Gear

Swap Out a Car Trip for a Trail Trip With These Tips and Tricks

Posted 08/31/22 by Ryan Chao, Amy Kapp in Trail Use | Tagged with Best Of, Bike Commuting, Biking, ebike, Gear, How-to, Mode Shift, Trail Use Tips, Walkability and Bikeability, Why Use Trails?, Winter Uses

Along the Great Rivers Greenway trail network in St. Louis, Missouri. | Photo courtesy Great Rivers Greenway

Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) is embarking on an eight-week “Swap-a-Trip” challenge. Beginning Sept. 6, #TeamRTC will explore new ways to embrace active transportation by swapping car trips with walking, bicycling and other self-propelled activities—while getting the physical and mental health benefits to boot. Whether it’s to reduce your carbon footprint, or steep gas prices have got you down—we hope you will consider swapping a car trip for a walk or a bike ride. Here is a collection of tips and advice, brought to you from RTC, to change up that daily car commute or errand run while embracing trails, active transportation and a more active lifestyle.

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Along the Great Rivers Greenway trail network in St. Louis, Missouri. | Photo courtesy Great Rivers Greenway

Swap Out a Car Trip for a Trail Trip With These Tips and Tricks

Posted 08/31/22 by Ryan Chao, Amy Kapp in Trail Use | Tagged with Best Of, Bike Commuting, Biking, ebike, Gear, How-to, Mode Shift, Trail Use Tips, Walkability and Bikeability, Why Use Trails?, Winter Uses

Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) is embarking on an eight-week “Swap-a-Trip” challenge. Beginning Sept. 6, #TeamRTC will explore new ways to embrace active transportation by swapping car trips with walking, bicycling and other self-propelled activities—while getting the physical and mental health benefits to boot. Whether it’s to reduce your carbon footprint, or steep gas prices have got you down—we hope you will consider swapping a car trip for a walk or a bike ride. Here is a collection of tips and advice, brought to you from RTC, to change up that daily car commute or errand run while embracing trails, active transportation and a more active lifestyle.

Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail | Courtesy of Chelsea Murphy

Trail Moments | Tips for Outdoor Outings With Your Kids

Posted 08/04/22 by Chelsea Murphy in Trail Use | Tagged with Gear, How-to, Trail Moments, Trail Use Tips

As someone who has hiked, biked, skied, climbed and simply enjoyed being outside in nature and beyond with her family, Chelsea Murphy had a lot of fun stories and wisdom to share. Check out what she’s learned from their many experiences and her takeaways for planning your own #TrailMoments with kids!

Biking in D.C.'s Rock Creek Park | Photo by Hayden Duncan, courtesy Victoria Yuen

Trail Moments | Swapping a Car for a Bike? Here’s What I Learned.

Posted 07/07/22 by Victoria Yuen in Trail Use | Tagged with Gear, How-to, Motorized Use, Trail Destinations, Trail Moments, Trail Use Tips, Urban Pathways, Walkability and Bikeability, Why Use Trails?

A year into our new routine, I decided to purchase my own e-bike and conquer my own fears of biking in the city. That was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. On my first day of owning the bike, I rode 30 miles by myself. Now, I can fearlessly go to the grocery store, meet up with friends, exercise and have a generally more pleasant way of getting around the city.

Keith Russell leading a bird walk at Philadelphia's Discovery Center | Photo by Gregory Walker

Trail Moments | By Sight & Sound: Tips for Birding Beginners

Posted 05/30/22 by Keith Russell in Trail Use | Tagged with Encouraging Trail Use, Gear, How-to, Trail Moments, Trail Use Tips, Why Use Trails?, Wild and Wonderful

I love birding for many reasons. In addition to exposing us to the wonder and beauty of birds and the natural world, birding can help us become better listeners and observers, as well as more careful and detailed thinkers.

El autor, Willie Karidis, en una expedición con raquetas de nieve | Cortesía de Willie Karidis

El mágico mundo de las raquetas de nieve: una guía práctica para senderos

Posted 03/24/22 by Willie Karidis in Trail Use | Tagged with Alaska, Gear, How-to, Spanish, Trail Use Tips, Winter Uses

Caminar con raquetas de nieve puede parecer un poco intimidante al principio, pero, una vez que lo prueba, es posible que encuentre una nueva libertad para recorrer los senderos. Yo era un niño cuando aprendí a caminar con raquetas de nieve. Fue en la cabaña de los padres de mi amigo “en el Norte”, en Conover, Wisconsin. Mi amigo y yo nos abrochamos nuestras raquetas de nieve con armazón de roble con correas de cuero sin curtir y fijaciones de cuero y luego partimos. Ninguno de nosotros había caminado con raquetas de nieve antes y, al ser jóvenes y aventureros, lo intentamos de inmediato. Aunque mi par de raquetas de nieve actual es muy diferente, las lecciones que aprendí ese día todavía están conmigo.

Foto de Scott Jungling

Cómo lograr el mejor pícnic en un sendero

Posted 03/24/22 by Katie Harris in Trail Use | Tagged with Repairs and Trail Safety, Gear, How-to, Spanish, Trail Use Tips

Ya sea que esté planeando una tarde de verano llena de diversión con sus hijos o tratando de impresionar a la persona que le gusta, un pícnic al costado del sendero, si se hace bien, podría ser justo lo que necesita. Siga nuestros consejos rápidos y transforme su próxima salida a un sendero en una experiencia de pícnic decente.

Oak Leaf Trail de Wisconsin | Foto de Ken Mattison

Siete buenos consejos para andar en bicicleta en climas fríos

Posted 03/24/22 by Laura Stark in Trail Use | Tagged with Encouraging Trail Use, Gear, Spanish, Trail Use Tips, Winter Uses

Cariño, hace frío afuera, pero los innumerables beneficios para la salud física y mental que conlleva andar en bicicleta no tienen por qué terminar en el invierno. No hay duda de que pedalear en áreas de nieve y hielo puede ser más desafiante, pero con una buena preparación y planificación, andar en bicicleta puede ser una actividad para todo el año.

2017 Opening Day for Trails en Three Rivers Heritage Trail en Pittsburgh, Pensilvania | Foto de Amy Kapp

Equipamiento de ciclismo útil para senderos, ¡y algunos consejos de MacGyver!

Posted 03/22/22 by Amy Kapp in Trail Use | Tagged with Biking, CelebrateTrailsDay, Encouraging Trail Use, Gear, Health and Active Living, Healthy Aging, How-to, Mapping and Technology, Sojourn Series, Spanish, Trail Etiquette, Trail Use Tips, Walkability and Bikeability, Winter Uses

Para algunos de nosotros en climas fríos de invierno, la primavera marca el momento en que volvemos al ritmo de las cosas después de no haber recorrido los senderos por un tiempo. Dicho esto, es un momento ideal para que los ciclistas evalúen sus paseos en dos o tres ruedas, pongan a punto su equipo (si es necesario) y realicen inventarios de lo que necesitan para estar listos para andar en bicicleta durante el año.

Cómo tener el equipo listo para su primer viaje de larga distancia por senderos

Posted 03/21/22 by Tom Sexton in Trail Use | Tagged with Repairs and Trail Safety, Biking, Encouraging Trail Use, Gear, How-to, Most Essential, Sojourn Series, Spanish, Trail Use Tips

Si planea un viaje de larga distancia que dure varios días o incluso una semana, probablemente esté recorriendo los senderos para estar en la mejor forma física. Pero el estado físico es solo una parte de la ecuación, ya que la forma de la bicicleta y el equipamiento también pueden ayudar a determinar la experiencia general.

Ashokan Rail Trail | Photo by Maxanne Resnick, courtesy Woodstock Land Conservancy

As Trail Use Spikes, Communities Seek Solutions for Safe Use This Winter

Posted 02/08/21 by Cory Matteson in Trail Use | Tagged with Gear, How-to, Trail Use Tips, Winter Uses

This winter did not slow down traffic on the trail. That’s a trend that trail managers and association members are experiencing in many cold weather regions this winter, and one that they’ve embraced with targeted safety and etiquette messaging for the newcomers and tried-and-true efforts to keep shared-use trails welcoming to a wide variety of users in winter months.