How This Pilot Affects You

The Boulder Mountainbike Alliance — which has worked alongside Boulder County Parks and Open Space for more than three decades — says it was blindsided by the proposal. Executive Director Wendy Sweet argues there are smarter solutions: directional trails, loop systems, and better signage could ease conflicts without locking bikers out on certain days.

Sweet also pointed to Betasso Preserve, where existing alternating-day restrictions have actually made crowding worse by concentrating all bike traffic into fewer windows. The lesson, she says, is that restriction alone doesn't solve the underlying problem.

Do You Know Your Boulder County Trail Rights?

Five quick questions — test your knowledge of the proposal and trail etiquette.

How many bike-only trails currently exist in Boulder County open space?

• None — zero bike-only trails — Correct. Mountain bikers must share every trail they ride in Boulder County with other users. There is no equivalent restriction on hikers or equestrians.
• About 10 trails — Actually, there are zero bike-only trails in Boulder County. Bikers already share every route with other users.
• Over 50 miles — Not the case. Zero bike-exclusive trails exist in Boulder County open space — every trail bikers ride is a shared trail.

Betasso Preserve already has alternating-day rules. What happened there?

• Crowding improved significantly — The Boulder Mountainbike Alliance says Betasso's restrictions actually concentrated bike traffic into fewer windows — making crowded days more crowded, not less.
• Bike use became more concentrated on open days — Exactly. Trail advocates point to Betasso as a cautionary tale — restricting access days can backfire by pushing all riders into a smaller time window.
• The trail was eventually closed to bikes entirely — Not quite. Betasso is still open to bikes on alternating days — but advocates say the restrictions unintentionally made crowding worse on bike days, not better.

What option do hikers already have if they want a bike-free experience in Boulder County?

• Hundreds of miles of hiker-only trails — Right. Boulder County already has hundreds of miles of trails closed to bikes. Hiker-only options are plentiful — the same cannot be said for mountain bikers.
• No separate options — all trails are shared — Actually, Boulder County has hundreds of miles of trails where bikes are not permitted. Hikers already have dedicated options.
• Only one designated hiker trail: Nighthawk — Nighthawk is one example of a hiker-preferred trail, but Boulder County offers hundreds of miles of routes closed to bikes.

Why are Lyons business owners weighing in on a trail policy debate?

• Mountain bikers are a major source of local tourism revenue — Correct. Lyons business owners — including a local brewery owner who co-signed the opposition letter — say mountain bikers are a key economic driver. Restricting access could hurt the town's bottom line.
• They are being asked to fund the pilot program — That's not it. Lyons business owners are concerned that restricting mountain bike access will reduce the trail-driven tourism that supports local shops, restaurants, and breweries.
• The pilot would close trails near their storefronts — The concern is economic, not geographic. Bike tourism brings visitors who spend money in Lyons — restricting riders could reduce that foot traffic regardless of trail location.

How many people responded to Boulder County's public survey on the alternating-use proposal?

• Around 600 — The response was far larger — more than 6,000 residents participated in the county's survey, signaling just how intense community interest is in this proposal.
• More than 6,000 — Exactly right. The massive survey turnout shows this isn't a niche issue — thousands of Boulder County residents on both sides of the debate are paying close attention.
• About 1,500 — The actual number was much higher — over 6,000 people responded, making this one of the most engaged public comment processes the county has seen on a trails issue.

Two Visions for Boulder County Trails

The Lyons business community has made its position official. Eric Kean, owner of MainStage Brewing, co-signed a letter to Boulder County commissioners — backed by dozens of businesses and residents — urging officials to pump the brakes on the pilot. His argument is straightforward: outdoor recreation drives Lyons' economy, and anything that restricts access for any group starts a worrying trend.

Trail users on both sides of the debate say they plan to stay vocal as commissioners weigh their decision. No announcement has been made on whether the pilot will move forward.

There are hundreds of miles of trail not open to bikes. There is not one trail in Boulder that mountain bikers could go to and potentially not be disrupting somebody who didn't want to share a trail with a bike.Wendy Sweet, Executive Director, Boulder Mountainbike Alliance

Separating Fact From Talking Points

The alternating-use pilot equally restricts all trail user types.

Verdict: false

Under the current proposal, only mountain bikers would face new day-specific restrictions. Hikers and equestrian users would not see comparable limits. The Boulder Mountainbike Alliance and business leaders have flagged this asymmetry as their core objection.

Hikers have no bike-free options in Boulder County today.

Verdict: false

Boulder County already has hundreds of miles of trails where bicycles are not permitted. Hiker-only trail options are abundant — making the case for parity-based restrictions harder to sustain.

Alternating-day rules reduce trail crowding, as shown at Betasso.

Verdict: mixed

Betasso Preserve has long had alternating restrictions for bikes, but advocates say the effect has been to concentrate bike traffic into fewer days — potentially making busy days busier, not less crowded overall.

The Boulder Mountainbike Alliance helped design the pilot proposal.

Verdict: false

BMA Executive Director Wendy Sweet confirmed the organization — which has partnered with Boulder County for over 30 years — was not consulted before the pilot concept was publicly announced.

How We Got Here

• 30+ yrs — Boulder Mountainbike Alliance begins sustained partnership with Boulder County Parks and Open Space
• Ongoing — County receives routine complaints about trail congestion and user conflicts on high-traffic multi-use routes
• Recent — Boulder County Parks & Open Space announces alternating-use pilot concept publicly — without consulting BMA first
• Recent — County launches public survey on the proposal — over 6,000 residents respond
• June 2025 — Lyons business owners and residents co-sign letter to commissioners urging halt to the pilot
• Now — Boulder County commissioners reviewing all public input — no decision announced yet

How to Make Your Voice Heard

1. Contact Boulder County Commissioners — Email or call the Board of County Commissioners directly. They are actively reviewing public input before making a decision on the pilot.
2. Share Your Trail Experience — Personal stories from hikers, bikers, and equestrians carry weight. Describe specific trails, interactions, and what access means to you.
3. Follow Boulder County Parks & Open Space — Check the department's website and social channels for public meeting announcements — decisions like this often go to public hearings before a final vote.
4. Support Local Lyons Businesses — Whether or not the pilot moves forward, the businesses that signed the opposition letter are invested in keeping outdoor recreation accessible. Visit them on your next trail day.

The Full Letter From Lyons Business Owners & Residents

The letter sent to Boulder County Commissioners was co-signed by dozens of Lyons businesses and residents. The core argument: outdoor access is one of the most powerful tools available to connect people with nature and address climate change — and any policy that restricts access should be scrutinized carefully.

Signers argued that limiting mountain biking on certain days would not reduce the number of riders on trails overall. Instead, they predicted riders would continue to ride, potentially on unauthorized trails or in neighboring jurisdictions, simply shifting the problem rather than solving it.

The letter also challenged the fairness of singling out one user group: 'This alternating use proposal seems to be an additional restriction on mountain biking in these areas, with no proposed or discussed closures or restrictions on hiking or horseback riding on the same trails.' The letter urged commissioners to pursue engagement with the biking community — addressing trail maintenance, ethics, and cooperation — rather than restriction.

Take Action or Learn More

• Boulder County Parks & Open Space: Read the official pilot proposal details and find upcoming public comment opportunities.
• Boulder Mountainbike Alliance: The BMA has resources for riders and a community forum for discussing the proposal.
• Explore Boulder County Trail Maps: See which trails are currently open to bikes, hikers, and equestrians — and identify hiker-only and multi-use routes near you.

Sources & References

• Primary source: local-news — Colin Riley
• Boulder County Parks and Open Space — Alternating-use pilot proposal details, trail access rules, and public survey findings
• Boulder Mountainbike Alliance — 30+ year partnership history with Boulder County, Betasso Preserve alternating-day impact analysis, and advocacy positions on directional trail alternatives
• Lyons Business Community Letter to Boulder County Commissioners — Opposition letter co-signed by dozens of Lyons businesses and residents citing economic impact and equitable access concerns
• Colorado Parks and Wildlife — Multi-use trail management standards and conflict-reduction best practices for shared-use open space