City sharing trail safety tips and etiquette ahead of warm weather this week

HAMILTON, ON – With fall colours in full bloom, there are more residents and visitors using Hamilton trails and active transportation networks. Hamilton has a network of over 49 kilometres worth of trail, and over 200 kilometres of bike lanes, offering an opportunity to get outside, get active and explore the beautiful fall colours, with some spectacular views.

All week long, the City will be highlighting active transportation networks and trails across Hamilton on it’s Instagram and Twitter channels as well as safety tips for residents looking to experience the fall colours.  

The City reminds everyone of the following tips to help us all stay safe and enjoy our time on the trails this fall:

• Stay on the designated/marked trails.
• Stay away from slopes and edges of the escarpment
• With daylight hours decreasing, plan your longer hikes for earlier in the day
• Be aware of your surroundings, including changing terrain
• Carry a fully charged cell phone
• Obey posted signage
• Do not enter prohibited areas
• Wear appropriate footwear. If travelling at dusk or dawn, consider reflective clothing.
• Cyclists and pedestrians are reminded to share the trail by keeping right and passing on the left.
• As a cyclist, do not exceed 15 km/hr. Excess speeds can be dangerous for both you and other trail users.
• Cyclists should slow down and use your bell to alert pedestrians that you are approaching.
• As a pedestrian, keep pets close and on a leash.
• Pedestrians should avoid distractions while walking like texting or talking on the phone, if you want to take a picture of the beautiful scenery, step to the side of the trail or at a lookout area

There are 17 City-maintained local trails across Hamilton connecting to parks, the waterfront, and other trail networks such as the Bruce Trail and Trans Canada Trail. City-maintained trails span over 49 kilometres in Hamilton and when combined with connections to Hamilton Conservation Authority-owned trails and more, access across Hamilton via trail networks increases to nearly 1,000 kilometres worth of trail.

Find information on local area trails, as well as links to long distance trails such as the Bruce Trail and Trans Canada Trail by visiting: www.hamilton.ca/trails