The trails in Squamish are an invaluable asset to this town. As cyclists, this statement is obvious and we all realize that without them, we can't do what we enjoy. They're also one of the most sensitive subjects to discuss, largely thanks to the passionate riders in the area and varying outlooks. One view that is more commonly agreed upon, however, is the disparity between maintenance and use.
Everyone is overjoyed that there is a regular trail crew for three months through the summer, and while the efforts being put forth by them are a blessing on the network, many ask the question, "is it enough"? Sure, the network sees a good portion of its traffic while the trail crew is taking care of business, and without it we'd be in a right mess. But we live in an area where the trails are busy all summer, with some people utilizing them all year long.
The winter months are definitely quieter on the trails, but this could be a prime time to put in more continued efforts. Less traffic would allow the maintenance crews to work largely uninterrupted and the addition of moisture, something that can be a challenge at times through the summer, would help these efforts immensely while also highlighting potential problems. Even the fall, a time where there are still a good amount of riders enjoying the trails, would be a great time to see the trail crew contract extended.
Currently the late fall and winter months see more volunteers pick up the hand tools and help out in the woods. These volunteers have ridden hard all summer and the urge to get some time off the bike and give back to the sport begins to peak again. This often raises another common question; should trail users be relying on volunteers to complete the maintenance needed? After all, the secret is out and Squamish is a destination for mountain bikers the world over. The network, especially in the last three or four years, is experiencing larger amounts of visitation, and now some maintenance each summer, yet many still feel there is a lack of support for this asset. And an asset it is.
A study during the summer of 2013 projected, rather conservatively, that on weekends throughout the 26-week period of summer Squamish sees 25,000 riders from out of town on the trails. This number accounts for 75 per cent of riders and did not factor in weekdays, with the study pointing out it would be fair to double the number in order to account for them. With that in mind, our trails are seeing a conservative projection of 50,000 riders visiting through the summer. Even more astounding is the revenue injected into the town from these visiting riders, with 40 per cent staying overnight and an average stay of 2.5 nights. These overnight visitors estimated an average spend of $215 per person, per trip, while day trippers estimated a spend of $37 per visitor, per trip.
Based on those numbers, a self proclaimed "very conservative estimate" from the study states that mountain bike tourists alone provide $2,729,107 (yup, that is a seven digit figure) in revenue to Squamish through the summer. When weekdays are considered, the mid-range estimate is said to jump to over $8 million. One could only assume based on the amount of traffic on the trails this past summer that these numbers have grown significantly since the study, only performed 12 months ago. We won’t even dive into the amount of people who have moved to town, effectively increasing the tax base, who were in some way encouraged by the trail network. Yet the trail crew is only supported for three months –13 weeks – of the summer.
The work that the trail crew is doing is without a doubt helping sustain the network while they're on the trails for those three months, though it seems well supported that there is a need for more. The trail network would benefit greatly from a sanctioned trail crew for the entirety of summer, with perhaps a month or so on either side as a buffer. This would allow Squamish to put forth the best trails possible all summer, while the network is busy and eyes are on them. Using the early and late season could allow for work on potentially larger problem spots and for this work to set, thanks to minimal traffic and typically plenty of moisture during such periods.
Yes, it's great and we very much appreciate having a funded maintenance crew for a portion of the summer, but is it enough? With hundreds of kilometres of trail serving hikers, runners, dirt bikes, mountain bikes and more, it would appear the efforts put into this key asset could be furthered still. Not only would it benefit the network and visitor experiences, but there would be more control over the work being performed, when it is done and who is doing it. After all, 27 per cent of our visiting riders suggest trails, and maintenance on them could be improved.
