Ace 4 Safe Trails is working to ensure State Park trails are being planned and built with the safety of Park visitors as a top priority. We are advocating on behalf of all trail users how important it is for State Parks to provide all park visitors with safe and enjoyable trails.

We are very concerned that Folsom Lake State Park’s recently announced “Change-In-Use” plans to convert many existing single track trails into “multi-use trails” will create very dangerous and unpleasant conditions for all trail users. State Park’s Trail Plan to combine all fast moving and slow moving trail users onto the same trails will ruin the relaxing, stress relieving experience most trail users seek as they explore and enjoy nature in State Parks.

Documented serious injuries and the recent death of a pedestrian hit by speeding bikes on local “multi-use trails” sadly prove the unsafe conditions which occur when high speed & low speed trail users are using the same trails. Many bikers ride at 20 to 25+ MPH on the trails as they seek Strava or personal best times, while pedestrians and equestrians typically travel at only 3-4 MPH. Often speeding bikers expect everyone else to get out of their way, even though the other slow moving trail users have the right of way.

Frankly, it is neither safe nor enjoyable for hikers, equestrians, seniors, bird watchers, joggers, nature lovers, families with children, dog walkers, etc. to constantly be in fear of being hit or run off the trail. In many areas steep side slopes, lines of sight, or other trail conditions don’t allow trail users to safely or quickly get out of the way of speeding bikes.

Therefore, Ace 4 Safe Trails is urging State Parks to revise their proposed “Road and Trail Management Plan” for Folsom Lake SRA. Instead of creating dangerous “multi-use trails”, State Parks should be developing separate high and low speed trails. Such a “user focused Trail Plan” would provide high speed trail users like mountain and E-bikers their own designated trails with the features they want, and would provide all other slow moving park visitors with the safe trails and features they want as they explore and enjoy nature.

Please let State Park managers know that you care about your personal safety and that of your family, and that you support the idea of separating speeding bikes from other slow moving trail users.

All types of trail users need to be accommodated on State Park trails, and the safety of all trail users must be the highest priority for State Park trail planners and managers.