Rails *WITH* Trails

You have perhaps heard of Rails-to-Trails? Rails-to-Trails is the rather excellent notion of taking old rail road ROW, and turning them into long recreational trails. In Arlington Virginia we have seen fantastic success with this, with the W&OD trail which extends from National Airport to Leesburg. On a good day, the W&OD becomes a super highway of bikers, rollerbladers, joggers, walkers and even horse back riders. On a bad day, there are lots of people out there too. Many folk use the W&OD as part of their daily commute.

Well here is a different thought: what about Rails WITH Trails?

In an attempt to break our addiction to foreign oil and to relieve the four-wheel-tin-can-polluting problem, the region is about to embark on an effort to build high speed train lines. What if, in the process of constructing one alternative mode of transportation, we also constructed another mode of alternative transportation as well. Along side the rails, also build bike trails.

Northern Virginia has seen an explosion of bicycle transportation. Bike paths are becoming overwhelmed with traffic. With high demand for environmentally friendly, healthy, athletic bike transportation, the one thing that is needed now is bike infrastructure - efficient ways for bikers to cycle without getting hit by a car.

The Virginia Bicycle Federation states

Rails-with-trails have proven to be a safe and viable way to offer true multimodal accommodations, and provide facilities for people to walk and cycle throughout their communities.

There are currently 1,184 miles of open trails among 142 different rails with trails projects throughout the United States. Another 75 projects are underway, which will add 905 additional miles of trails when completed.

These projects provide transportation alternatives, promote healthy lifestyles, and encourage exercise in an increasingly obese population. Trails also encourage economic development and tourism.

Asking for these facilities while in their early planning stages is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create thousands of miles of trails connecting communities throughout Virginia and the United States.

One of the greatest things holding bicycle transportation back currently is safety; create safe paths for bicycles and this mode of alternative transportation will continue to grow.

Please show your support for Rails With Trails.