Jun 25 2012

Moving Ahead For Progress MAP-21

Letter from Senator About Transportation Bill

Last Friday, I asked you to write to your representatives about the Surface Transportation Bill and specifically requested that you ask them to support the trail funding portion of it. Hopefully some of  you did that. I especially hope that our trail friends in California contacted representative Boxer about supporting trails in the “Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21) act. Of course, I also sent an email to all three of my representatives and have gotten one back, so far. Here is what Senator Michael Bennet had to say about transportation funding:

Dear Kevin:
Thank you for contacting me regarding S.1813, the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21) Act. I appreciate hearing from you.
Let me begin by saying I believe Congress must act to address the dire needs of our transportation infrastructure. We cannot continue to expect states to be able to keep up with the maintenance and capacity needs of our highways, bridges, and transit systems without the certainty of a long-term national strategy.
As you may know, Senator Barbara Boxer of California introduced MAP-21 on November 7, 2011. This legislation would ensure that transportation resources continue to reach the states for the next two fiscal years. It authorizes a national policy on highways, bridges, and transit systems and also addresses a number of highway safety issues. The bill is fully paid for. I was proud to support bipartisan passage of MAP-21 when the Senate on March 14, 2012 voted 74-22 to send the bill to the House of Representatives. It is now up to the House to complete its work on a transportation bill so that the two versions can be reconciled and sent to the President for his signature.
This legislation contains numerous programs that support multimodal transportation needs in Colorado. As a member of the Senate Banking Committee, I was able to promote several transit provisions that will benefit Colorado’s transit agencies. The first is a modification to the rural transit formula that will now account for the number of miles traveled to provide transit service. Since Colorado has been one of the nation’s top providers of rural transit, it stands to benefit a great deal from the passage of MAP-21. I also worked on a provision that authorizes $20 million per year for grants to help communities and transit agencies develop plans for transit-oriented development. It will help community leaders work with the private sector to promote mixed-use economic development around our transit facilities, such as housing, retail, and commercial space.
It is important to note that this is not a perfect bill. Our infrastructure needs are not going to be solved in a two-year window. And the current structure of the gas tax is not a sustainable way to continue financing transportation. Congress must get to work on a plan that will fund our infrastructure needs in the long term. I am eager to work with my colleagues to develop a workable solution that fulfills our obligations to generations of future Americans.
I value the input of fellow Coloradans in considering the wide variety of important issues and legislative initiatives that come before the Senate. I hope you will continue to inform me of your thoughts and concerns.
For more information about my priorities as a U.S. Senator, I invite you to visit my website at http://bennet.senate.gov/. Again, thank you for contacting me.
Sincerely,
Michael Bennet
United States Senator
Did anyone else hear back from their Senators or other representatives?

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2012/06/25/moving-ahead-for-progress-map-21/

Jun 23 2012

What Types of Trails are Reviewed on Trailsnet.com?

From Rail Trails to…

Trailsnet started out as a website to support and introduce rail trails to the general public. At about the same time, Traillink.com was gaining a foothold on the internet and doing a wonderful job of promoting Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. So Trailsnet started to broaden its reach to other types of trails. For a long time, it continued its focus on family friendly trails, and it is still an important part of our trails mission to introduce family oriented trails to the general public.

Comprehensive Network of Trails

For the past couple years, Trailsnet has broadened its reach is now intent upon our mission of providing “a network of trails for everyone.” (Does that sound a lot like a certain trails website logo?) So now Trailsnet.com features trail information for all types of trail users and trail lovers. We include long trails, short trails, wide trails, narrow trails, bike trails, hiking trails… Well rather than just tell you about our trails, let me introduce you to each of our trail categories:

… and more. Of course, we always take requests for other types of trails, so if you want to see a new type of trail, let Trailsnet know in the comments below.

 

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2012/06/23/what-types-trails-reviewed-trailsnet-com/

Jun 22 2012

Surface Transportation Bill & Trails Funding

Support Trail Funding

Once again, Congress is about to vote on a Surface Transportation Bill. And once again, trail funding could be in jeopardy. Sources in Washington D.C. say that there is a sense of urgency to pass this bill. That could be good or it could be bad. As the bill currently stands, it includes funding for programs like the Recreational Trails Program, Transportation Enhancements, and Safe Routes to School. However, if congress is in a hurry to pass the Bill, deals will be made. In the process, some elements of the Bill will likely be cut. There is a certain faction in Congress that would love to see funding cut for everything except highway spending. Some of them have repeatedly stated that they think trails are a waste of money. This includes recreational trails, commuter trails, scenic trails, historical trails and rail-trails.

Please help convince your elected representative to support our nation’s trails, alternative transportation and outdoor recreation. Ask them to hold the line of funding for these important programs and to convince their fellow Congress members to do the same.

 

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2012/06/22/surface-transportation-bill-trails/

Jun 21 2012

Vail Pass Trail on a Trikke Pon-e Hybrid PTV

Normally we ply the trails on self-propelled vehicles such as bikes, inline skates, recumbents and regular Trikkes. But last weekend afforded the opportunity to try out a hybrid Pon-e Trikke with an electric motor. In addition, the trail in question was as downhill wonder that plummeted from the top of Colorado’s Vail Pass down into the Gore Valley.

As a result of the electric propulsion and the downhill trail, we enjoyed an easy and fast trail ride. Check out the Vail Pass and Gore Valley Trail and enjoy a couple great trail videos below and on the Trailsnet trail review page.

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2012/06/21/vail-pass-trail-trikke-pon-e-hybrid-ptv/

Jun 19 2012

Scottevest Trail Vest

Travel Vest by Scottevest

Okay, it’s a “travel vest,” but for me it’s a “trail vest.” Let me start by thanking Scott Jordan a.) for inventing the Scottevest and b.) for letting a group of travel bloggers, including yours truly, try the vest. I can already tell it will be my most valuable possession on upcoming trail trips. Or, more importantly, it will hold my most valuable possessions and allow for easy access to those possessions.

No More Ugly Day Pack

travel vest with trail essentials

Scottevest Travel Vest

As most of you know, riding trails is fun, relaxing and invigorating. But since I ride trails with the specific purpose of writing trail reviews, I have to carry a lot of “stuff.” In addition to the usual snacks and water most of you carry, I have to carry my tools of the trade. Some of those tools of the trade are shown in the picture to the right of this blogpost. In order to fit everything in one picture, I took some minor liberties, so not everything is in the exact position I would normally have them in. Most items would go on the inside vest pockets, but a couple of them would also go in outside pockets. However, no matter how I organize it, carrying my trail essentials is so much easier in the Scottevest than having to lug around a cumbersome day pack.

List of Trail Essentials in Scottevest

Here’s a list of the items I carry in my Scottevest while on the bike trail, hiking trail, Trikke trail, snowshoe trail…

  • wallet
  • keys (I love the extendable key holder)
  • iPad
  • pocket change
  • pens
  • writing journal
  • sunglasses
  • camera
  • smart phone
  • earbuds (The BudBucket system is great on a Scottevest.)
  • bike gloves (not pictured but carried in outside pockets of Scottevest)
  • water bottle (not pictured but carried on bike frame or hydration pack which easily fits over Scottevest)
  • sunscreen (not pictured but carried on inside pockets of Scottevest)
  • lip balm (not pictured but carried on inside pockets of Scottevest)
  • multitool (not pictured but carried in seat pack of bike)
  • maps(not pictured but carried in outside pockets of Scottevest)

Other Products by Scottevest

In addition to the Travel Vest, Scottevest also makes other great travel & clothing products. Some of my favorites include their Kelly Jacket, snap front shirt, cabana shirt, hoodies, pullovers, travel boxers, convertible pants, cargo shorts and much more. I look forward to reviewing other Scottevest products in future blog posts and trail review pages. In the meantime, visit the Scottevest website to check out the Travel Vest and other great products. And since my amateuristic photo doesn’t do it justice, take a look at the cool X-ray view of the Scottevest.

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2012/06/19/scottevest-trail-vest/

Jun 16 2012

Father’s Day Video

 Happy Father’s Day!!

Yes this video is a car advertisement, but it’s pretty touching, nonetheless. Sometimes a short video like this conveys a stronger message than a lot of movies do in over two hours. Sorry, this one has nothing to do with trails, but hey…. good is good!!

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2012/06/16/fathers-day-video/