When you are MTB riding, you typically are out on trails, tracks and roads that other people or animals may be using. As we all want to be able to keep riding, it is important that we respect other users and provide them with some common courtesy and safety. This is called Trail Etiquette and allows us as riders to build and maintain good relationships with others.
Hikers & Joggers
Most trails were developed for walkers or runners. Respect this, they were there first! Pay attention to a walker or runner. Make yourself known to them as they may not have heard you coming. Don't assume they know you're there until they've looked at you. Make sure you slow down and don't scare the daylights out of them. It maybe funny for you but certainly isn't funny for them.
Say hello as you pass! The quickest way to make someone smile is to just give them a quick greeting. They won't think we're all a bunch of goons! And if they've moved over for you or held a pet or child safely while you pass, always thank them.
Horses & Riders
If you were a horse, would you know what a bike is? Some horses have never seen a person on a bike and are scared witless of them. A shying or bolting horse is not fun to be on and can be awfully dangerous. We don't want to be responsible for a horse or a rider hurting themself so here it's important to use common sense.
If you see a horse and rider approaching, slow right down and check the situation out. If you see that the horse is looking at you as if it's about to jump out of its skin, then move to the side of the trail and stop. Stay there and let the rider pass. They will appreciate your action immensely!
Animals
Whether it's a cute little rabbit, a mangey rat or someone's moggy, animals deserve to be left alone. If you see an animal on or near the trail, let it get on with whatever it was doing. Chasing a kangaroo or emu may seem funny, but it's not a pleasant experience for the poor animal. Respect animals and just let them be.
Other MTB'ers
There is nothing worse than a rider being inconsiderate to other riders on the trail, especially inexperienced riders who lack confidence. Pushing past a less experienced rider on the trail can cause them to fall and injure themselves. After all, we want to grow our sport!
When you see another rider coming towards you, just remember your car road rules. In Australia, we drive on the left side of the road so why should it be any different on the trail. Move to the left side of track.
If there's not enough room for both riders to pass, the person riding downhill should always stop and move over. It's much harder to get going again if you stop on a climb. If you're the descending rider, be considerate!
Overtaking can be daunting for the rider being overtaken. If you come up behind another rider who is moving slower than you, let them know you're there and that you want to pass. If there's enough room to pass, then use words like "track", "on your right", "overtaking" or "passing". If there's not enough room, call out "behind" or similar and wait for an opportunity to pass. If you've used some manners, most riders will stop and move over for you. If you're a pig about it, they'll typically make it a point to not let you pass, and who can blame them? Oh, and if they move over for you, make sure you thank them. Manners are great!
The Environment
Leave only your tyre marks on the trail and only those that are needed!
Wrappers, drink bottles, bike parts, flat tubes, chewing gum, etc, aren't biodegradable. They don't naturally grow in the wild and nature doesn't know how to deal with them. Make sure these all go back into your backpack or pocket, and if you see some other person's rubbish on the trail, make an effort to pick it up! Nature will appreciate you for it.
Try to minimize impact on the trail by only riding on the defined trail. Don't make new lines on non-existent trail. If the trail is too technical or just too wet, just get off and walk. If the trail isn't technical enough, go and find something more exciting!
