There has been a great deal of stir on and off the trails of Santa Fe after a hiker and Mountain biker had a physical altercation on the Dale Ball Trails recently in Santa Fe. As more and more people take to the trails to trail run, hike, dog walk and bike the user interface can get maxed out causing both human and animal strife on the trails. With a little effort on everyone’s part to be polite these totally inane encounters should be avoided.
Probably the first thing to do here would be to treat others the way you would like to be treated, I think this is called human decency. Bikers should always yield to hikers, hikers and bikers yield to horse’s and everyone be nice. I know your little poochie woochie is the most important doggie in the world but the rule is put poochie woochie on a leash and get over any special entitlement to not have to follow the rules of the trail. Sorry but most people I see on the trail can’t control their canine friends and this causes problems for those that choose follow the policy. Most of us know a leashed dog does not like some freewheelin’ mutt doing the sniffer dance while its owners bellows helplessly for the dog to come. My Malamute almost ate a little back packing chihuahua the other day for this reason.
I know despite postings or my ranting about the entitlements of dog owners it takes us all to be good ambassadors of our trails so we do not have to have them policed or closed to certain user groups. I hike and bike on the trails and this has reminded me that good trail practices, and manners go along way. Join us in trying to make our trails a more peaceful and friendly place.
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