Can’t we get along on trails?

By Letter to the Editor on October 29, 2020.

Dear editor,

Generally I agree with John MacLaren on his letters to the editor, but I cannot agree with his latest letter suggesting that all trails in Medicine Hat should be designated as on-leash areas, citing aggressive dog behaviour as a reason. 

I’m not sure how many trails in Medicine Hat still have off leash status, but I do use the one, best described as behind Seven Persons Drive and above the Par 3 Golf Course. 

I am both a cyclist and pedestrian on this trail and in all the years I have used it, have never been attacked or bothered by aggressive behaviour from dogs, either riding or walking.

On the contrary, if there has been any behaviour problems, it’s dogs on leash that have been aggressive. 

The biggest challenge on the trail are actually conflicts between riders and pedestrians, where the cyclist do not have or do not ring their bells, which they are required to do, and cyclists who don’t slow down when passing pedestrians, especially ones with small children. 

I make a habit of slowing down when passing pedestrians with or without dogs, leashed or not. 

If we cyclists are going to share these trails, it just makes good sense to slow down for safety reasons.  

It would be sad if all trails became on leash areas. People like to walk their dogs off leash and they can’t really do that at an enclosed dog park. Sure the dog can run free, but the people can’t enjoy a leisurely walk. 

It’s an interesting observation that since the city removed the off leash status in Kin Coulee west of the Trans-Canada Highway, the number of people using the area has decreased substantially.  

And to put a line down the middle of the trail will not really help the situation, as families and groups like to walk together side by side, not single file. Moreover, as situations in Calgary have shown, the line down the middle really doesn’t work either.  Just more complaints by each group that the other is not abiding by the rules. 

So let’s just get along on these trails, as cyclists we should, ring the bell, slow down when passing pedestrians, dogs or not. 

If you want to ride like you are in the Tour de France, there are three highways leading from the city where one can go as fast as one wants and never worry about pedestrians or dogs.

Lutz Perschon

Medicine Hat

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