Mountain Biking - Trail/park access fees

Took a ride today at my normal trail (oak mountain park in AL) and wanted to get a season pass, last year they were $60 which isn't too bad, but I procrastinated and never bought one. So this year I'm going to get one right at the new year (they expire in DEC no matter when you buy it) and was informed they are now $100. I just paid the $2 admission after the sticker shock (66% increase). The fees go to the whole state park system and volunteers maintain the trail.

I'm still running the numbers(counting the ticket stubs in my ashtray) The trail is 45 min away and I don't go on the weekends, but I work close to the park.. it's a nice after work ride or maybe a run. With the season pass you could go in before the daylight savings starts for around 30 minutes before it gets dark and not feel ripped off.


So is this the norm? how many of you pay each time you hit a trail? If so are the fees increasing?

if its 2 bucks for a day 110/2= 55 so you have to go at least 55 times next year to break even, now of course your gonna go biking more than 55 times but are you gonna go to the same place 55 times? thats over once every week. Personally i prolly avg over once a week to my fav spot but idk if you move around ect.

Idk bout season pass but 2 bucks is avg to low for park fee (besides free of course)

maybe there are cheater ways to bike into the park? my fav spot has a 2 buck entrance fee to drive into the park, but we just park at a totally diff spot and drop into the valley (so does everybody else) it also saves me and xtra 20+mins of driving

I've tried to avoid pay to ride areas, all the local trails are free to ride but one near my in laws is pay to ride $8 per day, i never ride there, except for the yearly race. All of our trails here are maintained by volunteers and a non profit that is supported by memberships.

In Ga, the state parks charge $3. per day or you can buy a year pass for $30. great deal. We also have a few places that ask you to drop a buck a person in a box when you come in to ride,unless you work on the trails. I don't mind, to me its for a good cause.

I'd prolly go with just paying each day, like sirtigersalot said your gonna need some variety and not go to the same place all the time. (http://www.bikeforums.net/member.php?u=97014)

I don't mind the pay per play places because that ensures that there are people out there working on the trails making them better.

I pay every time I ride at my State Parks. $3/day, and I feel like the money is going to a good cause.