I know this has been happening forever, however recently while riding some trails in a local park during the day, I came across two adults doing some very adult type stuff. Without pausing I loudly notified them that there are often kids around on these trails and I think they scattered-sure enough within about 10 mins I noticed some kids pop out of the very same trail. Kids who were stoked on riding these new-to-them trails on their Canadian Tire bikes and asking me if there were any other cool trails around.
This represented the opposite ends of the spectrum that happen in our local parks.
Again today on a lunch ride I came across a guy sunbathing in the nude who hurriedly threw some clothes on as I approached.
While a nuanced discussion can be had about socioeconomic and cultural factors that might lead people to this behaviour, my simple brain tells me that one component is that under-utilized trails attract certain peoples/behaviours-leading to less kids and other perceived vulnerable trail users on the trails-leading to less trail use-and spirals down from there.
My simple brain tells me the more I ride these trails, perhaps I might make things better for kids or others who want to experience these trails without coming across something sketchy.
Do your community a favour, if you have the motive/means/opportunity, and feel safe to do so - go bang out a quick ride on your local urban singletrack- or someone else will be doing the same thing.
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Which Trail System?
Reminds me of the old exit on Whopper.
Seaview (africville lookoff) Park, nothing special but there’s some nice little trails that cyclesmith has cleaned up for the short track races.
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