The News-Bulletin: Trails for horses, bikes and ATVs in proposal

Wednesday, November 9, 2005

Trails for horses, bikes and ATVs in proposal

Jane Moorman News-Bulletin Staff Writer; jmoorman@news-bulletin.com

Editor's note: The Valencia County Mobility Plan addresses a variety of ways to get around — motorized vehicle, public transit and alternate modes of transportation. This is the third of a three-part series about the proposed plan that is available for public comment and for which each governmental entity will hold public hearing.

The Valencia County Mobility Plan includes a variety of ways to get around, not just by motorized vehicle or public transportation, but also by bicycle, walking and even on horseback.

"The plan proposes a network of road bike routes and off-road trails which is intended to accommodate pedestrian and bicycle uses including the concept of a Bosque Trail," said Loretta Tollefson, Mid-Region Council of Government's project director for the mobility plan.

"As well as a map of trails currently used by equestrian enthusiasts, routes and areas they would like to be able to use" will be studied, she said.

The proposals were developed in close coordination with the Rio Abajo Bicycle Alliance and equestrian groups. It is intended to form an integral part of the transportation network in Valencia County, according to Tollefson, regardless of any final decisions regarding roadway options.

"When completed, there would be 247.42 miles of bicycle-pedestrian facilities, of which all but 17.76 miles are existing now," she said. "However, the majority of these facilities do not have signs identifying them as bicycle routes."

The plan recommends that a further study of bicycle routes be done to identify which routes can be safely designated.

"Signage should be put in place as soon as possible," the plan said. "The remaining facilities should be brought up to route conditions as soon as possible as part of upcoming roadway projects."

The dirt track/connections identified in the plan reflect current ditch banks, graded roads and other non-paved facilities that are currently being used by the walking and bicycling community.

"We have identified these routes in order to facilitate conversation about ways to enhance these facilities for bicycle and pedestrian use and, if they are upgraded, to assure that provisions will be made at that time for continued use by bicyclists and pedestrians," Tollefson said.

Equestrian enthusiasts also use the ditch bank roads and other non-paved routes, but there are issues when mixing the uses as bicycles can frighten horses.

The plan recommends that where bicyclists and equestrians must share the space, signs should be installed reminding all users of proper trail etiquette.

"The equestrian enthusiasts also expressed concerns regarding security issues, surface conditions, ditch bank access for wagons and carts, trash, user conflicts with all-terrain vehicle users, equestrian crossings of NM 314 and NM 47 and (horse) trailer parking space at trailheads," Tollefson said of the concerns that are shared in the plan.

Regarding equestrian routes the plan recommends:

Provide funding to retrofit access points on equestrian-designed facilities to enhance equestrian access to the path. This would include providing access for horse carts by either providing gate keys for carts or identifying another approach at strategic locations throughout the system. In addition, the construction of future access points should incorporate features that enhance, rather than diminish, equestrian access.

In acknowledgment of the rural character of the county and to enhance and preserve the equestrian uses currently still available in the area, crossings for equestrian users should be provided. It is recommended that an additional study be funded and completed to identify key points at which such crossings can be implemented, both across major roadways such as NM 314 and NM 47, and across the drainage network into the bosque.

Provide separate areas for ATV users, apart from those provided for bicyclists and equestrians.

Ultimately, the plan recommends that county governmental entities fund and complete a feasibility study that addresses the establishment of trailheads and a designated trails system.

The study would explore the concept in more detail, develop a conceptual plan, as appropriate, and identify potential funding sources for implementation.

A system of trails could include signs explaining trail etiquette as well as information about biological and historic context. The results of the study would be prioritized based on the connection of the proposed trailheads and trails with the projects in the county.

Another outcome could be a trails map for Valencia County that identifies the trailheads and trail network and provides a historic perspective for the areas in which people are bicycling, walking and riding.

Work has already begun on a portion of the trail system.

"A Bosque Farms Horse Trails Committee has been established by the village and it's in the process of identifying equine pathways within Bosque Farms," Tollefson said. "When this work is completed, the results are expected to be incorporated into the equestrian facilities map."

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