What Do Trails Mean To You?

After the last year, many people are discovering the value of trails in and around their neighborhoods, for transportation and for recreation, as they try to find safe ways to spend time away from enclosed spaces. In recognition of this need, the City of Iowa City has committed to clearing snow from trails that have typically been left for "winter recreation" so more pedestrians and cyclists can enjoy them throughout the winter. 

My earliest memory of a "trail" is the paved bike path through the woods near my house growing up in the Chicago suburbs. It was just far enough from the house to be exotic, but still near enough to reach without having to drive to an access point. In the winter we would rent cross country skis and work up a sweat, excitedly coasting down the gentle hills, laughing when someone clumsily tipped over or slid down a hill they couldn't get back up. At that time, I didn't pay much attention to the wildlife surrounding the trail; I couldn't tell you about any birds we saw or what kind of spring ephemerals were to be seen before the trees leafed out. It was simply a way to move and be active with my family.

There are other trails: dirt paths worn around an old quarry, scenic trails through state and county parks. But (and maybe I am betraying my suburban softness) my favorites are those wide, smooth trails constructed for easy movement rather than exploration. Gravel and dirt are fine for adventure, but for casual enjoyment a nice asphalt or concrete adds a touch of civilization. 

Those smooth paved trails, however, are an investment. They are costly to construct, and can be costly to maintain. We don't have "trail use taxes" that pay for their construction and upkeep. Every new trail built is an investment in a community, perhaps without an obvious fiscal return on the costs but with both measurable and immeasurable benefits to the people in that community.

People want to live near safe, convenient trails. They are good for health: a safe place for walking, running, and cycling away from vehicle traffic. They provide transportation options for people without cars. They are built on a human scale, for human bodies, where so much of our infrastructure is designed not for people but for automobiles.

Trails allow us to get close to our cultural and historic places on a human level: think of trails alongside old canals, or old railroad tracks repurposed into trails. Our Iowa River Trail takes us right past Hancher and City Park, and along the Iowa River. 

Trails connect communities and provide a conduit for business: imagine a day trip from Iowa City to West Branch via bicycle, or up to Cedar Rapids, with stops at small-town cafes or ice cream shops along the way. What if there were a trail across the state, away from the highways, where you could safely ride from town to town and see all the sights, like a single-serve RAGBRAI. 

We love trails, and it's easy to see the good they do. Be sure to let your elected representatives know as well. Funding for trails comes from federal and state spending, and as our senators and representatives plan budgets, make sure they understand how important trail infrastructure is to our communities. 

 

Contact your representatives:

• Look up your Iowa state legislators and their contact information
  
•  Find your US senators and representative
  

Follow the Rails to Trails Conservancy to learn about other ways you can advocate for trails.