Stay home: the Trail will be here when this crisis is behind us

March 24, 2020

AUSTIN—We know you love the Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail and we do, too. But given the City of Austin’s shelter-in-place order updated today, The Trail Foundation recommends that you stay in and exercise as close to your own home as possible. While TTF does not have the authority to close the Trail, we urge everyone to honor Mayor Adler’s guideline of reducing social interaction by 90 percent, for your safety and that of our community. There are parts of the Trail that make it difficult for people to stay the recommended six feet apart. 

If you do use the Trail, it’s extremely important that you follow the safety measures outlined below.

Safety on the Trail during shelter-in-place

1. For outside exercise, the best idea is to stay close to home. Wherever you are, make sure to practice social distancing (at least six feet away from any other person).
2. Don’t leave home if you are ill or exhibiting any symptoms such as a fever, cough, or shortness of breath.
3. Practice Trail etiquette: alert others to your presence by saying “on your left” when you pass. 
4. Step aside to let others pass.
5. Wash your hands and use hand sanitizer frequently.
6. Exercise equipment will not be available to use during this time; restrooms and water fountains remain open for now but we highly recommend NOT using them as it’s not possible to guarantee safe levels of hygiene. 

“According to our Trail counters, usage on the Trail has not decreased in the past two weeks,” says TTF CEO Heidi Anderson. “And as local media has reported and we’ve observed, many people are not practicing social distancing and other critical steps to avoid spreading the coronavirus,” she says.

“Our message to those who love the Trail is this: it will be there for us when this season passes. Now is the time to let the Trail rest while we do. We need to do our part, stay home, take care of ourselves and our families, and also the larger community.”

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About The Trail Foundation

The Trail Foundation’s mission is to protect, enhance, and connect the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail at Lady Bird Lake for the benefit of all. The Trail, a 10-mile lush, urban path in the heart of Austin, gets more than 4.4 million visits every year. Since it was founded in 2003, The Trail Foundation has achieved restoration and beautification projects to the Trail’s infrastructure and environment, while honoring the original vision of the Trail’s founders and ensuring its vibrancy for generations to come. www.thetrailfoundation.org

For more information, contact: Brenda Thompson, 512-461-5644, brenda@brendathompson.com