The City of Calgary's Cycling Policy on Undesignated Trails in Parkland

Thanks go out to everyone who helped bring this policy into existence.

1. Trails will be available for users except where defined by bylaw or City of Calgary policy documents, or in extenuating circumstances where types of use have to be separated for environmental preservation and/or personal safety reasons.
    
2. Protection of the environmental asset will take priority over human use, with the greatest emphasis being placed on protecting the most environmentally significant areas.
    
3. The policy will recognize public safety requirements.
    
4. Public education will be the primary means of achieving proper trail use.
    
5. Trail use will be limited to designated routes in "Special Protection Natural Areas" and "Major Natural Areas." In all other parkland, existing or informal trails will remain undesignated and available for use unless specific issues arise requiring a management solution.
    
6. Designation of trails will be based on the principles and process contained in this policy document.
    
7. In all parkland, creation of new undesignated trails will be discouraged.
    
8. Trail use is to be managed, through the consideration and application of a range of options, in order to balance access and protection objectives. Trail use issues will be addressed as site specifically as possible. When an issue arises, a review will take place and appropriate management option(s) will be recommended for implementation using the process outlined in this policy.
    
9. Trail closure, to all users, will be employed only after careful consideration of all other recognized management options.
    
10. Prior to implementation of a management option(s) in "Special Protection Natural Areas" and "Major Natural Areas" a public review will occur by the Calgary Parks & Recreation Department, involving the affected stakeholders.
    • Standing participants: River Valleys Committee, Calgary Pathway Advisory Council, Elbow Valley Cycle Club, Calgary Mountain Bike Alliance, Federation of Calgary Communities and the Calgary Field Naturalists Society and
    • Local representatives: Urban Park Master Plan-Public Advisory Committees, Community Association(s), stewardship groups and other affected groups and/or individuals.
       
11. Decisions regarding trail use and protection of the City's natural environmental assets will be based on this policy, in conjunction with existing Council approved policy documents.
     
12. Calgary Parks & Recreation will respond to issues when required on a case by case basis. Any requirement for amendment(s) to existing council approved policy will be considered in the context of this policy and in conjunction with a public review.
     
13. With respect to Nose Hill Park,
    • Council be requested to reconsider their previous motion of (1995 June 8) with respect to bicycle use on Nose Hill, and approve the trail management principles articulated in the 1994 Nose Hill Park Natural Area Management Plan, in conjunction with this policy.
       
14. The public will be encouraged to participate in the education and trail maintenance components in implementing this policy.

 
Home | What is CMBA? | People & Contacts | Education
Newsletters | Trail Care | Help Out | Membership | Links | Site Map