Hike/Bike Trail Etiquette & Guidelines

Safety Tips

• Avoid running/walking/biking by yourself
• Tell someone when you’re going and when you expect to be back
• Bring a cell phone and ID
• Avoid using headphones
• Watch for and adhere to trail signage
• Check the weather prior to leaving
• Be aware of your surroundings
• Be prepared to stop or yield at road crossings
• Choose appropriate clothing/footwear
• Carry food/water for long trips
• Bring a whistle and/or pepper spray
• For emergencies, call 911

Helmets Recommended

For your safety, all cyclists and equestrian users should wear helmets. Your helmet should be snug and level or your head, and sit low or your forehead. Buckle and tighten your chin strap so that no more than one or two fingers fit under the strap.

Trail Etiquette

• Keep to the right side of the trail and pass on the left side.
• Use your voice “On your left” well in advance of passing others. Listen for and acknowledge that others are passing to allow for them to pass safely.
• When traveling in a group, move to the right when meeting oncoming users.
• Cyclists should yield to pedestrians. Cyclists and pedestrians should yield to horses.
• Control your speed. Be cautious on busy trails, or when there is low visibility or slippery surfaces.
• Keep the trails beautiful. Pack out all trash.
• Pet owners are responsible of prompt removal and disposal of waste deposited by their animal. (City Code 2711)
• Stay off private property.
• Obey all signs and traffic signals.

*Trail Rules

1. Wheel vehicles are prohibited on playgrounds, tennis courts, and game courts.

 2.Every City trail user shall remain as near to the right side of the trail as practicable, exercising due care, by giving an audible announcement, when passing another trail user. Trail users shall pass only on the left. Trail users should be aware of surroundings and be able to hear audible announcements. Bicyclists yield to hikers and horses, and hikers yield to horses.

 3. Motorized vehicles or motorized modes of transportation including, but not limited to: motorcycles, class III E-bikes, utility vehicles, mopeds, go-carts, golf carts, and snowmobiles are prohibited on City trails unless needed for police and emergency use, or pre-approved by the Recreation Services Director or Parks Director. Authorized modes of transportation on City trails include: pedestrians, skateboards, inline skates / roller skates, cyclists (which includes bicycles, recumbent bicycles, class I & II E-bikes, kick scooters, lightweight E-scooters, one- wheeled scooters), wheelchairs (motorized or manual), and other power-driven mobility devices (OPDMD). 

Definitions:

• Pedestrian: Person(s) utilizing the trail for walking, jogging, or running. Skateboard: A short, narrow board with two small sets of wheels attached to either end, a person can ride in a standing or crouching position, self-propelled with legs. Inline Skates / skates: A boot with small wheels on the bottom, worn on feet, self- propelled with leg and body motion.
• Bicycle: Two or three wheels, steered with handlebars attached to front wheel, foot-powered with pedals.
• Recumbent Bicycle:   similar to bicycles for rider is in a laid back position with various type of steering options.
• Class I E-Bicycle: Two-three wheels, steered with handlebars attached to front wheel, motor with pedal-assist without throttle, maximum speed 20 mph, maximum 750 watts (1 horsepower).
• Class II E-Bicycle: Two-three wheels, steered with handlebars attached to front wheel, throttle without pedaling required, maximum speed 20 mph, maximum 750 watts (1 horsepower).
• Class III E-Bicycle: Two-three wheels, steered with handlebars attached to front wheel, pedal-assist without throttle, maximum speed 28 mph, maximum 1,000 watts.
• Kick Scooter: human-propelled with rider pushing off the ground with their leg, with handlebars, stand on deck, and two-three wheels.
• Lightweight E-Scooter: propelled by an electronic motor, stand on deck, with handlebars, two-three wheels, 12” or smaller wheels.
• One-Wheeled Scooter: Self-balancing single wheel electronic board scooter or electric skateboard.
• Wheelchair: A chair fitted with wheels for use as a means of transport propelled by a person who is unable to walk as result of illness, injury or disability.
• Motorized Wheelchair: A wheelchair that is propelled by an electric motor.

•  Other Power-Driven Mobility Device: Any mobility device that is used by individuals with mobility disabilities for the purpose of locomotion but is not a wheelchair. OPDMD’s shall not be capable of speeds over 20 mph.

 4. Only pedestrian, standard bicycles and class I and II E-Bikes are allowed on natural surfaced City trails with the exception that horses are allowed on the natural trails at Oldfather Prairie and Lorma’s Overlook at Cottonmill Park and the natural trails Meadowlark North Park.

 5. Persons operating a bicycle, recumbent bicycle, E-bicycle, kick scooter, E-scooter, one-wheeled scooter or wheelchair upon a City trail shall ride single file.

6. In the interest of safety on multi-use recreational City trails, cyclists should ride at a speed that is reasonable and prudent for the conditions and ride slower at a slower speed in congested areas, intersections, bridges, and curves. Trail users of any type should announce their presence and reduce their speed when passing other trail users. Traveling too fast creates a higher risk of accidents or injury based on the multipurpose use of the trails. Trail users of any type should announce their presence and reduce their speed when passing other trail users. Trail users shall adhere to trail signage.

7.  The trail section from the I-80 undercrossing to Ft. Kearny is governed by the State of Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Nebraska Game and Park trail rules apply on this trail section.

8. Persons responsible for a dog on any City trail must have the dog on a leash. The dog shall be reined in to within four (4) feet of the responsible person.

*See special rules and safety guidelines for the Water Trail located at the entrance landing at Yanney Park.