Etiquette

• Observe trail rules and signs. (click here for Hours and Rules)

• Stay on designated trails.

• Be courteous to other trail users.

• Stay to right when practical.

• Minimize trail erosion by avoiding muddy trails and shortcuts.

• Use trash cans where available or carry litter with you.  

• Respect private property and route closures.

What to Wear

• Dress appropriately for the location, time of year and planned activities.

• Wear sunglasses and a hat or visor during sunny weather

• Wear reflective material at night.

• Bicyclists and skaters should wear a properly fitted helmet. A helmet is the single most effective way to prevent head injury resulting from a bicycle crash.

Walking

• Some great tips from the American Podiatric Medical Association.

Bicycling

• Some great tips from San Jose's Department of Transportation.

• Bicyclists are considered vehicle operators; they are required to obey the same rules of the road as other vehicle operators, including obeying traffic signs, signals, and lane markings.

• Make sure your bike is in good mechanical condition.

• To be noticed when riding at night, use a front light and a red reflector or flashing rear light, and use retro-reflective tape or markings on equipment or clothing.

• Bicyclists should yield to hikers and horse back riders.

• Ride in control and stay to the right when practical.

• Do not block the trail - pull off the trail when stopping.

• Slow down when approaching other trail users or street crossings.

• Anticipate riders around corners.

• Use a bell or horn, or call out when passing others.

• When cycling on street to a trail, cyclists must ride in the same direction as traffic.

• Learn about bike repair, commuting and skills training

Personal Safety

• Walk, run, or ride with a partner.

• During and after storms, which for flooded trails and under-crossings.

• If you are alone on the trails, avoid unfamiliar areas.

• Let someone know where you will be and when you intend to return.  

• Carry a Cell Phone or know where telephones are in the area.

• Be aware of your surroundings at all times.

• Trust your instincts and avoid areas where you feel uncomfortable.

• If you think you are being followed, go to an open business or a lighted house.

• Report suspicious behavior to the Police by calling 911.

• If you wear headphones while on the trail, try to keep them at a volume that allows you to hear others around you.

Trail Hazards

• Be aware of trail hazards such as loose gravel, glass, holes, ruts, and low-hanging branches.

• During the rainy seasons, some under-crossings may be beneath water. DO NOT use under-crossings during high water events.

• Trail conditions can vary depending on the time of year.  Flooded or muddy areas can be hazardous.  

• Keep your distance from wildlife.

• Do not feed wildlife.  

• Mountain lions and coyotes are occasionally sighted in the more rural areas or the trails.  If you see a mountain lion or coyote that is sick, injured or behaving aggressively toward people or pets, Call 911 immediately.  If you see a mountain lion near a park or trail, call (408) 793-5510 (Park Concern Hotline).

Call Boxes

• Call boxes are the emergency phones located along trails.

• They provide direct access to trail users who need assistance, and are for emergency use only.

• The use of the call boxes is free.

• The boxes provide trail users in need with a direct link to the San Jose Emergency Call Center. Pick up the handset and the call is made automatically. 

• Carry a Cell Phone or know where telephones are in the area.

• If the phone in the call box is out of service and you have access to a mobile phone, call (408) 277-8911 for emergency. Dialing this number connects you directly to San Jose 911.  Calls made to 911 can sometimes be routed to Caltrans 911 center and that can delay response time.

When Driving

• Drivers of motor vehicles need to share the road with bicyclists.
• Be courteous – allow at least three feet clearance when passing a bicyclist on the road, look for cyclists before opening a car door or pulling out from a parking space, and yield to cyclists at intersections and as directed by signs and signals.
• Be especially watchful for cyclists when making turns, either left or right.

Staying Healthy

San Jose's trails are within the urban area, but follow riparian river corridors.  Avoiding harmful critters and plants is a very good reason to stay on the defined trail. But if you need more encouragement, here is more information about a few things to be concerned about:

Lyme Disease	What is it? Lyme Disease is transmitted to animals and man through the bite of a tick.  There are several different ticks that carry Lyme disease, but the most common in the western part of the United States is the western-blacklegged tick.  The ticks vary in size, anywhere from a sesame seed to the size of a grain of sand.  Ticks do not jump like fleas.  They must crawl onto you.  Ticks on your clothing do not pose a threat, as long as they are removed before they can reach your skin.  A tick must feed on you for at least 12 hours to transmit the disease, so prompt removal of ticks is important.  If you see one on your skin, pull it out with tweezers slowly without twisting, and without squeezing the tick.  Save the tick.  Your doctor may want it for testing.   See a doctor for expert advice. Avoid tick bites: Wear light colored clothing.  Dark ticks are more easily spotted against a light background. Tuck long pants into socks to prevent ticks from getting to your skin.  Apply repellents according to label instructions. Applying repellent directly on clothing is most effective.  Stay on trails to avoid the most common tick habitats. For more information contact: Lyme Disease Foundation, Inc. 1 Financial Plaza, 18th Floor Hartford, CT 06103  (800) 525-2000
Poison Oak	What is it? Poison Oak grows along side trails, in forests and wooded areas.  Poison Oak causes your skin to itch, and you will definitely want to scratch.  There is no immediate cure.  You can only wait for the process to run its course and treat the symptoms.  The symptoms are non-contagious rashes and non-poisonous blisters.  Contaminated clothing should be washed thoroughly.  Remedies A few remedies include: Over the counter oinments, see your medical professional Calamine lotion is the traditional remedy.  Epson Salts dissolved in water, applied with a paper towel. Apple Cider Vinegar, applied with a paper towel.  Smells, and will sting, but works. The inside of a banana peel.
West Nile Virus	Who can be affected? Humans and animals, including birds, can be affected by West Nile Virus. The majority of the infected have mild or no symptoms. The elderly and those who have weakened immune systems are most at risk. How does West Nile Virus spread? West Nile Virus is usually spread to humans and animals through the bite of an infected mosquito. Female mosquitoes acquire the infection by feeding on a bird with the virus. It is then transmitted via the mosquito’s saliva when it bites a human or animal. Symptoms Most infected people experience minor symptoms or do not experience any symptoms at all. Mild symptoms may include but are not limited to: fever, headache and body soreness, skin rash on the torso, and swollen lymph nodes. Symptoms of mild illness generally last a few days. Severe symptoms of the West Nile Virus include: headache, high fever, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness and paralysis. Severe symptoms may last several weeks, although neurological effects may be permanent. Protection against the West Nile Virus Place mosquito netting over infant carriers when outdoors with babies Consider staying indoors at dawn and dusk Install or repair tight fitting windows and door screens to prevent mosquitoes from coming indoors Wear long sleeve shirts and pants whenever you are outdoors Spray clothing with repellants containing permethrin because mosquitoes may bite through thin clothing even if it covers your skin. DO NOT apply repellents containing permethrin directly to exposed skin Routinely check and eliminate any standing water in your yard. Water an inch deep can still produce hundreds of mosquitoes. Source: Santa Clara County Vector Control District, West Nile Virus pamphlet, 1-800-314-2427.
	Mountain Lions Open lands in the mountains and foothills surrounding the Santa Clara Valley provide the habitat needed for mountain lions to survive. Though rarely seen, mountain lions are known to visit riparian areas along rivers and neighborhoods along the edge of open space. Reclusive and solitary, mountain lions usually hunt alone, often at night. They prey mostly on deer but have been known to stalk bighorn sheep, elk, smaller wild mammals and domestic animals. Attacks on humans, though always tragic, are extremely rare. According to the California Department of Fish & Game, a person has more chance of being struck by lightning than attacked by a cougar. For the safety of visitors to open space and the lions themselves, it¹s important to minimize the chance of human-lion encounters. Since research has found that solitary hikers are three times more likely to encounter a lion, hike with a friend or in a group. Also, lions seem to be drawn to small children, so it¹s important to keep them in reach at all times. If you do see a lion, stay back. Maintain eye contact ­ Cougars perceive this as threatening. Try to appear large by raising your arms or holding your jacket open. Don¹t run. Don¹t crouch or bend over. Speak in a loud, firm voice. If the lion approaches, fight back. People have effectively defended themselves and others with sticks, rocks or whatever they could grab. Call 911 immediately for the following conditions: immediate threat to humans, acting aggressively, sick or injured. If you see a mountain lion near a park or trail, call (408) 793-5510 or send an email to the Park Concern Hotline. Park Operations staff can post warning signage as appropriate and take any other necessary actions. For more information on Mountain Lions, go to the California Department of Fish and Game web site.