Safe trails are fun trails. Please be courteous.
The Hammond Trail, the Bay Trail, the Waterfront Trail. The vision for these trails is to connect our communities through a continuous network of paths separate from motorized traffic.
These trails serve people equally well as a route to work, as a path to a Farmer's Market, or as a place to unwind after a stressful day. You can walk your dog, take the family out for a stroll, or exercise with a run or ride. Trail users include people walking, jogging, bird-watching, biking, e-biking, unicycling, roller skating, scooting, pushing strollers, and using wheelchairs or other mobility devices.
As shared trails for the whole community, these public spaces work best when we all do our best to follow a few simple practices.
Alert when passing
Make it a habit to announce your presence when coming up on the shoulder of another trail user so you don't surprise them. A simple "hello" is often the best way to announce your presence. You can also say "Passing on your left" or "Behind you." A bike bell is also a great way to announce yourself.
Slow for others
People travel at different speeds. It's common courtesy to slow down significantly when you are passing someone. It is startling and even scary to be walking and have a bicycle zip past you. Be considerate and slow down around others. In especially narrow sections of trail with many users, like the Hammond Trail between Hiller Park and Knox Cove Road, you should expect trail traffic and keep speeds low for others.
Give people space
As you slow down to pass, make sure you allow enough space between yourself and other users. Giving a 3-foot buffer is generally enough space to pass comfortably. You probably have a good sense of 3 feet since that is the law for drivers passing bicyclists on streets (now strengthened to require changing lanes when possible), but here are some funny visual aids.
Keep right, pass left
Common courtesy and practice is for people to stay to the right and the move to the left to pass. Pay attention to oncoming traffic. Do not pass until it is safe to do so.
Animals on leash
This is a common complaint in Humboldt County, and loose pets can be dangerous on congested trails. Please use a leash and be mindful of other users maneuvering around you and your pet. And of course, pick up after your pet!
Be aware
This can mean looking up from your phone often, ensuring that you can still hear or see when you have earbuds in, and being cautious in low-light hours.
Get inspired
Watch this short video of local leaders demonstrating proper trail etiquette.
Which trails are you talking about and where can I find them?
This awareness effort is focused on multi-use paths that connect communities and serve as regional commuter trail networks. The specific trails addressed in this program are the Hammond Trail, Humboldt Bay Trail, Waterfront Trail including the Boardwalk, Annie and Mary Trail, and other future connector trails such as the Bay-to-Zoo Trail. Trail systems that are not intended to be covered are the Arcata Community Forest, Arcata Marsh Loops, McKay Community Forest, and other natural surface hiking or mountain biking trails in Humboldt County. Similar courteous behavior applies, but these trails have different uses, different signs, etc. The City of Arcata provides resources on hiking, biking and equestrian behavior as well as etiquette for dog owners.
You can find a trail near you by heading over to HCAOG's Online Bicycle and Trail Map and looking for the solid green Class I trails.
I get the message to slow down around others, but what are the legal speed limits for Humboldt County trails?
Multi-use trails are generally designed for speeds up to 20 miles per hour. But as with driving, the appropriate speed depends on the conditions around you. Some areas have tight curves that require slowing down, while long, straight stretches may allow cyclists to safely reach higher speeds. There are no posted speed limits on paved multi-use paths in Humboldt. Local agencies can conduct speed studies and set speed limits for particular sections. Speed limits on high-use trails are typically set at 15 mph, while congested areas with a high potential for conflict may have speeds set at 10 or even 5 mph. Setting speed limits can effect behavior and serve as a reference point for trail users to engage in direct communication with each other. This campaign chose to focus on encouraging behaviors that make trails work for everyone, but the trail managers will continue to monitor trail user experiences and assess whether speed limits are warranted.
There's an issue on the trail I need to report. Who should I report to?
There are a few levels of incidents to distinguish here. If a crime or serious injury is involved, you should call 9-1-1. On the other end of the spectrum, if you experience an incident like a collision or near-miss resulting from a conflict with another trail user, the best thing to do is make a report on Street Story. This open source program allows you to document your experience of a crash, hazard, or near-miss, or mark an area safe! Trail managers and HCAOG staff will utilize these reports as data points for future planning.
If you see a trail maintenance issue that needs attention, such as a hazard, grafitti, or sign issue, please report to the following contacts:
County of Humboldt: Call Humboldt County Parks at 707-445-7651.
Arcata: Contact Environmental Services at 707-822-8184 or eservices@cityofarcata.org
Eureka: For safety or maintenance concerns call (707) 441-4060. To report illegal dumping call (707) 441-4203.
Fortuna: Call City Hall at (707) 725-7550
What’s the difference between a Class 1 and Class 2 e-bike? What about Class 3?
E-bikes are divided up into 3 classes. Class 1 and Class 2 top out at 20 mph and are treated like regular bikes. The difference between these are that you need to pedal a Class 1, with assistance from the electric motor, while a Class 2 can be propelled by the motor without pedaling. Class 3 e-bikes are bulkier and brawnier- they can hit speeds up to 28mph and require everyone to wear a helmet, not only those under 17.
Where is my e-bike allowed?
For the types of multi-use paths (or trails as we say in Humboldt) we are talking about here, all e-bikes are allowed. Recent state law changed the rules for Class 3 bikes, which were previously not allowed on multi-use paths. Governor Newsom signed the Bicycle Omnibus Bill in September 2022 which allows Class 3 bikes on bike paths unless local governments have passed an ordinance restricting them in certain areas.Currently, there are no local laws prohibiting Class 3 bikes on bike paths so the default is that they are allowed.
E-bikes are allowed in Redwood National Park where traditional bicycles are allowed. E-bikes are prohibited where traditional bicycles are prohibited. Except where use of motor vehicles by the public is allowed, using the electric motor to move an e-bike without pedaling is prohibited.
There are four trails within Redwood National and State Parks where bicycle use is permitted, but E-Bike use is prohibited. These trails cross on to land administered by the California Department of Parks and Recreation. E-Bike use is prohibited on trails within Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park, and Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park. The four trails where E-Bike use is in violation of state law include:
• Little Bald Hills Trail
• Coastal Trail -– Last Chance Grade Section
• Ossagon Trail
• Coastal Trail -– Gold Bluff Beach Section
What is the story behind these signs and campaign?
In response to public comments about conflicts between users on trails, the Humboldt County Association of Governments formed an ad-hoc regional committee to explore the best approach to managing this issue. The group, consisting of transportation professionals and experienced trail managers from cities and the county, decided to focus on encouraging positive, considerate behavior on trails. The outcome is this campaign to "Share the Trail." The committee will remain active to monitor the implementation of this campaign, and to take further action as needed. Future work may involve speed studies and posting speed limits on particularly congested areas.