Implement a Successful Program
To aide in the development of trail programs, we will maintain the following list of best practices that have proven effective in reducing trial conflicts and resource protection.
We also welcome feedback about our website and encourage you to send us what you have found to be your “Best Practices” so we can include them in our list to share them with others.
Simply email us with your suggestions and we will periodically update this list.
List of Best Practices
- Identify the Root Causes of trail issues.
- Most user groups don’t know the safety needs of other user groups.
- Education is the key to reducing conflicts on the trails. It also leads to improved resource protection.
- Active communication between individual trail users promotes safety.
- The vast majority of Americans will obey rules and do the right thing if they:
- Know what the rules are AND
- Understand the reason for the rules
- When passing, interact with each other to establish what is safe at that place and at that time.
- People learn best by talking with others.
- Create an identity for your program
- Catchy name or phrase (i.e.: “Slow and Say Hello!” — See Below)
- Create a logo based on that.
- Repeated exposure increases awareness — branded hats, visors, shirts, etc.
- What should your message be? Take the time to get this right.
- Multimedia outreach — Social Media, outreach, flyers & posters, PowerPoint presentations, etc.
- Secure Land Manager support and commitment for:
- Funding
- Staff training
- Public outreach (Outposts)
- Inclusion of logo on land manager materials (website, maps, interpretive signage, etc.)
Access our marketing materials
We would like to share the “Slow and Say Hello!” marketing materials that are currently used for Trail Partners Marin – the original files can be easily modified with your logo and other branding and we are happy to share them.
