Encouraging Trail Use Page 4

Verna Volker | Photo by Jaylyn Gough, courtesy Hoka One One

Trail Moments | Native Women Running Founder Verna Volker Gets a Running Start on Social Change

Posted 12/06/21 by Laura Stark in America's Trails, Trail Use | Tagged with Encouraging Trail Use, Featured Magazine Articles, Health and Active Living, Trail Moments, Walkability and Bikeability, Why Use Trails?

Running is something that Volker picked up later in life, shortly after the birth of her third child. “I didn’t start until about 12 years ago, when I was at my heaviest, about 200 pounds. We had just moved from Nebraska to Minnesota, and I had a preschooler, a toddler and a newborn. But, in Minneapolis, I noticed that there was a really good trail and park system, so I saw people running a lot and thought, ‘I should try that.’ I started running, but I was so clueless. I didn’t even know how to shop for shoes, but I just kept running.”

Left to Right: Waides Ashmon III, Ashley Jones, MaShant Ashmon, Ian Mackay and Vasu Sojitraa | Graphic by RTC

Here Is Some Inspiration to Keep Up or Create Your #TrailMoments Momentum!

Posted 10/14/21 by Suzanne Matyas in Trail Use | Tagged with Encouraging Trail Use, Health and Active Living, How-to, Trail Moments, Walkability and Bikeability, Why Use Trails?

We all know how difficult it can be to create or maintain healthy habits! That’s why the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy team launched our #TrailMoments 21-Day Challenge—so an entire community could band together and keep each other motivated.

Photos courtesy Dale Majors and TrailLink user protoolned, graphic by RTC

Trail Moments | How To Long-Distance Bike Tour With (Six!) Young Kids

Posted 09/03/21 by Dale Majors in America's Trails, Trail Use | Tagged with Encouraging Trail Use, Health and Active Living, How-to, Trail Businesses, Trail Moments, Trail Use Tips, Walkability and Bikeability, Why Use Trails?

I know it’s intimidating to plan a route that will be safe for your family while offering sufficient camping and have other important necessities like access to grocery stores close to the trail. We’ve found that good rails-trail routes can be very forgiving to those new to bike touring. We’ve learned so much since then and wanted to share some of our hard-earned lessons to make things easier for you.

Photo by Lisa Watts, graphic by RTC

Trail Moments | The Great Bike Shortage? For Me, It Was the Great Bike Summer!

Posted 09/02/21 by Silvia Ascarelli in America's Trails | Tagged with COVID-19, Demand for Trails, Encouraging Trail Use, Health and Active Living, Schools and Young People, Trail Moments, Trail Use Tips, Walkability and Bikeability, Why Use Trails?

In late May 2020, during the early days of the COVID-induced Great Bike Shortage, I stood in line with a neighbor to buy a used bike. Her first bike. My neighbor Shahreen is in her late 30s and didn’t know how to ride a bike, so she asked me to teach her. And so began my Great Bike Summer.

42nd Street Slow Street in Oakland, California | Photo by Ben Kaufman

What’s Ahead for the Movement to Create Safe Outdoor Space in Every Neighborhood

Posted 08/02/21 by Christina Sturdivant Sani in America's Trails | Tagged with Demand for Trails, Encouraging Trail Use, Mode Shift, Success Stories, Trail Communities, Transportation Alternatives, Walkability and Bikeability

An analysis of 31 trail counters for the week of March 16–22 found a nationwide trail usage increase of nearly 200% from that same week in 2019. It was clear that the demand for safe spaces to be active outside was far exceeding supply. The organization used this data as the driver for a petition that advocated for cities and towns to close streets to vehicle traffic (which had dropped substantially due to mandatory lockdowns), creating more places for people to walk, bike and roll at a safe distance from one another. In the transportation world, this is known as the Open Streets movement.

Dan, Michaela and Saul Brownstein, with their dog Rufus, on the Elephant Swamp Trail in New Jersey | Photo courtesy Dan Brownsteins

Trail Moments | Adapting Trail Trips for a Hiker With a Disability: A Family’s Advice

Posted 04/15/21 by Dan Brownstein in Trail Use, America's Trails | Tagged with Encouraging Trail Use, How-to, Mapping and Technology, People with Disabilities, Trail Moments, Trail Use Tips, Why Use Trails?

Saul is 22 and has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. He has needed to use a power wheelchair full time since about age 14, but that has not stopped him from exploring the outdoors. Saul has traveled to 42 states and several foreign countries. He has skied, surfed and skated using adapted equipment for his disability. To that end, we’ve put together a few tips for those who may have a disability or a mobility challenge, and want to get out on the trail.

Ian Mackay on Olympic Discovery Trail | Photo by Jesse Major

Five Trail Moments with Ian Mackay, Founder of Ian's Ride

Posted 04/13/21 by Ian Mackay in Trail Use, Health and Wellness, America's Trails | Tagged with COVID-19, Encouraging Trail Use, Equity, People with Disabilities, Trail Destinations, Trail Moments, Walkability and Bikeability, Washington, Why Use Trails?

I was able to retain my happiness and sanity during this difficult year by getting outside. My preferred venue: The Olympic Discovery Trail. Here are 5 #TrailMoments that were particularly special for me during the 2020 year.