Trail Etiquette 101
By Tony Hogeveen, Ottawa Mountain Bike Association / Photos by Lucas Rice Whether you ride in Gatineau Park, Camp
Fortune, The Greenbelt, Kanata Lakes, The South March Highlands, or further out in Forest Lea, Beachburg, or Limerick Forest, the sport of Mountain Biking in the Ottawa Region is not only alive and well, but growing in popularity. With more and more people on the trails, it is important to remember that Trail Etiquette is far more than simple courtesy. It will govern your respect for other trail users, yourself and other riders, and the forest and trails themselves.
All of the trails in the Ottawa
region are shared trails. While some are predominantly used for Mountain Biking, none are
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exclusive to the sport. This means that no matter where you ride, you will at some point encounter other users such
as hikers, bird watchers, and dog walkers. Slow down, yield the trail, and give a friendly shout out to let people know you’re coming. Everyone has a right to the trails and courtesy and respect go a long way to promoting a good reputation for Mountain Biking. You’re really not likely to come across a hiker that doesn’t reciprocate a friendly “Good Morning” as you pass on by.
Know your limits and what
you’re capable of and never be afraid to walk your bike through technical terrain or over a difficult feature. The trails systems throughout Ottawa vary from easy beginner trails to very difficult advanced trails and all of them at some point contain features (such as a steep rocky
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