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Arches National Park Seeks Comments On Proposed Bike Trail Connector

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By NPT Staff - January 24th, 2021

Arches National Park is taking public comment on a proposal to allow cyclists to use a pedestrian trail/NPS file

Arches National Park staff is seeking public input on a proposal to allow cyclists to use the Arches Visitor Center Connector Trail that ties into the Moab Canyon Pathway.

The 30-day review period gives the public an opportunity to signal if they think bicycle use on the trail would negatively impact Arches’ natural, scenic, and aesthetic values, affect safety, disturb wildlife or park resources.

Bike use on the existing connector trail would allow park visitors, employees, and residents to safely access the Arches visitor center on a bike from the existing bicycle and pedestrian path (Moab Canyon Pathway) outside the park. Currently, people entering the park in southeastern Utah on bikes must use the main entrance road, which creates safety issues for vehicles and cyclists.

The Visitor Center Connector Trail Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Sigificant Impact, which provide information and context for the written determination, can be found on this website. The public can access the written determination at this site. Comments will be received through February 22. 

Comments

Submitted by Peter on January 25, 2021 - 8:02pm.

Great idea!


Submitted by Lea Brooks on January 27, 2021 - 3:09pm.

 

I enthusiastically support bicyclists using the Arches Visitor Center Connector Trail that ties into the Moab Canyon Pathway. My husband and I visited Arches National Park in August 2019 and had hoped to ride our bicycles throughout the park. It became immediately apparent that riding a bike during the height of the summer season on the park's narrow roads with heavy motor vehicle traffic and districted drivers was not safe or pleasant. We were disappointed, but decided to drive a car to visit this spectacular park. Connecting the Moab Canyon Pathway, which I rode as part of a longer ride in the area, to the Visitor Center makes sense. The main entrance road is designed for motor vehicles and is not safe or pleasant for people on bikes. People on bicycles will not negatively impact Arches. Focus on what is negatively impacting the park: noisy, polluting motor vehicles, especially oversized motor homes and diesels. Consider closing the park to motor vehicles periodically to enable people on bicycles to enjoy the park without fear of being killed or injured. I am a resident of San Luis Obispo, Calif.

 

 

 


Submitted by moab mike on February 1, 2021 - 5:34pm.

the trail is already built...why are they seeking comment now?
AND there's no shoulder, no bike lanes in the Park making riding dangerous for the riders and a huge traffic hazard for drivers.

 

we should be commenting on having a shuttle system like Zion, Bryce, and the Grand Canyon and getting cars off the single park road.


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