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Autor: otaviolaraujo | Publicado: 2012-07-04T07:44:00-07:00


Freeriding and Risk Management: 15 Steps to Success




  
  
  
  
  

    






 British Columbia's South Island Mountain Bike Society built this sweet 
trail feature on the South Ridge Trail in partnership with local land 
managers.


   A skills park in Port Moody, British Columbia. 


   The freeriding park in Keystone, Colorado. 


   Club Mud's expert riding area in Quiet Waters Park, Florida. 


  
 At least one sign should describe safety guidelines, helmet rules, risk
 warnings, a "Use at Your Own Risk" message, responsible riding tips, 
emergency contact information and more.


   There should always be an easier, alternate route around a technical feature. 


   (Fall Zone) A fall zone provides a clear landing for a rider who has failed to negotiate the obstacle. 



The freeride movement went through an awkward adolescence in the 
1990s. Early movies and magazine stories gave many people the impression
 that "freeriding" was synonymous with riding off-trail and mountain 
biking in a reckless fashion. As a result, some land managers cling to 
the notion that technically challenging trails are fundamentally unsafe.
 They oppose freeriding out of a fear of potential injuries and 
lawsuits. The good news is that mountain bikers can responsibly create 
and ride challenging trails without sparking liability concerns or 
provoking lawsuits. In this article we present 15 steps to managing 
freeriding risk.

1. Be Aware of Possible Social Issues There are many 
social and emotional issues surrounding freeriding. Technical riding 
areas, both natural and constructed, have been opposed by a variety of 
groups, including land managers, environmentalists, neighbors, other 
trail users, and even other mountain bikers. If you're planning to 
develop new freeriding opportunities, you should be aware of some of the
 social issues that may come into play. These issues can be effectively 
addressed through open communication and understanding.

2. Build Partnerships and Communicate Successful trail 
projects require close collaboration among freeriders, land managers and
 local mountain bike clubs. By consulting with freeriders and 
incorporating their suggestions into trail management decisions, 
planners can develop trail systems that have broader appeal. This effort
 will also reduce unauthorized trail construction. Judgemental attitudes
 and negative stereotypes from either side can undermine successful 
partnerships.

3. Determine Shared Use or Single Use IMBA supports 
shared-use and single-use trails. A purpose-built freeride trail will 
usually be more successful if it is single use. Frequent technical trail
 features are unsuitable for horse use and may not provide an enjoyable 
experience for hikers. Adding technical trail features to a crowded 
trail shared by joggers, dog walkers and inexperienced trail users is 
rarely a good idea. However, shared-use trails that offer technical 
challenge are feasible in the right situation.

4. Understand Local Liability Laws One of the first things
 people want to know is, "Will I be held liable if someone gets hurt 
while riding a trail on my property?" Most states have laws, called 
Recreational Use Statutes, which protect land managers and private 
property owners from being held liable in the event that someone is 
injured while recreating on their property.

Recreational Use Statutes vary from place to place, so we recommend 
that you research the laws governing your own area. IMBA partnered with 
American Whitewater to list info on liability laws, and analyses of each
 U.S. state's Recreational Use Statute.

One critical point to remember about most Recreational Use Statutes:

Private landowners are rarely at risk of being held liable for 
injuries incurred on their property, unless they charge the public a fee
 to access their land, or if it can be proven that the injury was a 
clear result of their gross negligence.

It's important to note that while Recreational Use Statutes often 
prevent landowners from ultimately being held liable, they do not 
prevent lawsuits from being filed in the first place. It takes time and 
money to mount a defense against a lawsuit, regardless of the outcome.  
Therefore, the goal is to practice diligent risk management techniques 
that will prevent lawsuits from being filed.

5. Understand Related Case Law Case law is how the courts 
have ruled in the past. These previous judgments can help demonstrate 
that, generally speaking, courts have upheld limiting land owner 
liability related to trail use.

Records show that few lawsuits have been filed related to mountain 
biking accidents caused by trail conditions.  Of the suits filed, hardly
 any were decided against the land owner.

If local government officials are wary of lawsuits, you could 
research and include specific case law in your trail proposal. Consider 
enlisting a local attorney/mountain biker to help  research case law and
 overcome liability concerns.

6. Provide for Skills Progression It's important to 
introduce freeriding challenges to users sequentially so they can 
enhance their skills in a managed environment. Construct a practice area
 with a wide variety of challenge, from easy to difficult. The most 
challenging features should mirror the most difficult obstacles users 
can expect to encounter on the trail system.  Another great idea is to 
offer regularly scheduled skills clinics. In addition to teaching riding
 techniques, include tips on responsible trail use.

7. Place Technical Features Appropriately There are two 
suitable locations for technical trail features: one, a challenge park; 
two, a trail. The placement of a technical feature on a trail is 
determined by a number of factors. Is the trail shared use or single 
use? What are the skill levels of trail users? (When assessing trail 
user abilities, don't forget to consider the varying skill levels of all
 visitors - not only mountain bikers.)

On beginner to intermediate-level routes, always locate your 
technical trail feature to the side of the main trail - as an optional 
path for advanced riders consciously seeking a more challenging line. On
 the other hand, if the trail is clearly designated for advanced users, 
the reverse is true: locate the technical feature on the main trail and 
provide an easier option to the side of it.

8. Develop an Effective Signage System It is important to 
develop a comprehensive signage system for your trail network. Signs 
should be placed at the main trailhead, trail intersections and at other
 key locations. The main trailhead kiosk should describe trail 
difficulty using a trail rating system. Pay particular attention to 
signs at the intersections of trails with differing difficulty levels.  
Also, it's important to sign before very challenging technical trail 
features, like big drop offs, narrow bridges or other elements of 
increased risk. When placing signs, consider where you are. Trails with 
high use should be well signed. Conversely, a technical trail deep in 
the backcountry should have far fewer signs. Signs can be an intrusion 
on a visitors outdoor experience - use them with care.

9. Utilize Trail Filters A trail filter, sometimes 
referred to as a gateway or qualifier, is a high-skill-level, 
low-consequence obstacle that demonstrates the difficulty of the 
upcoming trail or trail feature. Examples of a filter are a narrow, 
handlebar width opening between two trees, a rock garden or a rock step.
 Place filters at the beginning of each advanced trail and just before 
technical features. By making the entrances to technical trails and 
features difficult, you prevent unprepared riders from overstepping 
their abilities.

10. Provide Optional Lines There should always be an 
easier, alternate route around a technical feature. On advanced trails, 
the technical trail feature can be located on the main line, with an 
easier option to the side. On intermediate or beginner routes, technical
 trail features should be outside the main trail flow, and potentially 
even disguised from the main  trail. Optional lines could potentially be
 in the same corridor as the main trail: For example, a drop-off could 
vary in height from one side of the trail to the other.

11. Provide Adequate Fall Zones A fall zone is the area 
adjacent to a technical trail feature that provides a clear landing for a
 rider who has failed to negotiate the obstacle. Fall zones are located 
at the bottom of descents, on the outside of corners, and on the side of
 the trail and obstacles. Consider removing branches, stumps, logs, 
rocks and other protruding objects that could cause injury. Another 
option is to add mulch or dirt to further soften a fall zone.

12. Follow Construction Guidelines Both natural and 
man-made additions to trails must be durable, predictable and designed 
to minimize injuries when trail users fail to negotiate them properly. 
Consider IMBA's detailed construction advice in the freeriding section of the IMBA website.

13. Develop an Inspection and Maintenance Log All trails 
require consistent inspection and maintenance. Technical trail features 
should be inspected for durability, predictability and safety. 
Consistent maintenance logs should be kept to ensure trails and features
 are being kept up to standard. Different trails require different 
levels of maintenance, depending on a variety of factors, including 
climate, volume of use and the number and type of trail features. Wooden
 structures, like bridges and teeter totters require routine upkeep. You
 must be committed to their inspection and maintenance.

14. Designate a Risk Management Coordinator Recruit an 
individual who will be responsible for making sure recommended risk 
management techniques are properly implemented and documented. This 
person will consolidate all of your safety measures and should work with
 the land owner to create an emergency management plan. Assign 
responsibility to an individual who is known for their conscientious 
behavior and attention to detail - and be sure they are willing to 
perform the job. Remember that the Risk Management Coordinator shouldn't
 be saddled with executing the plan by themselves. Rather, they should 
serve as a point-person for a group of volunteers.

15. The Final Step: Be Prepared to Give Answers When 
seeking to create freeriding opportunities, a written trail proposal may
 be necessary. When freeride and technical trails are proposed, it can 
be important to address the risk management concerns listed above. 
Consult with your land manager to determine what steps need to be taken,
 and what level of detail is required in a proposal.


BRIGHT IDEA
Work with Land Managers to Create Special-Use Challenge Parks
 Technical trail features are becoming increasingly popular with 
mountain bikers. Many land managers are open to the idea of having 
special use zones or playgrounds for these types of stunts, similar to 
skateboard or snowboard parks. Work with your local land manager to 
create these