Planning

Trails Master Plans

When mountain biking first appeared in communities around BC and elsewhere there was little planning involved. Many people didn’t understand what it was about or what was needed in order to make it grow (assuming they thought of it as a good thing).  In fact most communities immediately saw it as a liability with rickety structures on unsanctioned trails build by a bunch of radical bike riders.

Fast forward to the present and we see that some of the original trails still exist in some form while others have been decommissioned.  Local land managers now take inventory of the trails to control and manage their condition and their use.   In most cases new trails are now only added to a local trail system after a number of steps have met proper approval from the land manager or public land authority.

With the growing popularity of mountain biking and other trail based activities, many communities now develop trails master plans and management plans to ensure better access and more opportunities for enjoying trails safely while mitigating impacts on the environment, wildlife, and other outdoor enthusiasts.

Strategic Planning for Recreation and Tourism

While trails master plans can help ensure a better user experience and long term certainty for trail development, strategic planning can help communities maximize the benefits associated with trails.  Increased local participation in outdoor recreation improves quality of life, increases local pride and attracts new people to the community while tourism is an important consideration that can lead to new economic opportunities and new sources of employment.

Here is an example of a strategic plan for Northern BC completed in 2014:

• Northern BC Mountain Bike Tourism & Recreation Development Strategy