Florida Page 4

Photo © Mighk Wilson/Commute Orlando

By Rail and Trail: SunRail Service Opens a Whole New World on Florida's East Coast

Posted 08/05/14 by Jake Lynch in Trail Use | Tagged with Connected Systems, Florida, Rail-with-Trail, Tourism and Economic Stimulus

2014 has already been a huge year for trails in Florida, with funding secured for the Coast-to-Coast Connector project, the All Aboard Florida rail-with-trail proposal building steam and locals beating back a number of political threats to active transportation.

Photos © Sandra Friend

Best Beauty Spots Along the Florida Trail

Posted 01/30/14 by Sandra Friend and John Keatley in America's Trails | Tagged with Best Of, Florida

One of the biggest surprises that new-to-Florida hikers discover is that Florida is a very scenic place. Despite our lack of mountains, a few inches of elevation change are all it takes to surround you in a completely different habitat. With the 1,400-mile ribbon of the Florida Trail stretching from Pensacola Beach to the Big Cypress National Preserve between Miami and Naples, Florida's botanical diversity puts on quite a show. Whether you prefer backpacking or day hiking, these beauty spots along our National Scenic Trail will have you walking slowly with camera in hand to capture the essence of natural Florida.

Photo © of Iron Horse Endurance Runs

Endurance Run on Florida Rail-Trail Tests the World’s Best

Posted 01/26/14 by Chris Rodatz in Trail Use | Tagged with Community Events, Florida

For the past six years, the Lake Butler-to-Palatka Trail has played host to the Iron Horse Endurance Race, an ultramarathon that spans 100 miles (with 100-km and 50-mile options) from Florahome to Palatka. On Feb. 15, 2014, 150 runners from the U.S., Canada, Great Britain, Germany and Mexico will “toe the line” in this test of iron wills. Here’s a brief glimpse of last year’s Feb. 9 event, courtesy of Race Director Chris Rodatz.

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 © Florida Trailblazer

Five Top Florida Hikes for History

Posted 01/22/14 by Joe Dunn in America's Trails | Tagged with Best Of, Florida

As a "trailblazer," I have long enjoyed the history, geography, ecosystems and wildlife that make Florida such a wonderful state for outdoor exploration. One of the first trails I began to explore actively is the Florida National Scenic Trail, a 1,000-mile walking and biking system that traverses the state and meanders through some of the most picturesque areas in the U.S. As time went by, I learned about the many other places in Florida that lay claim to countless trails and habitats: our award-winning state parks, our state and national forests, our wildlife management areas and our water management districts.

Photo © Kidical Mass Tallahassee

Kidical Mass: Training Wheels and Tots the Focus of Tallahassee Bike Crew

Posted 01/22/14 by Amy Kapp in Taking Action, Success Stories | Tagged with Florida, Local Organizing

"The bike movement has grown up, and now it has kids." These are the words of Shane MacRhodes, founder of Kidical Mass - a national program designed to "provide a safe environment for kids and their parents to learn and practice [bicycle] safety skills" while creating awareness of the growing number of cyclists-including youth-in local areas. Hence the tagline: kids are traffic too.