Originally Posted by
The Human Car
I've been trying to get a straight answer on that as it is a misuse of transportation funds to close a transportation facility at night but then again the park cannot be responsible for things that might happen at night and it seems the legals do not have a way of saying "use at night is at your own risk" so they have to say closed at night.
So far I have never been stopped at night and there seems to be a fair amount of joggers using the trail at night, a few stories I have heard that if the park ranger stops you, it is just a warning but lets you ride the trail anyway.
I don't think the State considers the NCR Trail a "transportation facility." Its official Web page is part of the Dept. of Natural Resources site, where it's listed in the "Greenways and Water Trails Program" section. The "greenway functions" listed are: riparian/water quality protection; wildlife/ecological corridor; linear park; trail.
That "it's at your own risk at night" excuse seems kind of lame. I haven't looked into it, but I'd be willing to bet that the State's position is that you're at your own risk in the daytime, too.
(Other than something truly outrageously negligent, like, I don't know, maybe the State puts up a new Port-a-Pot and decides to support the roof with wads of chewed-up bubble gum, and the roof falls in on some hapless, temporarily enthroned jogger or cyclist.
)
I used to live less than 2 miles from the NCR Trail, and I was on it all the time. Only a few times at night, though, and those just by accident. I recall seeing rangers only once. I do know that there have been night-time running events on the trail, but I guess because they were "official" events, that was different.