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Council weighs restricting some equestrian trails to horses amid enforcement concerns
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Summary
The council and the Equestrian Preserve Committee discussed a proposal to limit some village bridle trails to horses and riders only. Debate focused on safety, enforcement feasibility, pilot approaches for select trails, and conflicts between equestrian access and multimodal trail use.
Councilors and staff spent extensive time at the Feb. 9 agenda review debating a request from the Equestrian Preserve Committee (EPC) to restrict certain bridle trails to horses and riders.
EPC representatives said safety incidents and conflicts—particularly between horses and bicycles or motorized users—motivated the request. EPC asked for more enforcement and for code changes that would prohibit bicycles and motorized vehicles on bridle trails. Council members and staff noted practical challenges: the village currently prohibits motorized vehicles on bridle trails by code but does not have a separate prohibition for bicycles; signage and enforcement resources are limited and Palm Beach County Sheriff Office (PBSO) deputies cannot be posted continuously at trailheads.
Staff suggested a data-driven approach: use trail counts and targeted pilot enforcement on selected trail segments (recommendations included trails near the showgrounds) to test whether restrictions are enforceable and effective. Council discussed alternatives including targeted roadway modifications to make routes safer for multimodal travel or adjusting speed limits on parallel roads to accommodate golf-cart access. Several members warned against blanket prohibitions that would remove access for residents who rely on golf carts to reach the showgrounds.
No ordinance change was adopted; staff was tasked to develop a trail-safety plan, propose pilot locations and return with implementation options that balance safety, enforcement capacity and multimodal access.
