Woolwich Trails Group

Thursday November 24, 2011

Meeting Minutes 
 

Those attending: Mark Bauman, Joyce Cummings, Ann Roberts, Nancy Stayzer, Linda Wilbur, Gloria Yeung. 
 

New Guidebook: 
 

The new guidebook is now here!  1500 copies were printed and they sell for $15. St. Jacobs Printery did a great job and at a good price.  The format of the guidebook will be easy to update when needed.  The guide is ready to be posted on the website should the group wish to go that route.  
 

Guidebook Distribution Update: 
 

Nancy has visited all suppliers with the new guidebooks. They have been well received. Nancy has tried to reduce the number of suppliers on consignment.  Webco Sports is a new supplier.    
 

School Hike Day: 
 

St. Jacobs PS and Riverside PS participated in school hike day in 2011 and are interested in participating again in 2012.  Nancy would like to invite a new school for 2012, possibly Floradale or Park Manor (both are within walking distance of a trail).  Date will be planned during earth week in April.  Each school will set their date based on individual school schedules. 
 

Trail updates: 
 

TCT along the Expressway:

Last fall Mark arranged for Ray Kuntz bulldozz the sides of the trail to knock down the weeds and cut back the crest that had formed. This spring Steed and Evans donated $750 of stone dust.  The Township paid for the trucking.  Ron Martin's son spread the stone dust over the summer for $400.  The trail is now in great shape.  Mark planted silver maples and spruce along the trail as well as some walnut, chestnut, oak and butternut seeds. Look for the 75 red stakes that mark each tree.  Thanks to Mark for watering this summer! 
 

Hopewell Trail:  Phase 4 of the Hopewell trail was constructed this fall for a total of 4 km. The Township has assumed phases 1 and 2. 
 

Riverland Trail: The trail is complete, however in poor shape as a result of heavy equipment using the trail to access building lots.  The Township will assume the trail in spring once the trail has been repaired and the area along the trail reseeded. 
 

Grand Valley Trail Updates: Joyce

 

Nick Kuret is still the trail director for the Waterloo section.  Alf has stepped down as trail captain on the north part of the Waterloo section. 

2012 is the 40^th anniversary of the Grand Valley Trails Association.

The Blue Trail along the 1 km stretch of the Kissing Bridge Trailway (between Middlebrook Rd and the Grand River north of West Montrose) is now finalized with a stewardship agreement in place. 
 

2012 Hike Schedule: 
 

The newly formed on-road cycling group is interested in advertising some bike rides in 2012 (rides which include on-road routes and trail sections).  They wondered if they could add their rides to the WTG hike schedule for June, July and August.  Brad typically has a June bike ride in the schedule so the group would be adding 2 rides in the summer months when the trails group does not offer hikes.  All agreed that this would be a good partnership for both groups.  Ann will meet with the cycling group on December 13 and confirm the rides. 

The group decided on the following hikes for 2012:

April Birding Hike: Mark

April Breslau hike:  Would Lisa and Sheri like to lead this hike?

May geocaching hike: would John like to lead this hike? 

June, July & August: bike rides

September: native plant hike.  Ann to call Judy Brison.

October: Nancy will lead a scavenger hunt on the Mill Race Trail. 
 

Annual Report 
 

Front page article: new guidebook

Info about the on-road cycling group

Perhaps we could include Ken's blue bird article.

Did you know?  Red stakes along the TCT along the expressway.  75 new trees. 
 

All: please send your ideas for the annual report to Ann by December 15. 
 
 

2012 Trail Projects: 
 

Foot bridge on Health Valley trail east of Martin's Creek:

Ann received an email from a trail user on a bike who crashed his face on the boardwalk.  He wondered if some grip paint could be added.  Ann will also post a sign asking bikers to dismount before crossing. 
 

Health Valley trail west of Martin's Creek: The trail has been badly damaged again by the horses.  Could we by-pass this section of muddy trail by moving the trail through the wooded area?

WHC Website 
 

The trail information needs to be updated on the WHC website (healthywoolwich.org), especially the description of each trail.  The group suggested that a photo and the trail description for each trail from the guidebook be used on the website.  A description of the trail surface and the icons of permitted uses could also be included.  Gloria will contact St. Jacobs Printery to get the information.

Clint will send trail photos to Ann. 
 

ALL: please forward any suggestions for website updates to Ann. 
 

E-bikes on trails 
 

The question of e bikes on trails has come up several times this summer.  People have asked permission to use the e bikes on some trails and some e bikes have been seen on the trail.  There are pros and cons to using e bikes on trails.  They are green and give people an alternative to the busy roadways.  However, they can reach speeds of up to 55 km/hr which could be a safety issue for other trail users.

Perhaps we could designate some trails for e bikes and call them commuter trails.  The trail would be signed for e bikes and provide rules.  The commuter trails would need to have good sight lines and have a wide width.  The TCT along the expressway would be a good option. This trail is under Township responsibility and owned by a private landowner.  The landowner would need to be consulted prior to a commuter designation is assigned.

The Cities of Waterloo, Kitchener and Cambridge either do not allow e bikes or are in the process of not allowing e bikes.

Ann will call Regional staff, the Region of Waterloo Trails Committee and Wellington County staff to see how they handle e bikes.  
 

Lights on Trail Gates: 
 

A concern was raised from a trail user about safety for cyclists using the Health Valley Trail after dark.  The concern was that a cyclist might be injured should he/she hit a gate in the dark. This follows the 2009 death of a cyclist on the Iron Horse trail in Kitchener when he hit a gate after dark.  He was not wearing a helmet and did not have a light on his bike.

The suggestion from the concerned trail user is to provide lighting for the gates on the Health Valley Trail. 

Discussion at the meeting:

Is the trail open after dark?   No.  Signs are posted indicating this.

How much would lighting cost?  Hydro would be expensive to bring in for lights.  The City of Kitchener is exploring solar lights.  Ann will check the status.

What are the legal requirements around helmets and lights on bikes?

Mark suggested a glow in the dark paint for the gates.  Mark will check into a supplier. 
 
 

Deer Hunters on the Health Valley Trail:   
 

Ann received an email from a trail user who reported meeting hunters on the Health Valley trail during the first week of November.  Deer hunting with shotguns was from Nov. 7 to 13 this year.  Ann contacted all of the landowners by phone to update them.  Additional “No Hunting” signs were also posted along the trail.  As a safety precaution the trail will be closed for deer hunting season in 2012 with “trail closed' signs posted at University Ave and at the expressway bridge. 
 

Editor's note:

Ann learned that deer hunting season for bows and muzzle loading guns is from Dec. 5 to 11.  “Trail closed” signs were posted Dec.5 at the main entrances to the trail. In future years the Health Valley trail will be closed the first week of November and the first week of December during deer hunting season. 
 

2012 Meeting Dates 
 

Thursday February 9, 7 pm, St. Jacobs fire station. 
 

Thursday June 7, 7 pm, St. Jacobs fire station. 
 

  Thursday November 15 , 7 pm, St. Jacobs fire station. 
 

  Minutes prepared by Ann Roberts.  Please direct any questions or changes to Ann at

aroberts@woolwich.ca