RTC TrailBlog : ohio

The Inspiring Story of How Trails and Bikes Helped The Rust Belt Bounce Back

Jake Lynch — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 19:11:00 GMT

When Rails-to-Trails Conservancy got involved in the development of the Morgana Run Trail in southeast Cleveland in 2008, we were still exploring the impacts and potential of rail-trail projects in urban areas and underserved neighborhoods. While we knew that improving access to stores, workplaces and transit, and providing safe and convenient pathways for recreation could do great things for residents and local businesses, we had only just scratched the surface on grasping the transformative impact of the humble trail.

So, 5 years later, it is amazing to hear how the people of Cleveland talk about the Morgana Run.

"Morgana Run was really the genesis for a lot of what has happened over the last couple of years in Cleveland," says Clevelander John Mitterholzer of the Gund Foundation. "It really has inspired people to look at other neighborhoods and create similar systems."

"We didn't expect when we began to work on the trail that it would be anything more than a nice little amenity," says Marie Kittredge of Slavic Village Development, the community development corporation that RTC partnered with on the Morgana Run. "We didn't realize that it would become the center of our rebranding and new neighborhood identity."

Earlier this year I returned to Cleveland with RTC's Manager of Communications, Jake Lynch, to talk to local business people, leaders, advocates and young entrepreneurs about exactly what trails like the Morgana Run and the resultant boom in biking and walking has meant for them and the city they love.

What we heard, and recorded in this short documentary video, was inspiring. As someone who personally puts so much time and energy into building trails and trying to improve access to active transportation for all Americans, seeing firsthand the fruits of this labor was incredibly satisfying. Not only that, it inspired to me to continue to help other cities reap the same benefits that Cleveland is now enjoying - where the downtown population is growing, new businesses are being born and thriving, and a whole new choir of biking and walking advocates is being created by the undeniable improvements they see in their city.

Way to go, Cleveland. The Rust Belt is bouncing back, big time.

Wasson Way Rail-Trail a Key to Cincinnati's Future

Jake Lynch — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 17:00:00 GMT

There was terrific news for the people and businesses of Cincinnati last week with city manager Milton Dohoney Jr. unveiling a proposal to fund a number of innovative and much-needed development projects in the city by raising downtown car parking rates, currently among the lowest in the country.

The plan is a clear indication that Cincinnati wants to change the way it moves. One of the significant projects that the suggested parking-rate rise would fund is the Wasson Way Trail, a citizen-driven proposal to make the most of a disused railroad corridor connecting neighborhoods and businesses with Xavier University and other hubs.

Supported from the very beginning by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy's Midwest Regional Office, the Wasson Way Trail is now gathering widespread support from city leaders. They see it as a key piece of a new active transportation system that helps Cincinnati leave behind the congestion, commercial stagnation and population drain of recent times.

The city manager's plan recommends the allocation of $3 million of car parking revenue for the purchase of the Wasson line right-of-way, the development of which he says will "positively impact" a number of local neighborhoods and "link several commercial, educational, recreational and residential centers."

Among the many fans of the city manager's plan to make Cincinnati a more attractive place to live and do business is Cincinnati City Councilmember Laure Quinlivan. In an email to constituents last week, she wrote that "the Wasson Way Bike Trail will increase business opportunities, property values, healthy living, and recreation opportunities and help retain 'the creative class' in Cincinnati."

I am really excited to continue to provide technical assistance and support to the Wasson Way project. Keep it moving, Cincy!

Map courtesy wassonway.org

'Be A Good Neighbor' - Ohio Trail Group Shares Secrets of Success

Jake Lynch — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 16:30:00 GMT

These are difficult times for trail advocates, residents and businesspeople who need better biking and walking options in their communities. With dedicated funding for trails under threat at the federal and state level, our nation's trailblazers are having to work harder than ever.

But Rails-to-Trails Conservancy's (RTC) new report, Community Built - Stories of Volunteers Creating and Caring For Their Trails, shows us how, in the face of adversity, they are still getting it done. If you are an advocate or volunteer for a trail in your area, this report will be a terrific resource, and an inspiration to keep you going when times are tough.

One of the great stories in Community Built features the North Coast Inland Trail system in Ohio, which will one day consist of 90 miles of trail between Toledo and Lorain in the northern part of the state. Today, about 65 miles of it is open to the public. Nearly 15 miles of that, in Huron County, is managed and maintained by a volunteer-formed nonprofit known as Firelands Rails-to-Trails, Inc. (FRTTI).

When the idea to recycle to disused corridor was first raised, Huron County did not want to be involved, due to the entrenched opposition of residents and landowners. The communities surrounding the trail did not want to pay additional taxes to sponsor its creation, and defeated a proposed trail tax.

So the county handed over management to a group of local advocates, who promptly formed an incorporated nonprofit organization and used volunteers, grant money and donated equipment to build the trail. Although opposition to the trail was extensive and vocal at first, FRTTI slowly changed minds once construction began. Some of the trail's fiercest opponents eventually became vocal supporters and regular trail users.

Joe Mantey of FRTTI believes that most opposition comes from fear of the unknown.

"The keys to building a trail are writing letters and being a good neighbor," he says. "Opponents are afraid of trespassing, property values plummeting, drainage problems and similar issues. It is important for trail builders to be good neighbors and address people's concerns and fears. Firelands operated in a respectful way, building the trail in small pieces once concerns were addressed. In many sections of the trail, we did not own the right-of-way and had to obtain easements from landowners. We attended Rotary Club meetings, held open houses whenever a new section of trail was opened, and sent letters to adjacent landowners when building a trail segment. FRTTI also purposefully disassociated themselves from more strident proponents of the trail, whose zeal to implement the trail failed to consider adjacent owners' concerns and alienated them. We always think before we act, then think again and bounce it off our board. We aim not to make anyone mad."

To discover the secrets to success of Firelands Rails-to-Trails, Inc. and citizen trail groups across America, read and download Community Built at www.railstotrails.org.

Photo courtesy FRTTI - Norwalk Kiwanis constructing an overlook at the 1871 Stone Viaduct. Everything was donated, including equipment, materials and labor. After conclusion of the project, the Kiwanis adopted a one-mile section of the trail.

Bouncing Back: After Big Storms, Trail Groups Respond

Jake Lynch — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 16:20:00 GMT

It's been a wild 18 months, weather-wise, on America's rail-trails. From snowstorms in Vermont to flooding in Iowa (right) and tornados in Alabama, severe weather events across the country wrought havoc on trails, bridges, woodlands and watersheds, and stretched to the limit the resources and resilience of the people who manage and maintain them.

And, my, how they responded. Here at Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) we have been hearing of whole communities rallying behind fundraising campaigns, emergency work crews and volunteer round-ups. Not only do residents and businesspeople feel personally connected to these local assets, they also understand their importance. With the rail-trail out of action visitor numbers dried up, community celebrations were cancelled, and all of a sudden that favorite place for a jog or morning walk wasn't there anymore.

So it was great to see Friends of the Little Miami State Park (FLMSP) in Ohio recognized for its rapid response after severe weather closed the Little Miami Scenic Trail (below) in June. Ohio State Parks this month honored the non-profit organization with a certificate heralding the trail groups' "outstanding assistance" after the derecho storm of June 29 brought down trees across much of this RTC Hall of Fame rail-trail.

According to an article at cincinatti.com, the wide range of groups which had "adopted" a section of the trail were summoned first thing the following morning and labored as a coordinated team throughout the weekend. In spite of the extensive deadfall throughout the trail, segment adopters had cleared 20 of 24 segments by the end of Saturday. Ohio State Parks then moved in after the weekend to pulverize and remove the remaining debris.

The certificate cites the "outstanding assistance to Ohio State Parks staff in clearing the trail," and emphasizes the "true partnership between the friends' group and Ohio State Parks for the benefit of trail users."

Ohio State Parks Community Partnerships Manager Jim Henahan said the effort of FLMSP is an example of how Ohio State Parks has come to rely on the efforts of 57 friends groups in Ohio. About 7,000 volunteers across the state gave 400,000 hours of service to the Ohio parks in 2011.

To find the "friends of" your local rail-trail, contact the RTC office in your region:

Florida and the Southeast: rtcflorida@railstotrails.org

Northeast: rtcnortheastoffice@railstotrails.org

Midwest: rtcmidwestoffice@railstotrails.org

The West: rtcwesternoffice@railstotrails.org

Everywhere else: info@railstotrails.org

Photo of Iowa Heritage trail flood damage courtesy Dubuque County Conservation Board
Photo of the Little Miami Scenic Trail by RTC

The Cowback Century: 100 Miles Through Georgia and Alabama

Karl Wirsing (RTC) — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 15:24:00 GMT

For her 70th birthday nearly four years ago, Dr. Katherine Jeter decided to mark the occasion with an extraordinary physical and philanthropic feat: cycle 70 miles in one day on the Little Miami Scenic Trail in Ohio, and raise $70,000 for charity. We ran a story on her challenge in Rails to Trails magazine, and Jeter ended up surpassing her fundraising goal. And even though she'd only picked up cycling in her late 60s, she'd found her pedaling stride.

"This whole bicycling addiction really took," she says.

So naturally, she didn't stop there. After all, Jeter isn't exactly the idle type. She's an avid swimmer and skier, and her husband says she's known as the "Silver Tornado" for her snow-white hair, physical drive and risk-taking nature. So three years later, she decided to up the ante and complete a century for her 73rd birthday.

This time, she gathered four companions, including two of her children and two friends, to pedal 100 miles on the combined Silver Comet and Chief Ladiga trails, which meet at the state line to form a continuous paved corridor connecting Atlanta, Ga., to Anniston, Ala.

The logistics were simple enough. Jeter lives in Spartanburg, S.C., an easy trip to their starting point on the Silver Comet just outside of Atlanta. With her husband driving the SAG (support and gear) vehicle, Jeter's crew planned to pedal one way from the start of the Silver Comet to the end of the Chief Ladiga.

They were gifted on the day of the ride--October 22, 2011--with a "cold, crisp, colorful fall day," says Jeter. "That trail, there's just nothing like it. Laundry blowing on the line, the cows, the people."

In fact, those cow pastures ended up inspiring the name for the ride, the "Cowback Century." Every time Jeter and company would pass a herd, they'd yell, "Cow back!"

After the ride, Jeter's daughter, Sally Jeter Hammond, put together a slideshow of the experience, titled "Rolling Inspiration." Sally, at age 52, had only picked up cycling a few months before the ride. Like her mother, she'd always been an athlete but had never spent much time on two wheels. Yet with only 12 weeks of training, Sally ended up dusting everyone else (it took her seven hours and 18 minutes).

"She was at the end in Anniston about 45 minutes before the four of us arrived," says Jeter. "That was great, great fun."

In her slideshow, Sally also talks about her motivation for training and getting back in shape for the ride. "Six years ago," she wrote, "my focus on fitness changed when I became a single parent and I put all of my energy into taking care of [my kids]. While they were and still are worth every bit of my attention, I inadvertently stopped taking care of me."

Her mother's example also helped light a fire under her. "The dictionary defines inspiration in many ways," Sally wrote, "but this is my favorite descriptor: an influence that stimulates creative thought or action. It doesn't take much to stimulate my creativity, but it took my gray-haired mother's amazing influence to ignite action on my part. If you know my mother, you know she can ignite and excite most anybody! It's amazing where a little inspiration can take you."

So what's next for Jeter? With the "Cowback" behind her, she's already scoping out her next challenge: looking for another big rail-trail to ride!

Photos courtesy of Katherine Jeter.

Rail-Trails Help Power a Ride to Honor America's Veterans

Jake Lynch — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 17:03:00 GMT

The rail-trails of Ohio will host a remarkable long-distance ride later this year, when Todd Reigle and the Honor Ride Ohio team pedal from Sylvania, on the Michigan border, all the way to Cincinnati to raise money to support our military veterans.

The goal of Honor Ride Ohio is to raise more than $100,000 for Honor Flight Columbus, Ohio Fallen Heroes Memorial, Wounded Warrior Project, Ohio Warrior Scholarship Fund, Hidden Scars Foundation and the Ohio Combat Veterans--community organizations that provide support to returning servicemen and women.

Reigle, a native Ohioan with a strong interest in America's military history and the sacrifices made by his family, and others, in active service, was inspired to organize the ride by the success of similar fundraising efforts.

"Honor Ride Ohio has been in my mind for a few years," Reigle says. "I participated in Pelotonia, the bike ride for *** cancer awareness, and that kind of got me interested in riding bikes. I'd been thinking of something we could do where we could raise money to help these grassroots organizations that deal with taking care of the vets, but that also have to raise money to make sure that the services are provided."

Reigle will be joined on the five-day journey by a number of active and retired soldiers, and the group will make stops in Lima, Kenton, Sunbury, Columbus, Dayton and other communities on their way to Cincinnati.

"The best thing about this is that 100 percent of donations will go directly to these organizations," Reigle says. "My goal is to go out and get donations for everything we need for the ride, so there are no other expenses."

Eric Oberg, manager of trail development for Rails-to-Trails Conservancy's (RTC) Midwest Regional Office, has been working with Reigle and the Honor Ride Ohio crew on plotting a safe, and fun, route across the state. "Ohio has so many great rail-trails," Oberg says. "They are perfect for a long ride like this, as they're relatively flat, travel fairly directly between communities, and are scenic and peaceful, too."

Oberg hopes Honor Ride Ohio will be able to travel a number of rail-trails in central Ohio, including the Olentangy Greenway Trail, Camp Chase Rail Trail, Roberts Pass Trail and the Prairie Grass Trail. The riders will utilize RTC's trail-finder website, TrailLink.com, for accurate, up-to-date information on the best way to get from A to B.

For more information on Honor Ride Ohio, visit toddsride.com, or visit todd.reigle@radiohio.com.

Photo of the Roberts Pass Trail courtesy of TrailLink.com.

In Search of the Fountain of Youth Along Ohio's Little Miami Scenic Trail

Karl Wirsing (RTC) — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 17:25:00 GMT

by Abbey Roy

It started out as a Father's Day excursion. My brother Ben, The Amateur Jetsetter, was leaving on Father's Day morning for Morocco, with a layover in Paris for a few obligatory shots of the Eiffel Tower. The least I could do as the only remaining (nee) Stirgwolt sibling in the country was to offer some sort of consolation prize for the man who has put up with our shenanigans for the last quarter century, give or take.

For my dad, though--and me, too--our Little Miami Scenic Trail bike trip would be more than mere consolation. It promised to evolve into a belated coming-of-age tale; an exclusive chance to experience our beloved Buckeye State in a way we never had--on two wheels.

The logistics as initially planned were daunting for two amateur cycling enthusiasts without the hours to devote to training: two days, 70 miles apiece. Our own miniature GOBA (that's Great Ohio Bicycle Adventure) minus the $200 entry fee and 2,000 other cyclists.

Just me and Dad, a fanny pack, our cameras and our bikes.

***

Dad spent weeks working out the details. They changed a few times, eventually shrinking to a single-day, 75-mile trip the Friday after Father's Day (thanks to rain delays and conflicting dentist appointments), beginning in Cincinnati and ending in Springfield, where Mom, having freshly returned from a day of antique shopping, would pick us up and haul us back to Newark, Ohio.

On Thursday, the day before we left, Dad called me between work meetings to tell me how excited he was. He had been telling me that for weeks. It was cute. He was like a little kid--a 59-year-old kid--getting ready to go to Disney World for the first time.

Friday was gray and intermittently drizzly and generally unpleasant, which didn't much matter after several days' worth of delayed plans: It could have been hailing and we would still have left the house by 8 a.m. to drive to Cincinnati in hopes that the sun eventually would peek out.

Sitting in the back seat with Dad at the wheel took me back to the summer vacations when the four of us piled into our 1991 Plymouth Voyager, camping gear and a week's worth of supplies jammed in the back, ready for untold adventure. On this particular day, my parents were old enough to get senior discounts at most sit-down chain restaurants, my brother was spending two months in North Africa and I was leaving behind a 23-month-old and husband.

Certainly a lot had changed over the years, but there was no doubt about it: The same old excitement was there.

***

In the passenger seat, Mom worked to double-, triple- and quadruple-check the directions from the Cincinnati trailhead to the Springfield antique mall. It was obvious she had a few misgivings about the operation, but after 36 years of marriage, as I understand it, you have to pick your battles. This was a battle Dad had won.

We arrived at the Little Miami Golf Center around 11 a.m. and learned during our short passage from the entryway to the parking area that there's actually such a thing as lawn bowling, though the foreboding clouds evidently had discouraged enthusiasts from demonstrating that morning. We prepped the bikes, changed into our gear, said bye to Mom, suggested that she try lawn bowling and were off.

The journey started out chilly with a tinge of nervousness about the drizzle, as we'd both packed only short sleeves. But we warmed up as we pedaled and chatted about our plans for the trip, wished Ben could have been there and marveled at the beauty of the trees arcing over the path and the river--muddy as it was--along the route.

Within the first 10 miles we were planning a similar trek upon Ben's return--maybe a two-dayer in the fall.

Dad was in the lead as we held about 16 mph, sometimes faster, sometimes slower. I followed close behind with a goofy grin on my face for no other reason than that this was shaping up to be a pretty darn good day.

***

We made several stops along the way, once to lunch at a Loveland coffee shop that was absolutely fitting for a journey like this, packed from wall to wall with quaint cottagey decor and fitted with a bathroom that doubled as a storage closet. I took a picture of the aprons hanging on the door.

Over peanut butter granola bars, we waited out a pesky rainstorm in Corwin under an empty picnic shelter; I took advantage of the down time to snap a few close-ups of the specks of mud that had sprayed from the bicycle tires onto my legs as we rolled over the wet path.

We moved on.

As the miles added up, we talked less and looked more. I led for a short while at Dad's urging, but eventually traffic on the path died down and we fell to riding side by side.

By the time we were a few miles away from Xenia, after more gradual climbs than I'd counted on or prepared for, the thought of stopping early crept into my mind. But every time I'd glance to my left and see Dad, his "high-vis" neon green bike shirt nearly glowing beside me, I put my head down and forced my legs to move up, down, up, down, around and around, rotation after rotation, mile after mile.

He had 30-plus years on me. Didn't he ever get tired?

***

We kept going despite mounting protests from our saddle-sore and pedal-weary bodies, stopping briefly in Xenia before coming to the unpleasant realization that more dark clouds were approaching. As we ducked under a maple tree to wait out the downpour, we actually discussed stopping.

"You don't want to bag it here, do you?" Dad asked.

I had been thinking of it. We'd come nearly 60 miles, a record for both of us. But we'd wanted to reach 75, to make it to Springfield.

I paused a moment before replying.

"Part of me knows the next 20 miles are going to be grueling," I said. "But the other part of me hates quitting early."

I knew I got that from him.

Finally we agreed to ride to Yellow Springs before calling to Mom to pick us up, presumably with a stash of great antique-store finds. It seemed like a nice compromise. By the time we arrived, it was around 5 p.m. and we were shivery from the combination of rain and a light wind that seemed to have come out of nowhere. The sun had just come out and we dismounted--stiffly and triumphantly--stretched and relished the feeling of being off the bike seat.

I took a picture of the Yellow Springs sign and the cute fabric flowers that adorned it, and the mile marker from where we stood to Cincinnati: 68 miles, it said. We enjoyed a nice dinner with Mom and, though slightly disappointed we didn't finish out at an even 70 miles, agreed we were pleased with the day's accomplishments.

As Dad drove the van back to Newark and I devoured most of the remaining Twizzlers in our snack stash, I took my place in the back seat and thought about the many times during those 68 miles I'd thought I'd like to slow down.

And how, every time, I'd look over at Dad--the little kid in a big kid's body--pushing forward almost effortlessly, as if the Magic Kingdom were just ahead.

It always made me smile despite my fatigue, and it kept us going--together.

Abbey Roy is a native of northeast Ohio and transplant to central Ohio, where she is a newspaper reporter, wife and mom. When she was five, her dad insisted on teaching her to ride her bike without using training wheels. She's been rolling ever since.

Photos courtesy of Abbey Roy.

On the Trail for a Cure: A 150-Mile Journey by Wheelchair

Karl Wirsing (RTC) — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 14:24:00 GMT

By Mark Cheater

On July 20, Robin Mower will set out from her home in Toledo, Ohio, on a charity ride to the state capital in Columbus, using rail-trails for parts of her trip. The 150-mile journey would be challenging for even a fit person on a bicycle. For someone afflicted with a debilitating disease and confined to a wheelchair, however, it's nothing short of extraordinary.

Mower, 47, suffers from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS. Commonly known as 'Lou Gehrig's disease' after the New York Yankees' baseball star who died from it, ALS attacks the nervous system. Despite decades of study, scientists still do not know what causes it or how to treat it. Mower wants to see that change-and hopes her trip helps generate both publicity and donations for ALS programs and research. "It's going to be an extreme adventure, but I feel like I have to take this journey," she says.

"A lot of people don't know what ALS is, and that there's no treatment or cure," she adds. "This disease can affect anyone at any age-it doesn't discriminate."

Mower, a former Special Olympics coach, weight lifter and mother of four, was diagnosed with the disease two years ago. She has lost much of the control over her limbs, but she hasn't let the disease dim her competitive spirit. "I want to focus on things I can do, not on what I can't," she says. "This is a great way to get the word out about ALS."

When she came up with the idea for the motorized wheelchair trip this spring, Mower asked officials at the northern Ohio chapter of the ALS Association to help make it happen. Mary Wilson Wheelock, the chapter's executive director, started searching the Internet for information on paths in northern Ohio and came across TrailLink.com, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy's (RTC) free trail-finder website.

"I stumbled upon RTC when I was looking for assistance to find Robin a safe path," says Wheelock. "There are a lot of websites out there and a lot of organizations, but RTC was attractive to me because it has an office in Columbus and it is another nonprofit group that we could help raise awareness of."

She got in touch with Eric Oberg, manager of trail development in RTC's Midwest Regional Office, who helped Mower's team plot a route along several Ohio rail-trails, including the International Park Rotary Trail, North Coast Inland Trail and the Olentangy Greenway Trail. He's also worked with partner groups to find suitable roads that connect these trail segments.

"When you get a chance to help someone like Robin do something like this....it sure makes those tedious days at work a whole lot easier to deal with," says Oberg.

Mower will be accompanied on her planned six-day journey by her husband, a cousin and a sister. She'll also be receiving mechanical support from Permobil, the company that makes her wheelchair. This will be her first rail-trail experience, and she's excited about it. "It's going to be safer for me-I won't have to brave the traffic and worry about being hit by a car or other vehicle, or slowing them down," she says. "I'll also have a chance to show people the beauty of Ohio."

Oberg says it's been inspirational to work with Mower and her team on this important project. "For someone like this, fighting a battle like she's fighting and willing to do what she's doing, it brings home the importance of the work we've done," he says. "The only unfortunate thing is that she can't be on a trail all the way to where she wants to go-so it also highlights how much work we need to do."

You can follow Mower's progress on her blog and sign on to support her effort on the ALS Association's northern Ohio chapter website at http://web.alsa.org/goto/RobinsJourney.

Photos courtesy of Robin Mower.

In Ohio, RTC Promotes Cycle Safety for Kids

Karl Wirsing (RTC) — Tue, 31 May 2011 14:29:00 GMT

This May, Eric Oberg, manager of trail development for Rails-to-Trails Conservancy's (RTC) Midwest Regional Office, ran a bicycle safety station at Bremen Elementary School in Fairfield County, Ohio. Though much of his time is spent working with land managers and planners in council offices and boardrooms, poring over maps and technical documents, Oberg loves getting to work closely with rail-trail users. At Bremen Elementary, he was able to roll up his sleeves for bike maintenance courses, and to offer students advice on how to stay safe while zipping around on two wheels.

"Bremen is only a small village, so often the children here ride on the street," says Oberg. "That being the case, it is especially important they know the correct hand signals and are conscious of rider safety."

Joining Oberg at the school were local partners Lancaster Bicycle and the Fairfield Heritage Trail Association. The event also continued a great relationship between RTC and Bremen Elementary, where Oberg is a member of the school's Be Safe Committee, formed to promote health and safety in and around the school, including the development of safe routes to school and the recent establishment of a community garden.

"At RTC, we are very much about creating safe places for children and families to walk and ride," say Oberg. "And this is a part of the job I really love. So much of what we do is behind the scenes, planning and building trails, working with cities and planners. This is about putting a face to RTC, working hands-on to promote our work and our goals."

For Oberg, school safety has been a particular focus recently. A few weeks ago, he attended a workshop in Cleveland, Ohio, on "walking school buses." Hosted by RTC partner PedNet of Columbia, Mo., the workshop examined the positive impact walking to school can have on child health, and the importance of providing safe and enjoyable means to do so.

For more information about the event, contact RTC's Midwest Regional Office at 614.837.6782.

Photos (top to bottom): Dan Peters, owner of Lancaster Bicycle, talking to a class, with Oberg in the background; and Peters fitting a helmet on a student, by Jennifer McMahon of Jennifer's Studio in Rushville, Ohio.

Get the Conversation Started: RTC's Urban Pathways Initiative Summit

Stephen Miller (RTC) — Wed, 18 May 2011 14:16:00 GMT

Next week, more than 100 advocates of urban pathways, greenways and trails from cities across the nation--representing the nonprofit, private and public sectors--will meet in Cleveland for RTC's second Urban Pathways Initiative Summit. We'll be discussing the common issues we face in our efforts to encourage more physical activity on shared-use paths in urban areas, especially in low-income communities and communities of color.

Registration has closed, but even if you aren't making it to Cleveland, be sure to sign up for e-mail updates from our Urban Pathways Initiative. After the summit is finished, you'll be able to watch video and listen in on some of the discussions.

But don't wait until after the summit! If you're attending--or even if you're not--introduce yourself in the comments, and let's get this conversation started. What's the biggest challenge you face? The biggest success? What specific issues do you want to discuss with your colleagues during the summit?

Photo: Area youth pedal to the Morgana Run Trail during the Slavic Village Bike-a-Thon. Photo courtesy of Slavic Village Development.

An Intern(al) Review

Karl Wirsing (RTC) — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 16:30:00 GMT

by Marshall Pearson

When I was much younger, I would ride my bicycle everywhere. Nearly every day, I'd zip around Huntington Woods, Mich., on a little black BMX model, going to the community center, a friend's house, the pool, the library, or often just for a joyride. Back then, I felt like there was no place my bike couldn't take me.

As I got older and moved away, I relied on a bicycle less and less. Riding in the street felt more dangerous. Going to the mall seemed impossible. I couldn't impress any girls with a bike, so it stayed in my garage.

In college, however, my life changed yet again, and I found enough space for a bicycle. Going places on two wheels became both practical and enjoyable. I attended Ohio University in Athens, Ohio, for four years, and the Hockhocking Adena Bikeway (a rail-with-trail) allowed me to pedal to the farmers' market for groceries. I would use the path for late-night excursions with friends to the abandoned boxcars dormant along one section of the path, or cycle the 33-mile roundtrip to Nelsonville on a lazy Saturday. Frankly, I owe my relative sanity to that bicycle, both for the functional and exhilarating role it played in my life.

Later, as I observed the larger context surrounding the bikeway and bicycle culture in Athens, I realized I wasn't the only person relying on it. Local residents living outside the city still had access to the trail, and many would use it to get to their jobs at local businesses or the university. Athens is squarely in the middle of Appalachia, and many of its citizens face poverty every day. Some residents cannot afford vehicles, but the Hockhocking Adena Bikeway helps them access jobs, food and other necessary services.

Once I saw the broad effect a simple path could have on my community, I began to see my hobby in a different light. Not only was bicycle commuting possible in larger cities, but it was possible anywhere. I soon became interested in changing how cycling is viewed, and how it can be used in an entirely new model of sustainable transportation. That led me to Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC), where I have worked as a communications intern since early September.

Working at RTC has taught me a great deal about how policy influences bicycling, but it has also shown me that the bicycle is only one part of the non-motorized future of transportation. I have learned that the thinking, as well as the infrastructure, of transportation must be re-evaluated and reformed in order to make walking and bicycling regular--and safe--options to get around.

For even the shortest of trips, many Americans do not have an accessible route to walk, ride a bike or take public transportation. Massive amounts of federal, state and local funds are allocated to maintaining highways every year, but a vastly disproportionate amount is being set aside for alternative transportation.

I believe we need a sea change in our perception of transportation. That is why RTC is important to me--it's an organization that understands the consequences of embracing what author Daniel Sperling refers to as a "car-centric monoculture." The people here work tirelessly to promote alternatives to automobiles and congested roadways. Whether they are negotiating trail-friendly policies with politicians or in the courts, or working with local entities to bring rail-trails to fruition, the employees of RTC are endeavoring to change the public view of the trails, walking and bicycling movement.

I don't have that black BMX model anymore, but I have thankfully rediscovered the joy I first felt when riding it. For me, biking will always be far more than just a hobby. The more I learn about cycling's vibrant culture, the more I realize its potential. A bicycle can't take you everywhere, but I hope our country learns to give cycling, as well as other non-motorized options, a chance to grow.

Photo of Marshall Pearson courtesy of Marshall Pearson; photo of Hockhocking Adena Bikeway through Ohio University's campus by Will Elder.

Cleveland Walk+Roll Event Features Morgana Run Trail

Eric Oberg (RTC) — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 13:16:00 GMT

A beautiful, sunny July 25 made a wonderful backdrop for the Walk+Roll event in Cleveland's Slavic Village neighborhood. The Sunday event brought hundreds of people, young and old, to enjoy numerous events throughout the community. Walk+Roll sponsored the event in conjunction with Slavic Village Development. The celebration included the closing of 1.8 miles of neighborhood streets to motor traffic, creating a festive atmosphere as cyclists and walkers took over the streets and the connecting Morgana Run Trail.

Beginning at Cleveland Metroparks Washington Reservation, which hosted live music, soccer and golf stations, the 2.6-mile loop ran through Slavic Village. Along the route participants enjoyed cuisine from local restaurants, tours of the extensive community gardens, multiple live music sites, a carnival area for families including free root beer floats, skateboarding demonstrations and baseball games played by America's longest-running little league organization.

Another highlight of the day was the official dedication of Rotoflora, the newly installed public art piece at the 49th Street trailhead. The concentration of people and smiles back at Washington Reservation late in the afternoon confirmed the overwhelming success of the event.

Photo by Eric Oberg/Rails-to-Trails Conservancy.

Sensory Trail Creates Unique Experience Along Ohio Rail-Trail

Eric Oberg (RTC) — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 14:31:00 GMT

On April 22, 2010, Earth Day brought the official opening of some of the more interesting trail amenities we've seen along the Fairfield Heritage Trail in Lancaster, Ohio. Adjacent to the trail is the campus of Forest Rose School, a Fairfield County Board of Developmental Disabilities (FCBDD) facility that provides special needs children with educational and life skills opportunities from birth to age 22. Where the trail meets the school, the Lancaster Sensory Trail has taken shape.

The idea behind the trail was to build an outdoor experience, easily accessible for the students, that would stimulate and engage their senses. The first phase of the project, now open, includes items such as herb pots, fragrant flowers and bushes, bird feeders and houses, native trees, grasses and art pieces. A local Lions Club also installed a rough bark tactile display that includes Braille interpretation. Also installed are six large, permanently mounted outdoor musical instruments that have been custom designed with their own tethered mallets. The entire trail is wheelchair accessible.

The project has been a multi-agency collaboration since its beginnings in 2008. Spearheaded by FCBDD, other agencies integral in its success include Fairfield County Soil & Water Conservation District, U.S. Natural Resource Conservation Service, city of Lancaster, Southeast Ohio Center for Independent Living and the Heart of Ohio Resource Conservation and Development Council. Major additional funds were raised through in-kind local volunteer efforts as well as two successful 5K running events. The innovative project was so impressive that it was awarded the 2009 Project of the Year award by the North Central Association of Resource Conservation and Development Councils.

While phase one has been an enormous success, the group is not resting on its laurels and has an ambitious plan for expanding the Sensory Trail. Future additions are to include a bridge over the nearby creek, wetland restoration as well as a wheelchair-accessible treehouse! As one very early supporter of the Fairfield Heritage Trail noted, it's amazing to see the types of innovative community-based projects that seem to sprout off of a seemingly simple rail-trail.

Photo: Musical equipment along the Lancaster Sensory Trail. Photo by Bob Williams, Fairfield Heritage Trail Association.

National Trails Day Kicks off Weekend of Events Around Cleveland

Eric Oberg (RTC) — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 16:50:00 GMT

On Saturday, June 5, National Trails Day kicked off a plethora of trail events in Cleveland. The festivities began Saturday morning at Fullerton Elementary in Slavic Village, where more than 50 children enjoyed the neighborhood Bike-a-Thon. The event included free bike helmets provided by Slavic Village Development and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, as well as bicycle maintenance stations and a supervised cone course to test riding skills. The Cleveland Police Department participated throughout the event and provided a police-escorted bike ride through the streets of the neighborhood. After the ride, the children were treated to a cookout back at the school.

Later in the afternoon, participants in the annual Bike Slavic Village National Trails Day ride were not deterred by ominous skies. Enthusiastic riders, including City Councilmen Tony Brancatelli and Eugene Miller, enjoyed a leisurely ride along the Morgana Run Trail to Mill Creek Falls and then along the Cleveland MetroParks Trail through Garfield Reservation.

Sunday morning brought more than 250 participants to the Third Federal Savings and Loan campus in Slavic Village for the fourth annual Morgana Run 5K race. With participants from toddlers in strollers to seasoned marathoners, the event was a popular draw for people from throughout Cleveland and beyond. Councilman Brancatelli along with Councilman Kevin Kelley were among the folks braving an abnormally cool and breezy June morning to enjoy a great community event. Upon the final finisher crossing the line, the crowd enjoyed perogis, smokies and fruit while awards were given to the winners.

Monday brought a multidisciplinary gathering of more than 200 trail advocates from throughout northeast Ohio. The first annual Greater Cleveland Trails and Greenways Conference was hosted by Southwest General Hospital and the Polaris Career Center. Breakout sessions, dealing with topics ranging from funding, design and working with new partners such as the health care industry, were all popular choices with participants. The conference's final brainstorming session was a spirited discussion about the future of the area's trail movement that highlighted successes and the desire for future gatherings.

Photo: Participants in Sunday's Morgana Run 5K by Eric Oberg/Rails-to-Trails Conservancy.

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

Kelly Pack (RTC) — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 13:16:00 GMT

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-trail events. Looking for new and exciting ways to get people out on your trail throughout the rest of the year? Here are some examples to get the creative juices flowing:

Last year, East Bay Regional Park District teamed up with Bay Area Regional Transit to host Tracks to Trails, an event to promote physical activity on the Iron Horse Regional Trail in California's Alameda and Contra Costa counties. Participants were encouraged to “Walk, Run, Roll, or Ride” and visit a series of energy stations along the 24-mile trail.
The Morgana Run Trail in Cleveland, Ohio's Slavic Village neighborhood knows how to party. As part of Walk + Roll, a large neighborhood walking and biking festival, neighborhood residents took to the streets and the trail to play games, visit local business and organization open houses, paint murals and eat ice cream. Among many other events on the trail, Slavic Village Development organizes Walk a Hound, Lose a Pound, an annual event for dog owners and lovers to enjoy the Morgana Run Trail with their four-legged friends.

Visit American Hiking Society’s website to learn more about National Trails Day and how to participate.

Photo: A young Slavic Village resident enjoys "Walk a Hound, Lose a Pound" on the Morgana Run Trail in Cleveland, Ohio. Courtesy of Slavic Village Development.