Trail Riding Habits
By Harold Morrissette

Here are a few tips on Trail Riding habits.

1. Yield right of way to pedestrians, bicyclist, and horseback riders. I recommend when coming upon someone on horseback to pull over to the right side of the trail and shut off your bike in order to prevent spooking the horse. The rider will always thank you. When approaching a person on foot or bicycle slow down to 5 to 10 miles per hour. This will prevent them from being dusted out. Then travel past them about 100 feet before resuming speed.
2. Hill Climbing. I recommend that you let the person in front of you get to the top first. The reason for this is that if they have to stop on the hill you can jump of your bike to assist them. Also you will not be in the same situation partly up a hill and trying to continue from a complete stop.
3. Stopping on the Trail. If you want to stop for a rest or have a problem with your bike, pull to the far right of the trail. Try to avoid stopping on the top edge of a hill or blind corner. Don’t park your machine in the middle of the trail.
4. Private Property. When riding on private property which permission has been obtained, realize that there could be children playing along these trails. Do not let speed be a factor in an accident. Some of the landowners concern is the speed at which people drive down the trail. If you are close to a highly populated area please slow down.
5. Sand Pits and Dirt Tracks. The Rockingham Trail sand pits and dirt tracks have been closed and it was just a matter of time for an accident to happen. If you ride in these environments I recommend that every one have a flag mounted on the back of their bike. Also, some sort of agreement with everyone at the sight agreeing upon the direction of travel. When everyone in the area is doing their own thing and going in fifty different directions there is an accident just waiting to happen.
6. Cary in Cary out. Do I need to explain. Take your trash with you.