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Treadway (or Tread)

  1. The surface portion of a trail upon which users travel, excluding backslope, ditch, and shoulder. Tread surfaces can consist of native soil material, aggregate, asphalt, concrete, recycled materials and native materials that are modified with soil stabilizers. [source: Universal Access Trails and Shared Use Paths: Design, Management, Ethical, and Legal Considerations (Pennsylvania Land Trust Association, 2014)]
  2. Tread is the actual travel surface of the trail. This is where the rubber (or hoof) meets the trail. [source: "Trail Construction and Maintenance Notebook," Recreation Trails Program, Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation]