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COVID-19 Resources

Photo courtesy Getty Images

As American life is altered significantly in response to COVID-19, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) is providing resources and advocacy tools to connect people with outdoor space where they can be active and well during this time. We are sharing content and data that provides insights on safely accessing trails and the outdoors now, as well as information and tools to support trail managers in keeping communities safe, and perspectives on the long-term impacts of the illness on the trails movement and the communities we all serve. We are leading national efforts to call on local officials to repurpose streets to create more space for people to be active at a safe social distance, and we are organizing the trails and active transportation movement in response to federal stimulus opportunities. While we are working hard to maintain up-to-date content, the CDC’s website, coronavirus.gov, as well as local and state public health agencies are the best resources for current public health guidance and local orders and regulations.

View Related Blogs

RTC’s COVID-19 content library includes articles about appropriate trail use, physical activity and wellness, and trail building and advocacy during this time. Articles are available to cite or reprint with credit to Rails-to-Trails Conservancy.

Please contact Patricia Brooks at patricia@matchmapmedia.com with inquiries, interview requests and ideas for future content.

Advocacy Tools

Open Streets University of Minnesota | Photo courtesy Fibonacci Blue | CC BY 2.0
Open Streets University of Minnesota | Photo courtesy Fibonacci Blue | CC BY 2.0

Nationwide, people are seeking outdoor space where they can be active at a safe social distance. Trail use is surging, while many parks and other outdoor facilities are closed. At the same time, most walking and biking facilities are not wide enough to allow for 6 feet of distance between people. This unprecedented demand for places to walk and bike underscores the value that trails have always delivered to communities—in the form of health and wellness, economic opportunity and resilience. RTC is organizing people from across the country to advocate for more open space to walk and bike locally and for investment in this vital infrastructure at the federal level.

Americans are hunkering down in efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19. As a result of fewer people traveling to work and everyday errands, car traffic has significantly decreased in many towns and cities. Local officials can now strategically repurpose streets to create more space for walking and biking, giving people enough space to be active outside while practicing appropriate social distancing—thousands have already called for this change and dozens of cities have already taken action nationwide.

Watch Related Webinars

Trail Count Data

RTC is conducting weekly analyses of national trail usage based on data gathered from RTC’s 31 trail counters distributed across the country.

Check Trail Status on TrailLink

TrailLink Find Your Trail banner with logo
Find Your Trail on TrailLink.com or use the TrailLink App | Graphic courtesy TrailLink

Materials

Across the country, the trails community is working hard to keep people visiting trails, volunteers and staff safe and healthy. The following resources are available for your use with appropriate attribution, as noted in the image captions. Contact us if you need a different file format or version.

Share the Trail “Practice Safe Social Distancing on the Trail banner in English by RTC
Share the Trail “Practice Safe Social Distancing on the Trail banner in English by RTC
Share the Trail “Practice Safe Social Distancing on the Trail banner in Spanish by RTC
Share the Trail “Practice Safe Social Distancing on the Trail banner in Spanish by RTC
Share the Trail “Keep Your Distance graphic in English by RTC
Share the Trail “Keep Your Distance graphic in English by RTC
Share the Trail “Keep Your Distance graphic in Spanish by RTC
Share the Trail “Keep Your Distance graphic in Spanish by RTC
Social Distancing Signage | Courtesy Atlanta BeltLine
Social Distancing Signage | Courtesy Atlanta BeltLine
Social Distancing Trail Signage | Courtesy Montgomery Parks
Social Distancing Trail Signage | Courtesy Montgomery Parks
Stay Healthy Outdoors graphic by PA Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources
Stay Healthy Outdoors graphic by PA Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources
Stay Healthy Outdoors Spanish graphic by PA Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources
Stay Healthy Outdoors Spanish graphic by PA Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources
Leave No Trace graphic by PA Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources
Leave No Trace graphic by PA Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources
Leave No Trace Spanish graphic by PA Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources
Leave No Trace Spanish graphic by PA Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources

Share the Trail Public Service Announcements

RTC is making available public service announcements to encourage safe social distancing and trail etiquette during COVID-19 for use by media outlets, blogs and partners. Public service announcements can be reproduced at no cost, and should be attributed to Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. Please contact Patricia Brooks at patricia@matchmapmedia.com with inquiries and requests for different content and format types.

Share the Trail PSA color graphic by RTC
Share the Trail PSA color graphic by RTC

Share the Trail Video Series

Remember, every amazing trail experience begins with you! Watch our award-winning video series to learn the six Golden Rules of trail use—you can help make every trip safe and fun for everyone.

4 Color Full Page Share the Trail PSA-White

  • 8.5×11”
  • No bleed
  • Print-Ready PDF

4 Color RTC Quarter Page Bleeds Share the Trail PSA-Blue

  • 4.174×4.782”
  • .125” Bleeds
  • Print-Ready PDF

4 Color Standard Quarter Page No Bleeds Share the Trail PSA-Blue

  • .333×4.583”
  • No bleed
  • Print-Ready PDF

4 Color Standard Quarter Page Bleeds Share the Trail PSA-Blue

  • 3.333×4.583”
  • .125” Bleeds
  • Print-Ready PDF
Share the Trail and Recreate Responsibly poster

Share the Trail Recreate Responsibily Poster

  • 24”x36”
  • No Bleeds
  • Print-Ready PDF

Recreate Responsibly

Recreate Responsibly | Courtesy the Recreate Responsibly Coalition
Recreate Responsibly | Courtesy the Recreate Responsibly Coalition
Recreate Responsibly Winter Edition | Courtesy the Recreate Responsibly Coalition
Recreate Responsibly Winter Edition | Courtesy the Recreate Responsibly Coalition