The argument over who has rights to use the Canalway Trail is a never-ending debate, as all feel that they should be able to use a trail built with state and federal funds. However, the solution to the question is not that easy.

However, as a trail adopter, I know that if we allow horses on the trail, we will be limiting the use of many other people.

Horses are animals that weigh many hundreds of pounds and all that weight is conveyed to the ground via very small hooves, which are shod with steel shoes.

The action of walking alone digs divots in the stone dust three inches deep and many inches across.

Once a group of horses pass by, the trail is then pot-marked, making walking difficult if one does not constantly watch where to step. This limits the use of wheelchairs, powered scooters, the elderly, and parents pushing strollers, or just someone who wishes to look up at the birds.

Bikes with thinner tires quickly become unusable.

I have spent many hours of many days hand raking the trail after a Sunday horse ride. I have never seen any horse rider fixing the trail after a ride.

Another problem is that once the trail surface is dug up and loosened, it needs to be repacked by using a road roller.

My little hand rake can push the stone dust back into the divots, but it does not compact the surface. With the stone dust loosened, weeds can quickly take hold, hastening the overgrowth of the trail.

We have a singularly unique canal side trail.

There is only one Erie Canal Trail, and people from across the country and from around the world come here to ride and walk it. It is a cultural resource that deserves our protection.

If this means limiting certain groups, then so be it.

So it will come down to this. We can either allow one very small group the privilege of using the trail, and they will in turn deny the free use of the trail to the majority; or we can deny one very small group the rights to use the trail and allow the majority the continued use of the resource. The idea that we are limiting anyone from using the trail is nonsense.

All they need to do is dismount and walk the trail.

The banning of horses is just that, a ban of horse.

Mike Riley

Port Byron