Safety and Etiquette Guide
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SAFETY GUIDELINES A Trail for Everyone, About the Montour Trail No Matter Their Abilities! Honored by the Pennsylvania Department of Natural Resources People with physical disabilities are welcome to use Trail Rules for ALL USERS as the state’s 2017 Trail of the the Montour Trail, and the Council’s mobility-impaired Year, the Montour Trail is the policies address their special needs. All trail users are expected to obey the following rules, longest suburban rail-trail in the which are posted at all major trailheads: • Wheelchairs are always permitted, whether U.S., encompassing 63 miles. 1. No motorized vehicles powered or not. Running through communities west and south of • Other powered mobility devices are allowed if they 2. Keep right, except to pass Pittsburgh, the trail follows the abandoned rights of way are less than 36 inches wide and travel less than 3. Warn before passing of the Montour Railroad and the Peters Creek branch of 15 mph under their own power on a level surface. 4. Stay on the trail the Pennsylvania Railroad. • E-bikes, which are pedal devices with an electric 5. Leash your pet assist motor, must meet certain conditions: power The Montour Trail connects Pittsburgh International 6. Trail open daily, dawn to dusk rating less than 750 watts, weight under 100 Airport to the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP), which pounds, and top speed 15 mph. joins up with the C&O Canal Towpath that leads to 7. Camp only in designated areas Washington, DC. • Devices powered by internal combustion engines 8. No horses are never permitted on the Montour Trail. The Montour Trail Council was founded in 1989 and is Except in Cecil Township between Hendersonville the all-volunteer organization responsible for building (Morganza Road) and Venice (PA 980). Horses must and maintaining the trail. stay off the improved limestone surface where possible and the rider must clean up after his/her mount. 9. No hunting Emergencies on the Trail If there is an emergency on the trail, CALL 911 and give the dispatcher the nearest mile number. (Mile posts are every half mile along the trail.) Local Emergency Services are familiar with the trail and will respond appropriately. Montour Trail Council 304 Hickman Street, Suite 3 Bridgeville, PA 15017 412-257-3011 [email protected] Trail Safety www.MontourTrail.org Join the Montour Trail Facebook group and Follow us on Twitter Be nice! @MontourTrail Share Etiquette Guide Publication of this brochure is funded in part by the Pennsylvania Recreation the and Park Society and the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Support the trail by becoming a member! Resources’ Pennsylvania Recreational Trails Program funded through the Federal trail Highway Administration and the Bureau of Recreation and Conservation. Visit www.MontourTrail.org to find out how. Brochure photography and design courtesy of Jeanine Leech. www.MontourTrail.org Cyclists Walkers & Runners Users with Pets Remember to wear your helmet! Maintain safe speed 6-foot All pets must be All leash Welcome to the Montour Trail users on a leash with a Maintain a safe speed. max maximum length keep of six (6) feet. The Montour Trail is a beautiful and accessible resource Be prepared to react right for all visitors. It’s important for all of us to respect to other users on the Keep your pets others while on the trail. This ensures a safe and trail – remember that under control. pleasurable environment for everyone while we all kids and pets can be enjoy the great opportunities that the trail has to offer. unpredictable. Many users enjoy jogging or walking on the trail. All users should KEEP RIGHT. (The trail is different Whether you are walking, jogging, bicycling, or skiing, than walking on a road.) we hope that you will embrace the trail’s safety rules. “On your left” All This brochure summarizes the rules for trail use, along users with some simple guidelines to help visitors to feel Be nice! keep comfortable while on the trail. Share As with all other users, Warn the pet walkers should right before trail KEEP RIGHT on the passing trail. Be predictable Be sure to share the trail and share the trail: and walk or run single file check before allowing when in congested areas. your pet to cross the trail, particularly in Stay aware of other users Keep right and warn before passing by ringing a bell or congested areas. calling out (“On your left”). Be sure to warn early enough – be very careful when for others to react. wearing headphones. “On your left” Standing When stopping to chat or enjoy Keep Warn still? nature, move off the trail so that right before Step other users can proceed. except passing aside to pass Clean Be predictable. Check up before turning around or Don’t block the trail; ride single file after passing others. Call out to when in congested areas. pets Trail Rules warn others before passing. • No motorized vehicles • Keep right, except to pass Standing • Warn before passing still? When stopping • Leash your pet Step to chat or enjoy Standing • Trail open daily, dawn to dusk aside nature, move still? to the right and Step • No hunting on trail ALWAYS clean up after your pets. Waste should be step off the trail. aside • Camp in designated areas When stopping, move to the right and step bagged and removed from the trail. (Waste left • Stay on trail off the trail so that other users can proceed. behind creates an unsightly and unsanitary mess.).