Hello,
This is my contribution for Citizens Discussion today:
Good morning,
The Manitou Incline is not compatible with social distancing. It should remain completely closed until the danger of spreading the virus has passed.
The Incline shuttle employs smaller buses than most routes in Mountain Metro's system. On the larger buses ten passengers has been the target or desired limit to achieve social distancing. When ten passengers are on one of the larger buses some passengers are sitting closer than 6 feet apart. On the smaller buses used to navigate Ruxton Ave ten passengers would be far too many.
Many Incline hikers will have to walk through downtown Manitou Springs, this will make the social distancing for tourists more complicated and less effective.
If we don't operate the shuttle even more people will be walking through downtown. This could also worsen the historic problems with traffic and noise on Ruxton Ave, as people try to find a place to park up there.
Are people required to wear masks while engaging in strenuous exercise? They are not actually required to wear masks at all, we could make masks mandatory while hiking the Incline, but it would not be possible to enforce it, if it is even reasonable.
The Incline does have some room side to side, if people would hike single file and be spaced social distancing could be achieved, even when people were passing each other.
The Barr Trail is still the only way down and it is extremely narrow in many places. Social distancing would not exist on the trip down.
How many people are hiking the Barr Trail these days? More will want to hike it in June for summiting season or if the Barr Camp reopens. It's Caretakers have financial needs. Is the Barr Trail already maxed out?
I heard the presentation before the Manitou Springs City Council last month that was discussing the potential reopening of the Incline. The last name system is expected to reduce Incline hikes to between 500 and 1400 each day. That is far too many people to achieve social distancing.
I have noticed that many people are reckless and don't seem to care about adhering to social distancing guidelines. This is the case even in the most dangerous situations, for instance on Mountain Metro buses. I ride the buses often and at times fewer than half of the passengers on a bus are wearing a mask. At times someone will come and sit right in front of me unnecessarily. I change seats when this happens.
Because this section of the population is reckless and cannot be forced or expected to practice effective social distancing on the Incline, reopening the incline would endanger public health.
Unless a fee based reservation system were implemented I don't believe that the hoped for numbers would be achieved by the social distancing ambassadors. They don't have legal right to demand proof of last name. Incline hikers do not adhere to the rules. Trespassing has always been the norm, before it was legally opened, during construction closures and before the 6 am opening.
Would the ambassadors be at the Trail head all the time? I expect that the Incline would see many, many more people hiking it.
Why not delay the reopening of the Incline until the sanitation issues are resolved?
While I understand that hand washing stations could be provided, the porta potties would be germ transfer stations, it is not possible to disinfect them between every use. If large numbers of people are using the porta potties it would create a dangerous situation. The surfaces and door handles that are touched, as well as the air in the tiny space inside would both be dangerous.
Note that Mountain Metro has deactivated their ticket vending machines at the downtown terminal to prevent repeated touching of the same surfaces.
I am also referring to the problems with public urination and defecation on the Incline.
Where is it legal and appropriate to relieve oneself on the Incline hike, and where is this forbidden? It is not reasonable to operate the Incline until we can implement clear policies and enforce them.
We do encourage people to be active during these difficult times but only near ones home. I don't know what the guidelines will be during the Protect Our Neighbors phase, but I expect that most Incline users live more than 10 miles away from the Incline Trail head.
The Incline is not a normal trail, its perpetual over use makes it necessary to keep it closed. There are many parks and trails where people can safely get out, the Incline is too popular to reopen until much later.
The Incline is an Attractive Nuisance and health hazard. This is not compatible with the coming Protect Our Neighbors phase.
Thank you, Carl Strow