Snowmobiles did not cause any of the damage in question, nor was it caused exclusively by bicyclists. The condition of the trail might be better described as rutted and postholed, the former by bikes, the latter by pedestrians.
Here’s an example of what I’m referring to when I write “postholed” (though in snow in this photo): https://www.flickr.com/photos/mababo/24314791136/ <https://www.flickr.com/photos/mababo/24314791136/> Trail users in Verona have, in the last couple of years, shown an exceptional lack of consideration for the trail surface. There might be something in the municipal water supply that causes this behavior, but it could also be that the trail segments in question tend to be low and not well drained, tending to stay wet for quite a while. The whole debate about whether to pave the section between PB and Verona (and beyond?) centers on whether snowmobiles would then be allowed to use the trail because it’s paved. My understanding is that they are not generally allowed on pavement (the Badger north of Purcell would be one example) because studded tracks and carbide-shod skis can easily pit and gouge the pavement surface if there’s inadequate snow. Even so, they *are* allowed to use the paved section east of PB to the snowmobile gate to connect to a system of private trails, presumably because there isn’t another good place to cross the 18/151 bypass. Whether or not we agree with the existence of snowmobiles, they are a fellow user group that exists and they contribute at least as much as we do through tax revenue and user fees. In addition to using the rail trails to get places, they use them to connect to a large network of private trails. Telling them to step off would be the moral equivalent of motorists telling us to get off of "their" roads. The two most obvious solutions would be to pave the trail and allow snowmobile access on that section, or to do some kind of community education in the hope of keeping users off the trail when it’s soft. Michael Lemberger Madison > On Sat Apr 16 14:24:24 PDT 2016, Rob wrote: I think it's worth pointing out that the Military Ridge State Trail is not a bike trail. It's a multi-use trail that allows bikes and bicyclists. I don't think singling out certain types of trail users and casting blame is a good way to address problems with the trail. Are the ruts we're discussing even caused by the snowmobiles? Presumably the trail surface is frozen when they're out. The ruts are probably from cyclists using the trail when it's too wet -- maybe we are to blame for more damage than the snowmobiles. And let's be realistic: cyclists are never going to ouster snowmobilers in Wisconsin (though global warming may eventually do it anyway). Instead, we should work to find a compromise that makes the trail accessible to the largest number of people and activities possible. If that means more regular trail grooming instead of paving out through Verona, great. If it means we pave through Verona, and snowmobiling happens between Verona and Mt. Horeb, great. I'm just happy this resource exists for everyone. I see a lot of comments on newsfeeds and articles saying that cyclists as a group have no place in X location or on Y street. I'd love for this group to learn from the vitriol that we, as cyclists, experience and try to avoid doing the same to others. Best, Rob
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