Information: 770-517-6788 or www.woodstockparksandrec.com.
For years, Woodstock’s Gary Moore has been an avid mountain biker. He’s learned through personal and shared experiences that there are basic safety rules that should be followed, and he’s trained to handle a range of problems by joining the National Mountain Bike Patrol.
“The idea is that we’re already out there, and we’re going to come across people in need,” he said. “So we’re ready to deal with it.”
A few months ago, when the city unveiled the latest section of biking and walking trails, Moore was among the first to train as a Trail Watch volunteer, taking many of those tactics he learned for mountain bike safety to the popular paths.
“The first part of the trail - about 1.5 miles - opened very close to our home, but this is a growing system,” said Moore. “We’re expecting to have another 40 to 60 miles in the Woodstock area, and it’s important to get them off to a good start, to make people feel comfortable about using them right from the beginning.”
The Trail Watch Academy recently graduated 13 volunteers who take to the paths at various times throughout the week. Their bright yellow T-shirts make them immediately visible and available to walkers, joggers and bikers who may just have a question.
“What this program does is put friendly faces out there,” said Moore. “The yellow shirts make it obvious we’re part of the program, so even if someone doesn’t need help, they see us out there and know that we know our way around. I think it’s just mentally reassuring to know you’re not alone; there are people out there with you.”
One of the crew’s goals is to get people used to walking on an off-road trail, which isn’t quite the same as being on a city sidewalk.
“Sometimes you do go through some rather remote areas, and a lot of trail users aren’t used to that,” said Moore. “Going off on a trail that suddenly cuts down alongside a creek can be a little daunting. We remind people to use the buddy system, carry a cell phone and tell someone where you’re going and when you expect to be back.”
It’s not only trail volunteers making sure the city’s paths are safe. Preston Pooser, Woodstock’s director of parks and recreation, said members of his staff, along with police offers, regularly patrol the routes. But having trained citizens adds to the safety level.
“Having them is a force multiplier for us,” said Pooser. “They’re now trained on how to deal with the general pubic, to make reports if they see a problem that needs to be addressed, or to answer questions when they’re out there. Our goal is to resolve any possible safety issues before they happen, but if we ever do need a search-and-rescue, the volunteers will be out there with us.”
The crew ranges in age from 18 to 60 years, and all have passed security and background checks. The 9-hour training course included topics from trail etiquette to CPR and first aid. After making rounds on the trail, they file reports of what they observed.
“Most of the time I see people who can use a little guiding hand,” said Moore. “They want to know where they are, where the trail goes, how far it goes and whether or not they have the skill level to follow it. It’s mostly educational, but we’re also prepared to help as much as possible. “
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