Behavior of the “cycle-hiker”
To describe a trip with MTB, it is necessary to explain what “cycle-hiking” means, the rules to be respected and the good practices to be adopted. For the rules, the self-regulation codes for MTB are valid; the comments are from CAI MTB-guide of Parma and Reggio E.
The SD-MTB and SD-GRAVEL routes go mainly on trails and dirty roads. They have all been previously tracked and geolocalized with the use of a manual gps system, which makes the gpx tracks and the road books highly reliable. The SD-MTB and SD-GRAVEL routes mainly follow marked roads and paths but they are not tabulated and marked on specific way for cycling.
The paths are kept clean by CAI volunteers, but they can always present sudden changes and security and visibility issues due to small landslides, growth of vegetation, trees and fallen branches. If you decide to start this amazing journey, please be equipped with cutting tools and prepare to improvise alternative routes if necessary.
Our team of volunteers are doing their best to keep the walking and cycling paths clean and accessible, but that is unfortunately not enough. Thats why your help will be fully appreciated. We strongly advise to keep the path as clean and accessible as possible, everyone’s little help will make a huge difference: picking up a paper, cutting a branch, lifting a fallen table, or even just reporting the problem to us:
info@caireggioemilia.it
“Cycle-hiker” CAI self-regulation code
The CAI considers the MTB cycle a suitable “tool” for cycle-hiking CAI expects the cycle-hikers that overtake this trail to follow commonly accepted safety practices and respectful behaviours:
The nine articles of the CAI Self-Regulatory Code summarize CAI ethical and environmental principles by following international rcodes, likewise the Italian Road Code and the Courmayeur Tables. article II states “we must not adapt the environment to the needs of athletes, instead the athletes need to constantly adapt to the environmental conditions”.
Where it says: “avoid leaving the track”, it implies that MTB must cycle only on existing paths and tracks, limiting the damage and erosion of the terrain, in order to reduce their impact on flora and fauna. This concept is further extrapolated: “choose to undertake a trial only under environmental conditions that minimize the damage to the natural heritage”. This involves cycling, or hiking, in areas, or in specific timeframes of particular fragility for fauna and flora.
The impact of the MTBs should be limited to roads and paths, which are already the work of man.
However, it is necessary that the passage of bikes does not alter these paths. The rolling of the bicycle wheel tends to compact the ground, while a wheel that crawls can create a groove. On hard or rocky surfaces the effect is practically irrelevant, but the rolling impact can highly damage the paths on soft ground and wet environmental conditions. the above, must be taken into account at any time while cycling. The “cycle-excursion” driving style is “eco-friendly”, as it is based on the principle of low-impact action.
Compatibility with other users is resolved by applying the Italian Road Code. The concept of “speed commensurate” to specific situations, is described in Article 141 of the CdS. Compatibility with other users is resolved by applying the Italian Road Code. The concept of “speed commensurate” to specific situations, is described in Article 141 of the CdS. The obligation to give priority to pedestrians derives from art. 182 of the CdS. The respect that we owe, beyond the universal principles of good education and civil coexistence, is not limited to other hikers. We need to think about those who live off the resources of the territory: farmers, shepherds, breeders. We respect private properties and remember to be guests in someone else’s house.
CAI self-regulation does not replace the NORBA and IMBA Codes, them with more specific rules to apply on italian routes.