This kind of stuff is really interesting coming from over here in the
UK. Most of our trails are just bridleways, originally old tracks for
people to get places on horses, or walking. Because of them being for
transport as well as just fun places to ride, it'd be ridiculous to
close them in the wet (not to mention that not riding for 3 days after
rain would mean not riding for 6 months of the year). Some trails aren't
worth riding in the wet, because they get super muddy, but that's just a
choice thing. Some trails get a bit damaged, and need to be fixed, but
if they become not so fun, people just go ride somewhere else.

Part of the thing is that because there's so many trails compared to
many other countries (in England and Wales there's something like 40,000
miles of legally rideable trails, 140,000 miles of legally walkable but
often rideable trails) that people are spread out a lot.

The purpose built trails here are designed for all year riding, there's
a lot of work into drainage.

Interestingly, one of our local areas now has a designated 'casual
riding area', in which making of random trails, riding off the trail
etc. is officially allowed. It does change shape a bit every year, new
trails appear, old ones disappear, but it doesn't seem to cause any
problems, the undergrowth just grows back where the trails have gone out
of use.

Joe


--
joemarshall

' old pics' (http://tinyurl.com/56yl2f) 'new zealand pics'
(http://s119.photobucket.com/albums/o...rshall_photos/) 'new pics'
(http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/joemarshall.org.uk)
'Where have I been riding? (GPS) ' (http://tinyurl.com/6fxw5x)
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