Dec 22 2010

Blogging Community Discusses Bike Transportation Issues

Lyon, France bicycle data

To bike, or not to bike; that is the question.

Whether tis nobler to suffer the slings and arrows of errant drivers or…

Okay, enough w/ the bad Shakespeare.

I’m loving the current dialogue that is happening in the blogosphere regarding the role of bicycling in the overall transportation infrastructure. It was first brought to my attention thanks to a recumbent blog post entitled “Interested but Concerned.”  (Thanks Rob)

That particular post discusses four levels of cyclists who range from “strong & fearless” to “no way, now how.” I was pleased to see that strong & fearless was the least representative group. The reason I was glad to see this is that among cyclists “strong & fearless” often equates to a lack of common sense. If you are riding on the roads, and you are fearless, then you are out of touch w/ reality. There is a good reason for you to be somewhat fearful when it comes to riding your bike on the street. It’s not that the drivers are out to get you; it is that many of them do not do much to avoid you. Let’s face it; you are way under their radar most of the other time. Especially when they have a few other things to distract them like: kids, cell phones, applying make-up, other cars, traffic signals, changing radio stations, eating tacos, talking to passengers, resetting their GPS… well you get the picture. (I hope.)

I don’t need to tell you where I’m going with this. There’s one surefire, safe, and common-sense solution, and it’s not bike lanes, or more road rules, or biker/driver education. Sure, those things will help and shouldn’t be abandoned. But the true answer is bike paths, pedestrian trails, rail-trails, multi-use paths, etc. They are good for cyclists, good for pedestrians, good for the environment, good for recreation, good for traffic mitigation, good for health, good for families, good for the community… just plain good… nay great!!

Let me step down off my soap box to give you a few of the links I discovered when researching this topic:

You will find many more links, blogs, facts, & opinions once you start visiting these sites. 
Let’s keep the conversation going, but ultimately, you need to convince your community leaders to make cycling safer and more viable as a transportation and recreation option.

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2010/12/22/blogging-community-discusses-bike-transportation-issues/

Dec 21 2010

Reason #345 why I prefer trail biking

Here’s just one reason why I much prefer riding my bike on trails rather than roads:

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2010/12/21/reason-345-why-i-prefer-trail-biking/

Dec 21 2010

Great Allegheny Passage Business Network

It’s nice that we have non-profits like the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy.
It’s vital that we get a certain level of government support for building trails.
It’s important that individuals just like you and me get involved in the purchase and preservation of trail lands.

But it’s also essential that we get help from businesses from the mom & pop grocery store all the way up to the mega corporations. And it seems like that’s one of the goals of the Great Allegheny Passage Sustainable Business Network. It’s like a group of businesses banding together to support a local trail.

Great Allegheny Passage trail

It makes perfect sense. The GAP trail is good for business and business is good for the GAP trail. The trail brings customers to bed & breakfasts, hotels, stores, restaurants, bike shops, and so on. And when those businesses band together to support the trail, it’s a perfect symbiotic relationship.

I hope to see other great rail trails adopt this same model of support, encouragement, and cooperation. It’s good for trails and the people who use them.

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2010/12/21/great-allegheny-passage-business-network/

Dec 20 2010

recumbent bike mower

Check out the mowercycle.

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2010/12/20/recumbent-bike-mower/

Dec 20 2010

Connecting Rail Trails to make Super Rail-Trails

Super Rail-Trails

Rail trails are fantastic. But how do you turn an ordinary, every-day rail trail (if such a thing exists) into SUPER TRAIL!!!
 It’s really quite simple; you just connect two good trails and you get one great trail.  Here are some examples:

C & O Canal trail connects to the
  GAP trail, the Western Maryland Rail Trail,
and the Mount Vernon Trail.

So the next time you’re looking for a great rail trail; one you can plan a vacation around…
Check out which trails can be connected to make a super trail.

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2010/12/20/connecting-rail-trails-to-make-super-rail-trails/

Dec 18 2010

Rails to Trails Vision

The Rails-to-Trails Conservancy is one of the most important organizations out there. I like what they’ve done in the past, what they’re doing right now, and their vision for the future.

In their “Welcome” flyer, they have proposed the following “bold ideas:”

  • They want to, “…double the amount of funds that support trails…”
    • biker on the C & O Canal  Towpath Trail
  • They want to create a “True Nationwide Network [of trails] … to ensure that all Americans can enjoy the benefits and beauty of rail-trails.” More specifically, they have set a goal that by 2020, “90 percent of Americans will live within three miles of a local trail system.”
Those goals are noble, simply stated, and achievable. But they won’t necessarily be easy to achieve. They need our help. If you are interested to learn more about the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, visit their website and become involved in their mission. 

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2010/12/18/rails-to-trails-vision/