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Trail Voices: Edgar Chase

Edgar Chase is always moving. "I used to be a runner," says the New Orleans native and former Marine Corps captain. Now 62, he and his wife Alva are looking to keep active as they get older. "I can't run like I used to," he says, so instead he and Alva "walk every day, and we don't miss a day. And when my knee acts up too much, I ride the bike." But for Chase, walking and biking are about more than staying healthy. It's a way to get around town. After raising children in suburban New Orleans East...

Published Thu, Jan 20 2011 12:44 PM by Stephen Miller (RTC)

Filed under: urban pathways, physical activity, louisiana, lafitte, new orleans, trail voices, active transportation, lafitte corridor

Share Your Project with the CDC: Anti-Obesity Active Transportation Initiatives Wanted

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is looking for projects that promote active transportation infrastructure for leisure or commuting purposes. Submitted initiatives should target low-income and minority populations with higher rates of obesity. Selected programs will be invited to participate in an assessment to determine readiness for evaluation, which will include a spring 2011 site visit to assess implementation, data availability, intended outcomes and staff capacity. CDC project...

Published Fri, Jan 14 2011 4:33 PM by Stephen Miller (RTC)

Filed under: urban pathways, physical activity, research

Me, an Athelete? Yes, YOU!

Normal 0 false false false Bringing new users out to trails requires overcoming personal barriers many people have, such as lack of self confidence, fear of failure or concern over potential injury. We recently came across Forever Athletes , a group that is working to inspire everyone to unlock the athlete within. "Forever Athletes believes everyone is an athlete, as we've redefined the term to be highly inclusive: a person who regularly participates in physical activities, exercises, sports or games...

Published Tue, Nov 2 2010 2:45 PM by Steve Schweigerdt (RTC)

Filed under: physical activity, trail use, forever athletes

Watch: D.C. Residents Meet the Met Branch Trail

On June 5, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy celebrated National Trails Day by hosting an event with Kaiser Permanente on the Metropolitan Branch Trail. The event, called Meet the Met: Party on the Met Branch Trail , introduced surrounding communities to a new pathway that had opened only one month before . While some area residents had been involved with the long history of getting the trail built, many in the surrounding neighborhoods didn't know that the trail existed. By working with our partners to...

Published Thu, Jul 1 2010 5:59 PM by Stephen Miller (RTC)

Filed under: urban pathways, video, physical activity, events, dc, metropolitan branch, outreach

Trail Days: Planning Fun Trail Events with Community Health and Stewardship Focus

It’s that time of year. The flowers are in bloom, the birds are singing and people are lacing up their shoes or hopping on their bikes to visit nearby trails. Meanwhile, trail managers and friends groups are busy planning fun trail programs and events for the spring and summer months. Some trails focus on community stewardship opportunities for National Trails Day (June 5, 2010) or Earth Day (April 22, 2010). Many trails host annual running and walking races or organize clean-up or adopt-the...

Published Thu, Apr 1 2010 9:16 AM by Kelly Pack (RTC)

Filed under: urban pathways, physical activity, california, events, ohio

Walking Challenges as a Tool to Encourage Trail Use

Walking challenges are a great way to raise the awareness of trails in the community and inspire regular use. A challenge motivates people to join groups and aim for a target number of steps, miles or minutes walking. As participants report their miles, their team can trace progress toward a goal that they couldn't do alone. Hopefully after the challenge is over walking will be a routine for the participants. Here are a few examples of Walking Challenges on the west coast: With the completion of...

Published Tue, Mar 9 2010 1:23 PM by Steve Schweigerdt (RTC)

Filed under: physical activity, california, events, trail use, outreach, exercise, alaska

Youth Activity Leagues Connect Kids to Trails

Activity Leagues operated by local law enforcement agencies are often a good match for trail advocates looking to encourage cycling among youth. As part of our Urban Pathways Initiative work along the Compton Creek Bike Path in southern California, RTC came across a program of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department called Bicycle Education and Registration (BEAR). This program gives local youth the opportunity to work with deputies and learn about bicycle education, safety and repair. In addition...

Published Mon, Mar 8 2010 3:40 PM by Steve Schweigerdt (RTC)

Filed under: urban pathways, physical activity, california, youth, compton creek, police safety

First Lady's Anti-Obesity Initiative Targets Physical Activity Among Youth

This week, First Lady Michelle Obama launched Let's Move , an initiative to fight childhood obesity by focusing on nutrition and physical activity at both school and home. At the White House launch of Let's Move, Mayor Joseph Curtatone of Somerville, Mass., spoke about Shape Up Somerville , a seven-year-old partnership in his city that has aggressively tackled the problem of obesity. The Somerville Community Path , a rail-trail though the heart of this densely populated city that connects to both...

Published Fri, Feb 12 2010 10:39 AM by Stephen Miller (RTC)

Filed under: urban pathways, video, massachusetts, physical activity, youth

City Mouse, Country Mouse: How Trail Users Differ

RTC's Northeast Regional Office is completing work on a report of trail users and economic impact analysis for the Schuylkill River Trail in southeast Pennsylvania. The trail runs from downtown Philadelphia, connecting to commuter transit lines and continuing northwest toward Valley Forge National Historic Park and farther into suburban and rural areas. Covering a total of 56 miles, the trail is currently broken into three sections of open pathway. In order to get a clear picture of the trail users...

Published Thu, Jan 28 2010 4:19 PM by Patricia Tomes (RTC)

Filed under: urban pathways, physical activity, pennsylvania, economic impact, advocacy, user survey

Rail-Trail Activities Can Help You Stick to New Year’s Resolutions

It’s that time of year again. With holiday indulgences behind us and the promise of a new year ahead, one of the most popular resolutions for Americans is to start – and stick to – a regular exercise routine. Here are some ideas for using your local rail-trail to help keep your exercise resolution: Rail-Trail Exercise Club – Join a running or walking club, like the So Yo Trail Blazers , which meets on Saturday mornings at the Heritage Rail Trail County Park in Pennsylvania...

Published Thu, Jan 21 2010 1:35 PM by Lindsay Martin (RTC)

Filed under: physical activity, events, dc, oregon, pennsylvania, metropolitan branch, texas, supporters, exercise, cumberland valley rail-trail, katy trail, heritage rail trail county park

Call for Safe Routes to School Examples in Low-Income Communities

Many urban pathways serve low-income communities. The Safe Routes to School National Partnership is searching for examples of Safe Routes to School (SRTS) programs in these neighborhoods. They are also seeking examples of SRTS programs that relate SRTS to student health and wellness. From Margo Pedroso/Safe Routes to School National Partnership: With generous funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Public Health Association, the Safe Routes to School National...

Published Mon, Jan 4 2010 2:35 PM by Stephen Miller (RTC)

Filed under: urban pathways, physical activity, youth, srts

RTC Welcomes East Bay Bicycle Path to Rail-Trail Hall of Fame

At a ceremony held on the pathway itself in Bristol, R.I., the East Bay Bicycle Path officially became part of the Rail-Trail Hall of Fame on October 9, 2009. Rails-to-Trails Conservancy's (RTC) Carl Knoch spoke at the induction and presented Hall of Fame signage to Robert Paquette, chief of the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management's Division of Parks and Recreation. Also attending were Steve Church from Rhode Island's Department of Transportation Planning Division, Bristol Town Council...

Published Wed, Dec 2 2009 2:08 PM by Karl Wirsing (RTC)

Filed under: physical activity, exercise, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, northeast regional office, rail-trail hall of fame, rhode island, east bay bicycle path, Carl Knoch

Hit the Trail for Better ZZZs

Wear yourself out during the day, sleep better at night, right? Most people have probably long assumed this connection, but a new study has made the extent of the correlation between exercise and sleep clearer than ever. Just published in The New York Times , the study found extensive evidence that increased physical activity during the day improves both how quickly you'll fall asleep at night and how long you'll sleep. So if you're shooting for a sound night of rest, you can't go wrong adding more...

Published Wed, Dec 2 2009 10:26 AM by Karl Wirsing (RTC)

Filed under: physical activity, trail use, exercise, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, TrailLink.com

Active Transportation Programs Eligible for $650 million Available Through New Public Health Grants

Via Safe Routes to School National Partnership : On September 17, 2009, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced a new program: Communities Putting Prevention to Work. Thirty to forty communities will receive a total of $373 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (stimulus) dollars through this competitive grant program to support interventions that reduce obesity (through improved physical activity and nutrition) and/or reduce tobacco use. Communities can apply for either...

Published Wed, Sep 30 2009 2:49 PM by Stephen Miller (RTC)

Filed under: plan design build, urban pathways, physical activity, events, trail use, financing funding

Chain links: Back to school time

It's that time of year; vacation is over and the books are waiting to be cracked. The Onion's Twin Cities edition - no joke - encourages its readers to go back to school car-free and carefree along the Midtown Greenway . Trails spur small businesses in urban areas: The Dallas Morning News reports on a new cafe slated to open next month along the Katy Trail , serving "snacks and drinks, including wine and beer. Games, such as checkers and chess, will be free to use." The business owner was enticed...

Published Wed, Sep 9 2009 11:10 AM by Stephen Miller (RTC)

Filed under: plan design build, urban pathways, physical activity, louisiana, lafitte, oregon, parks, pennsylvania, economic impact, texas, bridges, stimulus, acquisition