We all have our favorite local places to recreate, but can you get to them with a smaller carbon footprint? Driving alone in your car is the most energy-intensive path to fun, but there are local alternatives.
WTA busses http://www.ridewta.com offer a great alternative to driving to your favorite trail. Open the attached table of local trailheads and parks, along with their WTA bus connections from the downtown station.
All WTA busses are equipped with bike racks on the front - not up for riding uphill to Lake Padden? Throw your bike on the bus from downtown, hop off at the park, do your run or ride, and cruise back downhill to town on your bike. Check out this (http://www.ridewta.com/node/18) for a quick lesson is using these simple racks. If the rack is full, you can generally set your bike inside the bus in the area reserved for wheelchairs.
Once you're on the trail, be courteous to other users - the International Mountain Bike Association (IMBA) trail rules below are a great place to start. Some trails do not allow horses or bikes - check first. Learn more about IMBA at www.imba.com.
Local paddlers often go out in pairs for safety - if it saves driving, consider carpooling instead of each person driving separately to the put in. Another option is to sometimes a destination closer to home - every hour you're not driving TO a more distant body of water is an extra hour you have ON the water!
Did you know the Bellingham Bay Community Boating Center http://sailpaddlerow.org/ will store your kayak or small boat for just $20-$25 per month? Your gear is safe and dry, and access is easy any time. Best of all, your boat is just feet from the Bay - no more loading on and off the car! You can bus or bike to the Center and be paddling in minutes. Call 714-8891 for more details.
Sharing the trail with other users and eliminating or at least minimizing the signs of your use and passage allow others to create their own experience and builds support among landowners and other user groups to preserve and enhance the trails and facilities where we like to play. Here are some guidelines from national organizations.
See www.lnt.org for more
Know the regulations and special concerns for the area you'll visit.
Prepare for extreme weather, hazards, and emergencies.
Schedule your trip to avoid times of high use.
Visit in small groups when possible. Consider splitting larger groups into smaller groups.
Repackage food to minimize waste.
Use a map and compass to eliminate the use of marking paint, rock cairns or flagging.
Durable surfaces include established trails and campsites, rock, gravel, dry grasses or snow.
Protect riparian areas by camping at least 200 feet from lakes and streams.
Good campsites are found, not made. Altering a site is not necessary.
In popular areas:
Concentrate use on existing trails and campsites.
Walk single file in the middle of the trail, even when wet or muddy.
Keep campsites small. Focus activity in areas where vegetation is absent.
In pristine areas:
Disperse use to prevent the creation of campsites and trails.
Avoid places where impacts are just beginning.
Pack it in, pack it out. Inspect your campsite and rest areas for trash or spilled foods. Pack out all trash, leftover food, and litter.
Deposit solid human waste in catholes dug 6 to 8 inches deep at least 200 feet from water, camp, and trails. Cover and disguise the cathole when finished.
Pack out toilet paper and hygiene products.
To wash yourself or your dishes, carry water 200 feet away from streams or lakes and use small amounts of biodegradable soap. Scatter strained dishwater.
Preserve the past: examine, but do not touch, cultural or historic structures and artifacts.
Leave rocks, plants and other natural objects as you find them.
Avoid introducing or transporting non-native species.
Do not build structures, furniture, or dig trenches.
Campfires can cause lasting impacts to the backcountry. Use a lightweight stove for cooking and enjoy a candle lantern for light.
Where fires are permitted, use established fire rings, fire pans, or mound fires.
Keep fires small. Only use sticks from the ground that can be broken by hand.
Burn all wood and coals to ash, put out campfires completely, then scatter cool ashes.
Observe wildlife from a distance. Do not follow or approach them.
Never feed animals. Feeding wildlife damages their health, alters natural behaviors, and exposes them to predators and other dangers.
These guidelines for trail behavior are recognized around the world. IMBA developed the "Rules of the Trail" to promote responsible and courteous conduct on shared-use trails. Keep in mind that conventions for yielding and passing may vary, depending on traffic conditions and the intended use of the trail.
Respect trail and road closures -- ask a land manager for clarification if you are uncertain about the status of a trail. Do not trespass on private land. Obtain permits or other authorization as may be required. Be aware that bicycles are not permitted in areas protected as state or federal Wilderness.
Be sensitive to the dirt beneath you. Wet and muddy trails are more vulnerable to damage than dry ones. When the trail is soft, consider other riding options. This also means staying on existing trails and not creating new ones. Don't cut switchbacks. Be sure to pack out at least as much as you pack in.
Inattention for even a moment could put yourself and others at risk. Obey all bicycle speed regulations and recommendations, and ride within your limits.
Do your utmost to let your fellow trail users know you're coming -- a friendly greeting or bell ring are good methods. Try to anticipate other trail users as you ride around corners. Bicyclists should yield to all other trail users, unless the trail is clearly signed for bike-only travel. Bicyclists traveling downhill should yield to ones headed uphill, unless the trail is clearly signed for one-way or downhill-only traffic. Strive to make each pass a safe and courteous one.
Animals are easily startled by an unannounced approach, a sudden movement or a loud noise. Give animals enough room and time to adjust to you. When passing horses, use special care and follow directions from the horseback riders (ask if uncertain). Running cattle and disturbing wildlife are serious offenses.
Know your equipment, your ability and the area in which you are riding -- and prepare accordingly. Strive to be self-sufficient: keep your equipment in good repair and carry necessary supplies for changes in weather or other conditions. Always wear a helmet and appropriate safety gear.