Question from Anonymous

Mr. Mayor, Has the city considered asking Berea College to open up some of their land for a trail that would be open to mountain biking? A mountain bike trail on Berea College's land at the Pinnacle would be a nice option for bikers on the proposed new bike path from the Artisan center to the Pinnacle. Mountain bike trails are simply a path in the woods that is open to bike traffic. I can see very little cost associated with such a trail. There are very few of these mountain bike trails across the state and I would assume that Madison County Greenways and Trails would help support such a trail. I can see only positive things coming from such a trail. My question is not will Berea College allow such a trail, but rather would the city ask them to create such a trail?

Steve Connelly answered:

No, the City has not made such a request. Your idea is interesting. It should, perhaps, first be discussed with the rails-to-trails group for endorsement. I assume that one major concern the college would have about such a bike trail is that it might be coopted by 4-wheelers. Such motorized use is already a problem at Owsley Fork and would be dangerous and destructive in the college forest.