Trail Use Page 26

Photo © Diane Hanley

Jay Walljasper: Why Trails Are America's New Town Squares

Posted 07/29/14 by Jay Walljasper in Trail Use | Tagged with Tourism and Economic Stimulus, Trail Communities, Urban Pathways

For harried 21st Century commuters, who spend long hours in cars or buses each week, driving seems too reminiscent of work. On evenings and weekends, they want to take off on bikes, skates, longboards or their own two feet. That’s why communities are now busy creating new trails and greenways across America and throughout the world.

Photos © Katie Harris

Trail Towns Roll Out the Red Carpet: “Impressions" of a Greenway Sojourner

Posted 07/10/14 by Katie Harris in America's Trails, Trail Use | Tagged with Maryland, Pennsylvania, Sojourn Series, Tourism and Economic Stimulus, Trail Businesses, West Virginia

My absolute favorite part of RTC’s 2014 Greenway Sojourn (June 22-27) was talking to many of my fellow 300 riders about their experiences as we made our way from just outside Wierton, W.V., to Cumberland, Md. Every evening, I would strike up a conversation with someone about the day’s ride; some exhausted after, say, their first 50-mile day, others eager to share their list of wildlife sightings, and all excited for what would come next.

Ohiopyle Bike and Pedestrian Bridge | Photo by Katie Harris

Tales from the Trail: RTC's 2014 Greenway Sojourn

Posted 07/02/14 by Katie Harris in America's Trails, Trail Use | Tagged with Maryland, Pennsylvania, Sojourn Series, Tourism and Economic Stimulus, Trail Communities, West Virginia

Here's a great wrap-up of the 12th Annual Greenway Sojourn by RTC's Katie Harris! Katie talks about the impact of the trip on her, her fellow riders and the communities through which they had the pleasure of passing through during their six days together.

Photo © Richard Anderson

Making the Most of the Met (Metropolitan Branch Trail, That Is!)

Posted 06/26/14 by Amy Kapp in Trail Use | Tagged with Capital Trails Coalition, District Of Columbia, Local Organizing, RTC in Action, Urban Pathways

On June 25, Kathy Blaha, board member extraordinaire for both RTC and City Parks Alliance, posted this great blog on the programs helping to make the Metropolitan Branch Trail a true neighborhood gem. Programming is a valuable strategy for increasing trail use among individuals and families in local communities across the U.S., as RTC's trail development director, Kelly Pack, discusses in the blog.

Photo CC Orin Zebest via Flickr

You'll Be Seeing Bike Racks on Amtrak Very Soon!

Posted 06/25/14 by Amy Kapp in Trail Use | Tagged with Tourism and Economic Stimulus

Amtrak recently announced that it is installing new baggage cars with bike racks to all its long-distance trains by the end of the year. This includes the Amtrak Capitol Limited train that runs between Washington, D.C., and Pittsburgh, Pa.—creating a new connection for cyclists between the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) and the C & O Canal, and ultimately changing the way people tour, vacation and get around in the U.S.

Photo CC Rudi Riet via Flickr

Get Out On the Trail in Celebration of Great Outdoors America Week!

Posted 06/20/14 by Elissa Southward in Trail Use, Health and Wellness | Tagged with Community Events, Encouraging Trail Use, Health and Active Living

June 23 to 26, 2014, is Great Outdoors America Week in Washington, D.C.! As one of the largest annual conservation and outdoor-focused events in the District, Great Outdoors America Week, or GO Week for short, brings together hundreds of diverse organizations and activists to meet with lawmakers and government reps. and advocate for an outdoor way of life. Throughout the week, many organizations also take the opportunity to hold events that raise awareness of, and celebrate, nature and the outdoors.

Photos © Rick Pruetz

The Profitable Tail of the Silver Comet Trail

Posted 05/07/14 by Rick Pruetz in America's Trails, Trail Use, Success Stories | Tagged with Case Studies, Facts and FIgures, Georgia, Tourism and Economic Stimulus, Trail Businesses

A 2013 study by the Northwest Georgia Regional Planning Commission recommends more than doubling the length of the Silver Comet Trail —at its “tail” end—with spurs to nearby commercial centers and longer extensions to Marietta, Rome and Atlanta’s growing bike-path network.

Photos © Camrin Denegel

From Great Plains to Great Lakes: Experiencing Minnesota by Bike

Posted 04/04/14 by Katie Harris in America's Trails, Trail Use | Tagged with Minnesota, Wild and Wonderful, Young Champions

Last summer, I was fortunate enough to travel by bike across the country—from the coast of Washington State to the coast of Maine—with my best friend Camrin. The impetus for the trip was our desire to see the true fabric of America. And one of the absolute highlights of our trip was riding across the state of Minnesota.

Photos © FreeWalkers

Promoting Walkability in America – From Coast to Coast

Posted 03/10/14 by Amy Kapp in Trail Use | Tagged with Local Organizing, New Jersey, Walkability and Bikeability, Washington

In America’s urban centers and rural areas, walkability is becoming a hot topic. Both the public and public leaders are recognizing the way in which pedestrian-friendly policies and infrastructure can help spur economic development, improve individual and community health, and make neighborhoods more livable.