Nov 09 2010

Bicycle Travel on the Rise

Active travel in general and bicycle travel specifically is on the rise. More people are choosing to jump on rail-trails or pedal the highways & byways of this country rather than lounging around the pool or zipping by the monuments and mountains in their cars.

Looking down on the C & O Canal Towpath trail from
the Western Maryland Rail Trail.

Recent press releases from Adventure Cycling Association and various outdoor tourism blogs have cited some incredibly heartening trends in the travel industry:

  • Despite the recession & high unemployment, active travel tour companies are seeing an increase in visitor traffic and, in some cases, they’re having record years.
  • In addition to private travel companies, states and municipalities are seeing an increase in bicycle-related visits and, as a result, many are increasing their marketing toward the active travelers.
  • More communities are beginning to add infrastructure such as trails and lodging to attract bicyclists.
  • U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray  LaHood seems to be a big supporter of bicycling and other modes of alternative transportation.
  • The Rail-Trail network continues to expand in both potential (new land acquired) and in trail miles.
  • The U.S. is seeing an increased influx of travelers from other countries who travel here specifically to utilize the rail-trails.
None of this is surprising or new to me. I spend vast amounts of time on the trail all throughout the United States. I see more and more people of all ages, shapes, and backgrounds riding their bikes on our network of rail-trails.
As I talk to people, I notice a fairly equal mix. About half of them are locals, out enjoying the fresh air and exercise. The other half are travelers who specifically planned their vacation around one or more rail trail. Some of them are U.S. citizens and others come from around the world. These people stay in local hotels, eat at local restaurants, and buy souvenirs in local stores. In other words, they are helping to boost the local economy. And in every instance, they are friendly, kind, and caring people. They are truly interested in their health, the outdoors, and the local culture; they are just the type of tourists every town dreams of.
But don’t take my word for it. Get out on a trail; talk to your fellow trail-users. You will enjoy both the  outdoor experience and the social experience.

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2010/11/09/bicycle-travel-on-the-rise/

Nov 07 2010

Trail Season Never Ends

We have had an incredible fall here on the Front Range, with biking opportunities every day.

Cross-country skiing on
Caribou Trail in Colorado

But those of us who love the open trails know that the end of one season just means the beginning of another. With that in mind, I thought I’d share some awesome pictures of cross-country (or is it telemark?) skiing that I found on a fun-looking blog called Gooneyriders. Heck, even the name is fun to say.

My message here is, “Don’t despair the end of summer.”

The trails await you all year long. The format may change, but the fresh air, exercise, and fun are always there, your constant trail companions.

Enjoy!!

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2010/11/07/trail-season-never-ends/

Nov 06 2010

Wandering the Local Trails

Sometimes it’s just fun to get lost on the bike trails around home.

Today was one of those days. One of my morning coffee buddies offered to show me some new trails, and how could I pass up such a wonderful opportunity. With temperatures forecast in the mid seventies and blue skies predicted, I was all over it.

picture taken from the trail of lake,
mountains, and local neighborhoods

So we just wandered from one neighborhood trail to the next. It was fun to see both the natural landscape such as lakes, mountains, and prairies and the various man-made landscapes around the houses of all shapes and sizes.

We had to cross a couple busy roads, and that’s never fun, but in general, we stayed on the uncrowded trails and relaxed: fresh air, sunshine, exercise, camaraderie, and it was absolutely free entertainment. It just goes to show that an investment in trails pays a lifetime of dividends.

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2010/11/06/wandering-the-local-trails/

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2010/11/06/trail-sharing/

Nov 04 2010

The Bike Song

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2010/11/04/the-bike-song/

Nov 04 2010

National Parks Magazine Article About C & O Canal Trail Lockhouses

I recently rode on a time machine known as the C & O Canal Towpath trail.

Located mostly in Maryland, the trail is indeed like a jaunt through another time. It includes tunnels and bridges and aqueducts and… lockhouses.

Trailside lodging is available at
lockhouses located along the C and O
Canal Towpath trail in Maryland.

Lockhouses are where the lock keepers, and their families, stayed. It was an early version of a work-from-home job. The residents of the lockhouses were charged with administering and maintaining the water locks that were critical to the operation of the C & O Canal. Of course the locks were what allowed barges to travel from sea level at Georgetown to 160 feet at Cumberland.

In the course of the 184.5 mile canal, there were 57 lockhouses. Of those 57 structures, 26 are still standing. Not only are they still standing, but some of them are being put to use as overnight lodging for weary canal hikers and towpath bikers.

To learn more about these incredibly functional museums/dorms/hotels, you can read the excellent article in National Parks magazine or visit the Canal Quarters website. You can also visit the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal website put together by the National Park Service.

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2010/11/04/national-parks-magazine-article-about-c-o-canal-trail-lockhouses/