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Conference Agenda Speakers and Slideshows Updated! Mobile Workshops What is Active Transportation? Return to TrailLink 2007 Wrap-up

TrailLink 2007 Program Tracks:

TrailLink 2007 empowered advocates to champion the active transportation movement in their communities, and to launch a campaign to double federal investment in trails, biking and walking by 2010. TrailLink 2007 workshops were organized into several topic-specific tracks:

• Mobility—Biking, walking and trails form a trifecta of active transportation, working in tandem with transit systems and smart growth to reduce traffic congestion. Workshops in this theme armed attendees to make the case that active transportation is an essential part of the transportation system in their communities.
• Public Health—An obesity epidemic fueled by sedentary lifestyles has created new urgency for providing close-to-home opportunities for physical activity. Sessions within this theme addressed designing communities with physical activity and active transportation in mind as a positive way to improve public health.
• Economy—Rail-trails create economic vitality in the towns and neighborhoods through which they pass. These sessions delved into the contribution of trail systems to community economic development as well as household finances.
• Climate—Trails provide a variety of environmental benefits such as open space and clean air.  These sessions focused on the hot emerging climate change debate, exploring the potential to reduce greenhouse gasses through active transportation by substituting human energy for fossil fuels. This link provides another reason and opportunity to invest in trail systems.
• Family and Community—Quality of life; providing a safe place to learn to ride a bike; spending time with family away from the TV; making connections with your neighbors; fostering pride. These are all benefits of trail access and development in the community. Sessions on this topic explored how trails and active transportation build community.