{"id":1922997,"date":"2026-05-07T17:40:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-07T14:40:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1922997"},"modified":"2026-05-07T17:40:00","modified_gmt":"2026-05-07T14:40:00","slug":"boulder-county-colorado-mountain-bikers-restricted-trail-access-under-pilot-program","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1922997","title":{"rendered":"Boulder County, Colorado mountain bikers restricted trail access under pilot program"},"content":{"rendered":"
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File photo: Betasso Preserve<\/a>, Jeff Barber.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Mountain bikers in Boulder County, Colorado say they were blindsided by a pilot project to limit bike access to popular trails on an alternating schedule. The County Commission says<\/a> the goal of the project is to test \u201calternating usage on select trails to potentially improve safety and enhance the experience for users.\u201d However, many in the cycling community are upset about potential restrictions in an area that already has limited trails that are open to bikes.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe biggest fear would be just general loss of access,\u201d said Wendy Sweet, Executive Director for the Boulder Mountainbike Alliance<\/a>. \u201cThe mountain bike community was pretty disappointed. We didn\u2019t know there was an issue. We hadn\u2019t been consulted.\u201d<\/p>\n

Singletracks has also reached out to another local cycling advocacy group, the Greater Nederland Area Riders, for comment, but has not received a response as of press time.<\/p>\n

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Pilot project seeks to address user conflicts<\/h2>\n

The pilot project is designed to \u201caddress trail\u2011use conflicts, improve safety, or enhance visitor experience\u201d at trail systems managed by the Boulder County Parks and Open Space Division. According to survey data collected at various parks within the county, roughly 4% of park visitors reported a conflict with another trail user during their visit. Most of those conflicts were between hikers and bikers.<\/p>\n

Betasso Preserve is the only Boulder County park that currently enforces an alternating trail use schedule, a policy which was implemented in 2004, according to Sweet. Though the trails at Betasso are multi-use, bikers are restricted from using the trails on Wednesdays and Sundays. Hikers and equestrians may use the trails any day of the week. Despite the implementation of an alternating use schedule, survey data shows that 5% of Betasso visitors reported a conflict during their visit, which is higher than the 4% average for all Boulder County parks and open spaces. <\/p>\n

The county reports that the majority of visitors to popular open spaces with multi-use trails \u2014 Betasso Preserve, Hall Ranch, and Heil Valley Ranch \u2014 are cyclists. <\/p>\n

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Overall, visits to Boulder County parks are down significantly from a peak of 2.1 million in 2020. Since 2024, visits continued to decline, from 1.8 million to 1.7 million in 2025.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis pilot doesn\u2019t seem to have data to support there\u2019s an issue, and is suggesting the narrowest of possible solutions,\u201d said Sweet.<\/p>\n

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File photo: Heil Valley Ranch, Jeff Barber.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n