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CONFLICT
Other than environmental impact, the chief complaint
among trail users is conflict with other users: disturbing
one's enjoyment of naturalness and solitude.
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"As a past Professor of Outdoor Recreation, I have never
seen a SINGLE path MULTI-USER trail be successful at
avoiding conflicts. While multiple paths in parallel work
well when space is ample, single paths simply do not. Early
on a decision was made to dedicate trail use to one group so
as to reduce conflict."
Simon Priest, Ph.D. Chair, KPTC
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ALTERNATIVES
For motorized vehicles and off-road (mountain) bicycles,
Washington State DNR operates a fantastic network of many
trails (4x4 or 2-track) in Tahuya State Forest near Belfair.
Please educate motorized users to this fact.
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Ultimately, some people will choose to ignore a trail
designation and to take their horses on a foot trail, or to
ride their bikes on a horse trail, or to walk down the
middle of a bike path. Also a few will deliberately decide
to seek conflict with all users by driving or motorcycling
on several land trails.
Education and alternatives are the first methods for
addressing conflicts. Once people know the trail has a
dedicated use and that there is an alternative available for
their own use, they are more likely to avoid creating a
conflict.
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