Browse by Tags

The highlights of this news story courtesy of the Leader Herald out of upper New York state speak volumes by themselves, so let's just have at it, bullet-point style: Fifteen years after the completion of the first stage of the Fonda, Johnstown & Gloversville (FJ&G) Rail-Trail in Fulton County, officials are working to build the rest of what will be a 22-mile pathway. When the first phase of the rail-trail project was being constructed, local land owners blocked the extension because of fears...

By Jake Lynch The community leaders of Ulster County in New York have set some of the nation's most ambitious rail-trail planning goals. And they are determined to make them a reality. Ulster County Executive Mike Hein left nothing to the imagination in unveiling his 2013 executive budget for the county, stating that continued regional rail-trail development was a key part of his vision "of creating the healthiest county in New York State." And he knows exactly where that rail-trail will go. Ulster...

Though there are more than 1,700 rail-trails across America, covering all different shapes and sizes, a small handful stand out as true superstars of the rail-trail movement. Whether for the beauty of their surrounds, their length, or an indefinable charm and character, these rail-trails become beloved attractions drawing praise, and visitors, from near and far. On this list are trails such as the Route of the Hiawatha in Idaho, the Katy Trail State Park in Missouri, and Vermont's Island Line. Right...

By Carol Waaser and Karin Fantus Karin and I had started planning more than a month in advance. It would be a six-day, self-contained, inn-to-inn tour during the Labor Day weekend, leaving New York City on September 1 and returning September 6. Who knew the Northeast would be slammed by Hurricane Irene on August 28? Our planned route was up to Pawling, N.Y., then across western Connecticut and north through western Massachusetts, finally crossing just into New Hampshire. We would return through the...

New design guidelines from New York City's Department of Parks & Recreation and the Design Trust for Public Space , brought to our attention by Streetsblog , give greenways and trails an important role in connecting Gotham's park system. The guidelines say that park facilities should "connect parks to greenways and bike routes to expand those routes, and provide easy access to parks, as well as opportunities for recreation by bicycle commuters." The benefits of using greenways to connect parks...

RECEIVE RAILROAD ABANDONMENT NOTICES FOR YOUR STATE VIA E-MAIL On or about February 16, 2010, CSX Transportation, Inc. filed for the abandonment of 0.24 miles of track Philadelphia, Jefferson County, New York. We are providing this information because it presents an opportunity to develop a real regional asset: a multi-use trail that can accommodate hikers, bikers, equestrians and other appropriate uses. NEXT STEPS: If this corridor is suitable for trail use, we strongly urge local trail advocates...

California's San Fernando Valley now has its very own Critical Mass ride , and it begins along a rail-trail. If you are in Los Angeles, you can meet with other riders on the Orange Line Bike Path at Victory Boulevard and Woodley Avenue on the first Tuesday of each month (that's tonight!) at 7:00 p.m. Hat tip to Streetsblog LA . Let's Go Ride a Bike has been taking advantage of the beautiful weather in Chicago to ride along the Chicago Lakefront Bike Path . Examiner.com points its Long Island readers...

The Livable Streets Initiative folks have just released a new Streetfilm on the plans and promise of greenways in the Bronx: The Bronx River Greenway and South Bronx Greenway plans apply community-driven design strategies to help undo years of top down, auto-centric planning and development in the Bronx. The greenways, when completed, will create a network of safe bicycle and pedestrian paths and routes, parks, and waterfront access points throughout the borough. It was recently revealed that the...