RTC Honors Prairie Path Trail
By Katie Test
WASHINGTON, D.C. —Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) has named the Illinois Prairie Path as the sixth inductee to the Rail-Trail Hall of Fame. The Chicago-area trail is featured in Rails to Trails magazine and on RTC’s Web site (www.railstotrails.org), complete with photos and a detailed ride-along description of its scenic views and important community connections.
The gravel 63-mile rail-trail running through suburban Chicago is one of the Midwest’s most popular pathways, attracting an estimated 800,000 users a year. Heavily used by pleasure-seekers and commuters alike, the route connects area rail-lines with unique areas of dedicated open lands making the trail simultaneously urban and rural.
“With the help of wonderful volunteer support, we have been able to expand and improve a trail system over the last four decades that is enjoyed by close to one million visitors a year. In addition to serving as a pioneer in the Rails-to-Trails movement, the Illinois Prairie Path is the backbone of a countywide network of regional trails that will total 298 miles,” said DuPage County Board Chairman Robert J. Schillerstrom. “We are honored that Rails to Trails has chosen the Illinois Prairie Path for this recognition and hope that bicyclists, walkers and equestrians visiting our area will come to DuPage County and experience all the trail system has to offer.”
The Illinois Prairie Path is a multi-use path shared by bicyclists, walkers, joggers, and equestrians. The Path passes through a number of unique natural areas such as Lincoln Marsh—over 140 acres with nature trails that allow viewing of 300 species of prairie and wetland plants and animals in this restored natural area.
“People are starting to ride bikes since the time has come to look for other means to save on gas, so we’re starting to get a lot of use, it’s just amazing from the small start we had!” says Dick Wilson of Des Plaines, Ill. who has worked on the Path since its conception. “[The trail] has done a lot for the community…lots of people use it, joggers, bicycling and hikers and dog walkers - it’s nice to be able to get away from the roads.”
RTC’s Rail-Trail Hall of Fame was established in 2007 to honor outstanding rail-trails. There are currently 1,500 open rail-trails, and approximately 750 more in development. Hall of Fame inductees are selected based on merits such as scenic value, high use, trail and trailside amenities, historical significance, excellence in management and maintenance of facility, community connections and geographic distribution.
Past trails that have received the designation include the Minuteman Bikeway in Boston, the Burke-Gilman Trail in Seattle, the Katy Trail State Park in Missouri, the Pinellas Trail in Florida, and the Great Allegheny Passage in Maryland and Pennsylvania.
For a complete list of the Rail-Trail Hall of Fame designations and stories, visit RTC’s Web site at www.railstotrails.org.
Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, a nonprofit organization with more than 100,000 members and donors, advocates for healthier lifestyles by creating a nationwide network of public trails, many from former rail lines and connecting corridors. Founded in 1986, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s national office is located in Washington, D.C.
Courtesy of Rails-to-Trails Conservancy.
Editors Note: You can visit Rails-to-Trails Conservancy's Profile Page and become a supporter of this wonderful conservation group. �Visit their website at www.railstotrails.org and you can also use their excellent trail finding resource at www.traillink.com
Courtesy www.itt.edu
League of American Bicyclists Honors 11 Bicycle Friendly Communities
Washington, D.C Eleven communities were honored with the League of American Bicyclists prestigious Bicycle Friendly Community designation and eleven communities renewed their designation. “This round brings into focus both the geographic and demographic diversity of designated communities,” League President Andy Clarke said. “These are all cities that are realizing the potential of bicycling to address the challenges of climate change, traffic congestion, rising obesity rates, and soaring fuel prices.”
The Bicycle Friendly Community program is revolutionizing the way communities evaluate their quality of life and transportation network. These new winners bring the total number of current Bicycle Friendly Communities to 84, stretching across 31 states. The League awards this four-year designation to communities that have made impressive, measurable efforts to integrate bicyclists into the community. There are four levels—platinum, gold, silver and bronze—awarded twice each year.
The new Bicycle Friendly Communities are:
Silver
Colorado Springs, Colo.
Durango, Colo.
Minneapolis, Minn.
Bronze
Arcata, Calif.
Bainbridge Island, Wash.
Charlotte, N.C.
Charlottesville, Va.
Coeur d'Alene, Id
Oxford, Miss.
Port Townsend, Wash.
Sitka, AK.
Eleven communities renewed their designation at the same level, with one exceptional standout, Portland, Oregon, which moved up from gold to platinum. These communities are:
Platinum
Portland, Ore.
Gold
Madison, Wis.
Tucson/East Pima Region, Ariz.
Silver
Bellingham, Wash.
Missoula, Mont.
Bronze
Albuquerque, N.M.
Ashland, Ore.
Gilbert, Ariz.
Longmont, Colo.
South Sioux City, Neb.
Sunnyvale, Calif.
This designation is one with real meaning—it is difficult to earn and important to renew. In addition to the winning communities, 16 additional communities applied in this round but did not reach. Since the program’s inception in 2003, 212 communities have applied and 84 current have a bronze or higher designation. Ten communities were given honorable mentions as well.
It is important to recognize communities as they begin to build bicycle friendliness into their network. But a designation only goes to communities with established records in two or more of the five categories which are known as the Five E’s:
- Education: Does the community have systems in place to train children and adult cyclists?
- Engineering: Are bicyclists included in the city’s transportation plan?
- Enforcement: Do police officers understand and enforce bicyclists’ rights and responsibilities?
- Encouragement: Does the community participate in Bike Month, offer bike rodeos, host community bike rides, or otherwise encourage cycling?
- Evaluation: Does the community have methods in place to ensure their bicyclist programs are making a difference?
The honorable mentions for this round are:
Cleveland, OH
Flint, Mich.
Morgan Hill, Calif.
New Haven, Conn.
New Orleans, La.
Northampton, Mass.
Point Pleasant Beach, N.J.
Roanoke, Va.
Sarasota County, Fla.
Venice, Fla.
About the BFC Program
The BFC program was initiated in 2003 and has received applications from more than 213 communities. Currently 84 cities and counties are designated Bicycle Friendly Communities. The program is generously supported by Trek Bikes and Bikes Belong. Applicants complete a detailed on-line form with numerous questions in five key areas: engineering, education, encouragement, enforcement, and evaluation/planning. Local cyclists, national experts, and League staff review the applications. For the complete list of Bicycle Friendly Communities and more information on the program visit www.bikeleague.org/programs/communities/.
League of American Bicyclists Names Portland, Ore. a "Platinum" Level Bicycle Friendly Community
Editors Note: You may visit the League of American Bicyclists Profile Page here.
