You catch more trail users with honey than you do with vinegar.
This seems to be the consensus of late about how to deal with the trail user conflict issue - an issue that almost brought different user groups to blows only a few years ago.
During the Trails Master Plan presentation to District of Squamish council on Jan. 25, Trails Coordinator Todd Pope explained that the Squamish Backcountry Trails Coalition (SBTC) was making more progress without legally designating trails as motorized and non-motorized than the district would by establishing and enforcing those designations.
"You don't feel there's a need for the district to distinguish which users use which trails?" asked Mayor Greg Gardner.
Cameron Chalmers, community services general manager, said district staff did seek advice from the trail users themselves but the general feedback was that the users were doing well settling their own conflicts.
"On the ground there's been a kind of shaking out on its own and we didn't want to inflame the situation by designating trails," he said.
"We're not seeing the same issues we were three or four years ago - this is a living document and that can be addressed if it once again becomes a problem."
Squamish Dirt Bike Association (SDBA) president Ed Alder agrees and said his relations with Squamish Off-Road Cycling Association (SORCA) and mountain bikers have improved dramatically over the years.
"Chalmers and Pope are right to let us sort out the issues on our own," Alder said. "We want to work together on a continuing basis and inclusion instead of exclusion seems to be the better solution.
"Our Ride Guide doesn't say, 'Don't ride here or there.' The focus is on directing riders to where they should be, instead of where they shouldn't."
He said having both major trail user groups realize the importance of maintaining the trails is hugely important.
"We can both learn from each other and I think it's great that we're getting along so well."
In fact, SORCA recently adopted a trail pass program similar to the one SDBA has been issuing for three years - a trail pass purchased with fees that go toward maintenance and the SDBA's parent group, the British Columbia Off-Road Motorcycle Association (BCORMA).
There is also a more expensive trail pass, the platinum trail pass, that includes $7 million worth of liability insurance.
In Alder's mind, the accountability factor goes to show it's "no longer the Wild West out here on the trails."
He said in the old days, everyone thought once you left the pavement there were no rules, no liability and no one else on trails to watch out for.
"We've come a long way past that in terms of relationships with other trail users especially," he said.
"It's a lot more effective to have user organizations determining where users should go and people on both sides have gotten a lot more amicable about explaining who rides where."
Alder said there are already some "designated" areas in place - the lava flow area between the Mamquam River and Ring Creek is generally known as motorized-friendly area (except the middle part of Ring Creek Rip, which is one-way) whereas the Diamond Head area isn't.
"We've made an agreement with SORCA not to advertise motorized use in the Diamond Head area because it's so focused on downhill mountain biking trails," he said.
"That's where things could get messy - in Diamond Head there's lots of mountain bikers who like to go down really fast, so we generally understand and adhere to that."
SDBA has installed non-motorized signs on a handful of trails already. They include Half Nelson, Hoods in the Woods and the Powerhouse Plunge. Alder said most people listen because "it comes from us and they know we're users ourselves."
"It's also out of respect for the each other and the work groups put into the trails," he said.
"We're aware that motorized use can wreck trails, but so can anyone if a trail is not maintained."
Alder doesn't ever expect that everyone will follow the guidelines, but if there are complaints, he said SDBA is listening.
"It's funny how these things happen and how far we're come - I met Cliff Miller [SORCA president] on Farside [Valleycliffe trail] 10 years ago and he told me I should come out to a maintenance meeting," said Alder.
"It was huge when we actually got together and getting past this challenge has been rewarding."
