Trail Blog by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy

Tackling Obesity Head On: Hospitals and Trail Groups Team Up to Fight Obesity

Posted 09/24/14 by Elissa Southward in Health and Wellness | Tagged with Health Organizations, Pennsylvania, Success Stories

Health leaders in Pennsylvania acknowledge the importance of increasing physical activity in the fight against obesity, and in the Philadelphia region, they are tackling the issue head on.

Matters of Mobility: Adaptive Bicyclists in Pennsylvania Embrace Trails

Posted 09/18/14 by Katie Harris in Health and Wellness, Trail Use | Tagged with Pennsylvania, Schools and Young People, Why Use Trails?

For the past two years, the Pittsburgh, Pa.-based nonprofit, Variety the Children’s Charity, has been running “My Bike,” an initiative that provides customized, adaptive bicycles to children with disabilities.

Finding Common Ground for Balanced Transportation in Pennsylvania

Posted 09/16/14 by Leeann Sinpatanasakul in Policy, Taking Action | Tagged with Cross-Sector Collaboration, Federal, Pennsylvania, RTC in Action, State and Federal Programs

Founded by transportation policy veteran George Wolff, the Keystone Coalition comprises more than 100 advocacy groups from seemingly disparate sectors but with an interest in making transportation work for Pennsylvanians.

Pennsylvania's Allegheny River Trail

Posted 09/16/14 by Laura Stark in America's Trails | Tagged with Champions, Pennsylvania, Trail Destinations, Trail of the Month, Wild and Wonderful

The 32-mile Allegheny River Trailin northwestern Pennsylvania seemingly has it all for a perfect getaway. And it's on the cusp of being even better; peak fall colors are expected to arrive in early to mid-October; the trail, lined with oaks, maples, elms and other tree varieties will be spectacular.

History Happened Here: How the Switchback Railroad Inspired the Invention of the Roller Coaster

Posted 09/12/14 by James Porterfield in America's Trails | Tagged with Heritage and Restoration, Pennsylvania, Trail Communities

The Switchback Gravity Railroad, built in 1827, was only the second railroad built in America. It ran nine miles, hauling coal from Summit Hill down to the town of Mauch Chunk and the Lehigh Canal in east central Pennsylvania.

Photo of Mae and David Nagel © David Nagel

Great Adventures on the GAP: Memoirs of an 11-Year-Old Bicyclist

Posted 09/09/14 by Mae Nagel in Trail Use | Tagged with Pennsylvania, Schools and Young People, Tourism and Economic Stimulus, Trail Communities

We want to extend a special thank you to Mae Nagel and her father David for this very heartfelt and very candid peak at their recent bike trip through part of the Great Allegheny Passage in Pennsylvania!

Photo © Redbank Valley Trail Association

Pennsylvanians Pitch In: Maintenance on PA Trails Is a Community Priority

Posted 09/08/14 by Katie Harris in Building Trails | Tagged with Local Organizing, Maintenance and Volunteers, Pennsylvania

Maintenance. It’s the least flashy part of the trail world, but it is one of the most important aspects of the work being done by trail organizations, municipalities and agencies across the country.

Putting It All Together: How One Pennsylvania Agency Is Turning Community Trail Visions into Reality

Posted 09/04/14 by Leeann Sinpatanasakul in Building Trails, Policy | Tagged with Demand for Trails, Government Agencies, Pennsylvania, State and Federal Programs

For many, government agencies represent a land of endless bureaucracy, where dreams of new trails wither, bogged down by mountains of paperwork and red tape. Not so at the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), which has played a key role in creating new trails for over two decades. To date, Pennsylvania has more than 1,700 miles of trails.

Canal Towns Program Plugs Businesses into the Enormous Potential of Trail Tourism

Posted 09/01/14 by Jake Lynch in America's Trails, Trail Use | Tagged with Maryland, Pennsylvania, Tourism and Economic Stimulus, Trail Businesses, Trail Communities

In 2007, The Progress Fund launched the Trail Towns program, designed specifically to help communities along the GAP convert their terrific location into sustainable economic activity.

What Happens When a Member of Congress Attacks Trail Funding?

Posted 07/14/14 by Patrick Wojahn in Policy, Taking Action | Tagged with Federal, Pennsylvania, RTC in Action, Threats to Trail Building

Though it may not have made news headlines in your community, last Friday a significant battle was won in our never-ending defense of America's trails.

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.

Pennsylvania Page 8