Originally Posted by Cornish_Rdr_UK
Dont tend to see it much over here, you occasionally get a stuck up bunch of riders who think they own the trail but who cares, ignore them, your trail as much as theirs, we're all bikers.
I can imagine it being a pain in the ass though, especially if your considerate enough to acknowledge them.
As for bikers vs skaters, I do both, so that doesnt bother me.
The land owner owns the trail. The land manager says what can and cannot be constructed there. In some cases, they contract with an organization of mountain bikers to build sustainable trails. These individuals who donate all their hard time and effort with the permission of the land owner, they are effectively in charge. And in almost every case, you are more than welcome to join and put in your hard work and be in charge as well. But you have to work with the team.
No, it is not as much YOUR trail as it is others. You will find that the people who do all the coordination with the land owners and all the building own it a little more than you do. And again, you're more than welcome to help these individuals and become a land steward rather than just someone who uses. But you have to be prepared to put in some hard work, go along with the group, and then once you've proven yourself, you'll have a say.