Champions Page 4

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.

Photo © Tracie Sanchez

Inspiring Ideas: Meet the Woman Who Kick-Started the Georgia Trail Summit

Posted 03/20/14 by Tracie Sanchez in Building Trails | Tagged with Georgia, Local Organizing, Young Champions

On April 11-12, 2014, Georgia’s first trail summit in 15 years will convene in Athens. Trail groups from throughout the state will gather to share knowledge and further projects, with a goal of establishing a first-class trail network in Georgia. In this guest blog, Tracie Sanchez, organizer of the Georgia Trail Summit, talks about her inspiration for the event and how she turned the idea into a reality.

Photo © Tom Bilcze

Cycling the Miles Away from My Heart: A Man’s Journey to Better Health

Posted 02/20/14 by Tom Bilcze in Health and Wellness | Tagged with Champions, Why Use Trails?

Eight years ago, I found myself in a dire situation—heading home from 17 days of hospitalization after suffering a heart attack and undergoing triple coronary bypass surgery. My cardiologist and primary care physician sounded alarms that I would find myself back in the emergency room if I continued my sedentary habits and did not address my almost 300-pound weight.

Photo © Rails-to-Trails Conservancy

A Bike Ride with Texas State Senator Rodney Ellis

Posted 01/30/14 by Barry Bergman in Building Trails | Tagged with Champions, State and Federal Programs, Texas

Last month, I had the pleasure of joining trail advocate and Texas State Senator Rodney Ellis for a Saturday bike ride along San Francisco’s historic Embarcadero port area. As we road along the waterfront, Sen. Ellis and I shared ideas as well as success stories from our respective regions in hopes that we might help each other to spur innovations in active transportation, health and community revitalization.

Photo © of FSU reCycle Bike Program

FSU Bike Program Makes Student Life More Sustainable

Posted 01/24/14 by Mark Kastner in Success Stories | Tagged with Art, Florida, Local Organizing, Signage and Amenities, Young Champions

At RTC, we believe in active transportation, being environmentally friendly and, of course, changing lives. That's why we were thrilled to catch up with Florida State University (FSU) junior Mark Kastner. Kastner is FSU's reCycle Bike Program student coordinator, a role he says is "technically a job but much more of a hobby and passion." Here's what Mark has to say about the program, which is making students' lives easier, healthier and greener.

Photo © US Dept. of Transportation

Transpo' Secretary Foxx: More Attention Will Be Paid to Biking and Walking

Posted 01/16/14 by Jake Lynch in Policy | Tagged with Champions, Federal

"We also have to make a special effort to look out for modes of transportation that, traditionally, don't get much attention." With these words, Secretary of the United States Department of Transportation, Anthony Foxx, yesterday offered a glimmer of hope that the nation's transportation policy may better address the millions of Americans who bike and walk as well as drive a car or use transit.

Photo © www.scpr.org

New Mayor, New Energy for Building a Healthier Compton

Posted 09/27/13 by Rayna Gordon-Hellman in Policy | Tagged with California, Champions, Funding, Schools and Young People, Urban Pathways

Nowhere is the relevance and importance of this urban work better illustrated than in Compton, the city in south Los Angeles that has received far more attention for the bad rather than the good in recent years. But we see great things happening in south L.A., and continue to work with our local partners there so trails, biking and walking can contribute to the city's effort to rebound.