Feb 16 2011

Let’s Move… Outside… on a Trail

Let's MoveI am so pleased by the “Let’s Move” organization sponsored by First Lady Michelle Obama.  They had a recent function in Keene, NH. At this function, they talked about healthy eating, a new recreation center, the Early Sprouts Gardening Center, and even Safe Routes to School.

What surprised me though, was that there wasn’t any mention of the incredible rail trails that start right in or near the town of Keene. These would provide kids with activity, vitamin D from the sun, and a great outdoor experience… for absolutely free.

Two of my favorite rail-trails, the Cheshire Rail Trail and the Ashuelot Rail Trail both start in Keene, New Hampshire. They are beautiful, long, and even historic. So how can you go wrong when you combine community, with exercise, with sunshine, and history. It sounds like a great mix and a great fit for the Let’s Move organization.

Of Course, I will be contacting them with my thoughts and ideas. I would love to see the Let’s Move program embrace trails. It’s a great project that can be even better!

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2011/02/16/lets-move-outside-on-a-trail/

Feb 15 2011

No excuse for poor trail infrastructure

Why can the Netherlands support such an incredible biking infrastructure and we (US, UK, Canada, etc. ) can’t?

In the latest blog post from David Hembrow (A view from the cycle path: All those myths and excuses…), he doesn’t necessarily answer that question, but he makes the point that it’s time to stop making excuses and start doing something about it.

David approaches this problem from a unique perspective. He’s originally from the UK but now lives in the Netherlands. It is nice to get his perspective since he’s lived there long enough to know what he’s talking about, but has also experienced what it’s like elsewhere.

So he knows what he’s talking about when he suggests ways to improve cycling outside the Netherlands. And the first step he appears to advocate is to stop making the following excuses as to why (WAY) more people bike in the Netherlands than in (for instance) the U.K., USA, Canada, etc.:

We’ve got the whole world, in our hands.
  • Our streets are too narrow.

  • Providing for cyclists is too expensive.

  • Our population is too spread out.

  • We have hills.

  • Our distances are too great.

  • It took decades in the Netherlands.

  • It’s because of the price of gas.

  • It’s the weather.

  • Cycle-paths are slow.

    • As long as I’m going to be an excuse-maker, I added another one: Our politicians are unsupportive of trails and alternative, human-powered transportation.

    Of course, my addition of one more excuse did absolutely nothing to help solve the problem other than to prove David correct. We need to stop talking and start acting. So I’ll go one step further and suggest some actions you can take to remedy the problem:
    • Be a visible and active bike commuter.
    • Volunteer to help build trails.
    • Write to your elected officials and ask for more funding for trails and alternative transportation.
    • Join American Trails and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy.
    • Start a blog and/or Twitter account to advocate for human-powered transportation and the infrastructure to support it.
    • Write letters to the editor in support of trails and our (lacking) trails network.
    • Stop making excuses and start making a difference.
    Thanks to David Hembrow for doing something other than making excuses. Thanks to Rob, at the Recumbent Blog, for reminding me, once again, to look at “A view from the cycle path.”

    Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2011/02/15/no-excuse-for-poor-trail-infrastructure/

    Feb 14 2011

    Rockwood to Cumberland section of Great Allegheny Passage guide is now available on Everytrail.

    Section #3 of the GAP trail is now available for download to your smartphone. This is the section that runs from Rockwood Pennsylvania to Cumberland Maryland. It includes some of the following trail attractions:

    Great Allegheny Passage trail

    – the Bollman Iron Bridge
    – the Eastern Continental Divide
    – the Big Savage Tunnel
    – the Mason Dixon Line
    – the Borden Mill Tunnel
    – the Brush Tunnel
    – the Cumberland Bone Cave
    – the Western Maryland Railroad Bridge
    – the towns of Cumberland, Frostburg, Meyersdale, Garrett, and Rockwood


    It is a 44 mile section of the 130 mile Great Allegheny Passage trail; you would be hard-pressed to find any 44 mile segment of trail anywhere in the world that has that many feature attractions, both historical and scenic.


    If you haven’t had a chance to download one of these smart guides, now’s the time to give them a try. It is amazing how much they can pack into one little app. It’s like having an interactive guidebook to carry around in your phone.

    Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2011/02/14/rockwood-to-cumberland-section-of-great-allegheny-passage-guide-is-now-available-on-everytrail/

    Feb 13 2011

    American Trails is advocating for trails and trail users

    Two of the biggest advocates for United States trails are Rails-to-Trails Conservancy and American Trails.

    American Trails

    I am a big supporter of both. However in this blog post, I’d like to focus on American Trails. I especially enjoy their level-headed trail advocacy. In addition to their contributions in the physical development of the U.S. trail system, they are also quite helpful and vocal when it comes to supporting legislation and community trail planning and implementation.

    I have included links to the American Trails: Supporting Trails web page because it gives a good overview of the types of support that we have grown to expect from American Trails over the years. They are involved in alternative transportation funding, the history of bicycle/pedestrian issues, the federal surface transportation program, SAFETEA-LU, and many other important issues.

    I hope you take the opportunity to view the American Trails website. If you are as impressed as I was, it would be awesome if you’d consider joining American Trails. If you do, you will receive a monthly newsletter and the satisfaction of knowing that you support an extremely worthwhile organization. I haven’t regretted my membership; on the contrary, I’m quite proud of being an American Trails member.

    Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2011/02/13/american-trails-is-advocating-for-trails-and-trail-users/

    Feb 12 2011

    Safe intersections on bicycle paths

    When it comes to bicycle paths, the safest option is always above or below grade crossings at intersections. However, for financial and engineering reasons, this is not always possible. So whenever we want a lesson on how to make bike trails safer and more efficient, we turn to the Dutch for a couple lessons. A good example of safe bicycling intersections can be seen in the following video clip:

    Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2011/02/12/safe-intersections-on-bicycle-paths/

    Feb 11 2011

    Expedia’s TripAdvisor has purchased EveryTrail

    Is the latest corporate merger good for trail lovers?

    Last week, TripAdvisor acquired EveryTrail, the distributor of online trail guides. If you don’t recognize the name TripAdvisor, you may have heard of their parent company, Expedia, the internet travel giant.

    This could be good news or bad news, depending on the final outcome of the merger. It would be good news if Expedia used its online muscle and presence to further promote trails as a viable and preferred travel activity. This would expose even more people to the joys, health benefits, and environmental benefits of trail travel. More people would realize that they can use a particularly awesome trail as a major deciding factor for choosing a vacation destination. At the very least, destination trails could become one of the talking points when discussing vacation spots.

    It could be bad news for trail users if Expedia changes the Everytrail experience too much. For example the current model for Everytrail is to offer both trips and guides. Trips are free and offer some basic information about trails worldwide. Guides are much more extensive and usually cost about $1.99 per trail. Bundles, or groups of trails bound by a single theme, cost more than guides, but are usually less expensive on a per trail basis. In other words, if you buy the Southern Trails bundle, it includes

    Everytrail Guides can be downloaded onto a smartphone such as an iPhone or a Droid. Users can then access trail information including a map, photos, points-of-interest, and a written description of the trail directly from their phone, before they leave for the trail (for trip planning purposes) or while they’re on the trail. Most of the guides show how to get to the trailheads, give visual directions for following the trail (map), include links to other useful websites, and have information about lodging, camping, food, equipment/bike rentals, and other important details.

    Time will tell whether this business acquisition will be good for trail users and guide publishers. The current business model is one of those rare win-win situations where those of us who publish guides on Everytrail have the opportunity to make a (very) small income by publishing guides while trail users have the convenience of an informative guide located right on their smart phone. They no longer have to pay the big bucks for a bulky guidebook that includes way more trails than they’ll ever explore. Everytrail guides allows users to purchase guides for just the trails they will actually visit.

    If you’re not familiar with Everytrail, click on one of the links above and give them a try. Remember all their trips are free and even some of the guides are now free. Let me know if you agree that, given the current Everytrail model, downloadable trail guides are the wave of the future.

    Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2011/02/11/expedias-tripadvisor-has-purchased-everytrail/