King County Parks officials on Thursday night held a public meeting to gather islanders’ opinions on the proposal to build bike trails in a portion of Dockton Forest. The meeting served as an opportunity to end rumors about the scale and process of the project, but some islanders remained upset about the trail system and would not support it.

All of the concerns brought up at the meeting, from the possibility of conflicts between equestrians and mountain bikers, to the health of the forest and the impact on existing trails, were addressed and thoroughly answered by the county representatives. There is no reason why the trail-building process should be delayed any longer. The island has nothing to lose and so much to gain.

The trails proposed by Vashon’s mountain bike group will be built by island volunteers on 40 acres of the 700-acre Dockton Forest (6 percent of the total forest). They will not replace any of the current multi-use trails, all the current trails will remain available to all users. The biking trails will be constructed in an area that currently has no trails, and will be hidden from the existing trail system, and there will be 50 to 100 feet of buffer zone between the biking trails and existing trails.

The proposal is not for a mountain bike park, it is proposing two-to three-feet-wide trails, much like hiking trails, but with skill-building elements and sharp turns built in.

The trails will create a place for mountain bikers to gather and will likely decrease the frequency of encounters with equestrians that could spook horses. The county representatives made it clear Thursday that proper signage will be a large part of the project.

The island’s mountain bikers deserve a place to recreate just like the hikers, walkers and equestrians. The plan created between the county and the local bikers brings together the interests of all concerned parties and should be applauded. The county parks department should also be applauded for the time that has been invested to inform all islanders about the project and ensure the information getting out is correct.

Trail construction should begin so bikers can reap the rewards of their work with the county.