Maintain trails for hikers and walkers
Dear North Cowichan mayor and council:
As explained in a recent survey funded by Tourism Cowichan, we urge council to make trails in our forest reserve realistically tended and available to all users, not just mountain-bike riders.
Hikers and walkers comprise nearly 60 per cent of trail users in North Cowichan and Cobble Hill, compared to mountain bikers’ comprising 30 per cent of users.
That’s according to a Vancouver Island University survey commissioned by Cowichan Tourism.
Cowichan Trail Stewardship Society receives $173,000 annually from North Cowichan taxpayers to tend trails — but most work focuses on grooming mountain-bike courses that draw local- and tourist-riders.
Given VIU’s timely survey results, councillors must ensure future trail work prioritizes our forests’ user majority: hikers and walkers.
Peter W. Rusland
North Cowichan
