our trails.
    
    
  • Our health system cannot support additional emergencies right now, and no one wants to be the one to distract medical resources from an ongoing pandemic.
    
    
  • Keep your rides short and sweet for the time being. Give others ample opportunity to enjoy the trails!
• Use the bathroom before your ride, and avoid snot rockets while on the trail
  • Many public restrooms are closed (they’re a huge vector for disease!), so do your business before hitting the trail.
    
    
  • No one wants to encounter your snot during their park visit, especially if it could cause transmission.
• Keep your dog on a leash
  • Dogs can be a vector for COVID-19, so keep your pup on a leash while enjoying the trails!
• Do not share food or tools
  • This isn’t the time to swap snacks or share gear. Keep your tools to yourself, and if you absolutely must help someone out, sanitize tools before and after use.
• Give people the space and time they need to use the trail safely
  • Slow down more than usual, and give fellow trail users more room than you may normally give should you need to pass.
    
    
  • Now is a time to prioritize the experience of others. Keep trail interactions safe, kind and respectful.
• Speak up if others are not following these recommendations! Share this knowledge.
  • If you encounter a group of folks shuttling or disrespecting social distances, say something to them in a respectful and informative way.
    
    
  • We’re in this together and need to hold one another accountable.

CA State Parks has some great guidelines for park use during this time. Check 'em out!
What’s at risk if trails aren’t respected during this time:

• Access to public spaces
  • Our access to outdoor spaces is a privilege, not a right.
    
    
  • LA and Marin parks have been shut down due to overcrowding, and communities in Santa Cruz and nearby areas could face the same thing if trail use guidelines are not respected.
• The health of you and your loved ones
  • This virus travels in clusters, meaning once one a member of a household is infected, it is likely to infect other members. The best way to stay healthy is to stay home or ride/hike alone.

​

Please remember - your choices have consequences! Any of the choices in the above gif could easily apply to going out for a group ride on our trails.

We know that times are hard right now, but please take the time to slow down and think through the way you use trails and interact with others during this time.

Stay safe,
Team MBOSC
STAY IN TOUCH!



MOUNTAIN BIKERS OF SANTA CRUZ
PO Box 331, Santa Cruz, California 95061

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Did somebody at least get paid to write all those words?

 

3 hour of isolation today. I’m enjoying the Cutthroat .

 

People drive to trailheads just to run? I don't understand

 

Couldn’t the same question be asked about riding a bike? What’s the difference?

 

Running is stupid

 

You don't need purpose-built infrastructure to go running. I have the same sentiment for road bikers

 

Runners are allowed to run on sidewalks but cyclists arent always. Its illegal to ride a bike on a sidewalk in a few towns around here. If you dont have a good bike lane infrastructure to not get murdered by dumb motorists, there a lot of places I would travel to get to a suitable start.

 

Fair enough. I respect your opinion, can’t say I share the viewpoint though. Trail running requires a trail. Purpose built or not.

Not to be a dick, but what does that have to do with trail running or riding? Both those activities require a trail, not a sidewalk or dedicated lane.

 

Sorry, in this specific case since its based on my picture, is road runner and road bikers park on that end. Thats why I brought up road activities.

 

If I were a runner or a hiker, I think I would enjoy the more natural areas too.
I do enjoy the night rides because it’s rare to see them.

 

We are so freaking lucky we can ride to miles of decent singletrack within a few miles of our house. It makes a good warmup and cool down. And didn’t even realize it until after we bought the house.

 

What are you talking about? Close to a trailhead was my only requirement for a house! Lol

 

Haha yeah me too, it's been great for my mental health. here's a pic of my neighborhood with my house highlighted

 

Sorry didn’t mean to make a stink about something trivial. I personally am a trail enthusiast; bike, hike, and running. Any of those activities on anything other than trail are pretty much a no go, save for running. I’ll road run with my wife, and kids in the stroller (within reason of course when the kids are involved).

The sad reality is that for me, and many others, riding or running to a trail head from home just isn’t realistic.

I know I am very envious of those that have that available to them.

 

Yeah, my house is right by the trail head and miles and miles of a single track to use. Past few weeks I literary roll of the bed onto the trail before 1st meeting and sneak out for a quicky during lunchtime.
From this morning...

 

4 miles each way for me from door to trailhead. I still drive. It's all downhill on the way there which is nice, but its a pretty good uphill all the way home which is a kick in the pants after a good ride.

 

Plus side to where I live - no hills to contend with.

Down side to where I live - no hills to have fun with.

Hence the road bike.

 

To the south and west of us is several thousand miles of flatness. In the opposite direction, a typical 3 hour ride involves 1000’ of climbing. The flat side is known as the Pacific Ocean, not really rideable, so we have no choice.