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| Frequently Asked Questions
1. Q. I see that you have built some section of the Trail in areas that might flood during a 100 year storm. What will you be doing in that event? A. This is a really good question. Our regular park rangers will be closing those portions of the Trail that will be under water, during the storm, including any bridges. Once the water's recede, the trail will be reopened and any repair work will be done. Hopefully that won't happen very much and visitors will have to wait until the Trail is reopened. 2. Q. Will the Trail ever be completely paved with macadam, as it is in the lower section? A. At least for the near future, the Trail will not be paved with macadam. We have found that the really hard packed cinders are a great surface for all users except roller bladers. 3. Q. I was really expecting there to be a lot of trash on the Trail, but in my recent visits I find that there really isn't any. However, I have found dog and horse poop in a couple of places. What can we do about that? A. The Parks Department is beginning to install "doggy bags" at access points. Visitors must remember that they should must always pick up after their dogs. Horse droppings are being removed by our Park rangers and by the equestrians volunteers as needed. 4. Q. Who do I call in an emergency? A. Because of the length and remoteness of certain sections of the Trail, it is always a good idea to travel with a friend. In case of emergency, Trail visitors should call 911 from their cell phone or the nearest available phone and let emergency services know where they are on the Trail by using the closest mileage marker or roadway crossing. To report Trail incidents, visitors should either call or write our County Parks Department (see "contacts" button on this web site). 5. Q. I have been walking on the trail in the usual way of facing the oncoming traffic, but there seems to be people who want me to go with the traffic, even as a walker. What should I do? A. Unlike walking on a roadway, the rules of the road for a trail are different. You should be walking on the right with the traffic flow. If you or anyone else needs to pass a slower trail user, you should always pass on their LEFT. Remember, if you are passing a slower trail user from behind, always give them plenty of loud warning of your presence, such as "on your left" or "passing" or even a bell sound is good. The trail sometimes gets very busy and there are people who don't give a warning, so you need to always expect that someone may be passing you by surprise, especially if you are waking or riding your bicycle at a slower pace. Be sure to get a brochure (see brochure section of this web site) and check out the other important trail use rules. 6. Q. Who assumes responsibility for the trails maintenance and policing. A. The County Park's Department will assume responsibility for maintenance and policing of the Trail. In addition, as with any of the County Parks, both state and municipal police will give assistance, should that be necessary. The County will use existing Park Rangers and Maintenance personnel to properly maintain the Trail. 7. Q. Is there any way of installing a curfew that runs consistently along the trail? A. The Trail will be open and closed in accordance with existing county park rules. That is, it will officially open at dawn and close at dusk. County experience on the Schuylkill River Trail has shown that no enforcement of that rule has been needed, even if people use the Trail at night. They are assumed to be on the Trail at night at their own risk. There will be no County Park rangers patrolling after dark. 8. Q. Who assumes liability to the users of the trail; i.e. what happens if a homeowner is sued? A. If an adjacent landowner who has sold an easement to the County for the Trail is sued for damages occurring either on the Trail or as a result of the use of the Trail, that owner is indemnified by the County under the terms of the easement agreement. Should the owner be sued as a result of Trespass onto the adjacent landowner property and sues for damages, the landowner is protected under State Trespass law AND under the Pa. statute called the Recreational use of Land and Water, which limits the landowner's liability exposure from a public who uses private land for trail use. In addition, for a landowner who has sold an easement to the County for the Trail, the County will protect and defend that landowner from a suit brought because of the use of the Trail. |