Strava used to ban cyclists from trails
Data from Strava showed mountain bikers were traveling at what the council deemed excessive speeds on shared-use trails.
Concerns by local trail users about mountain bikers who were using the Byrne Preserve trails in Los Alto Hills, California at excessive speeds lead to a ban unanimously passed by the local council. Strava data showed riders were using the trails at speeds in excess of 20-mph (32-kph) and this influenced the council members to enact a ban on mountain biking on the shared-use trails.
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Horseback riders and hikers had raised concerns about mountain bikers using the trails at speeds described by one council member as ” just incredibly unacceptable”. One trail that was particularly problematic was the steep Artemas Gintzon trail. Local trail users were vocal with their concerns that young horseback riders could suffer injury if their horses got spooked by a biker coming around a blind corner at speed.
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According to Tenton Gravity, the proposed ban was bolstered by looking at the riders Strava data and some are now saying that a worrying precedent has been set.
Ryan Dunfee of Tenton Gravity wrote, “While Los Altos Hills’ action is seemingly a unique example of what can happen when folks who don’t want bikers around use bikers’ own data against them, it’s not hard to imagine Forest Service rangers or other public officials being forced to take action against illegal trails or in the case of Los Altos Hills, revoke legal trail access mountain bikers already enjoy.”
The possibility now exists that a vocal minority could use Strava data to back up their concerns to a city council to help ban cyclists from trails. It is a precedent that could make collaboration between trail users more difficult and raises questions about what data that is publicly shared can be used to legislate changes on trails that mountain bikers make use of.
Andrew Yee, a local of Mountain View, told Los Altos Online, “In 12 years in living in this area, I haven’t had a single incident that’s been unpleasant with hikers, other bikers or equestrians. I think we can learn and collaborate instead of discriminating against one group.”
After no public opposition came forward, the proposed ban was adopted on the Preserve trail with the council noting that the decision was influenced by the recorded speeds of riders tracked on Strava.
