Trails Benefit Communities & Nation

According to recent articles in American Trail magazine, trails provide enormous benefits for communities, workers, and the nation in general.
Here are some important economic figures that relate to the benefits of trails:

hikers enjoying the trail

• Active outdoor recreation generates $730 million to the economy each year.
• Trails and other outdoor pursuits provide 6.5 million jobs annually.
• There are 437 million recreational visits to Interior-managed lands.
• One U.S. trail generated an estimated 80,000 trips w/ trail users spending $40.8 million.
• Bicycle recreation supports more than $924 million in tourism.
• Although the per capita annual cost of trail use is $209, per capita annual direct medical benefits was $564. This means that every dollar spent on trails provided $2.94 in direct medical benefit.

While one U.S. Senator is refusing to vote for highway funding as long as some of the money is going for trails, the opposite should be happening. In light of the figures presented above, and for numerous other reasons, the amount of trail funding in transportation apportionments should be increased. Unlike roads, trails:

• are cheaper to build
• are cheaper to maintain
• provide more jobs per mile
• provide health benefits
• provide recreational opportunities
• provide viable transportation options
• are much more environmentally sustainable

If you haven't yet done so, contact your representative and urge them to fully fund all trail options in U.S. transportation funding. 

Coming up on the trailsnet blog:

• Information about new active travel websites
• Information about a possible huge format change for the trailsnet website
• Information about new maps to be included on the trailsnet website
• Information about the National Trails System

Trails Benefit Communities & Nation

Obesity rate directly related to trail access?

Yesterday's headline was that Boulder, Colorado ranked #1 in the nation for bicycle commuting. In other words, more people, per capita, bike to work/school in Boulder than anywhere else in the United States. I am sure that has something to do with the great network of trails, such as the Boulder Creek Path, found within Boulder.

Today's headline in another publication was that Colorado is still the state that consistently has the lowest obesity rate in the nation? And Boulder County has the lowest obesity rate in Colorado.

So that gets me thinking; hum, the lowest obesity rate, the highest bicycle commuting rate, an extensive trail system?  Could there be a relationship between the amount of trails in an area and the obesity rate?

Ya think?

No, I know. There is a definite relationship between fitness and the availability of trails. That's a no-brainer.

By the way, Washington D.C. has the third to the lowest
obesity rate and it has an incredible trail system.  (-:

But what about other benefits of trails. Let's take a look at some of those. Access to trails promotes:

• better fitness
• less pollution
• less traffic problems
• fewer fossil fuels burned, therefore...
• improved environment
• cheaper individual transportation
• cheaper community transportation per mile
• family togetherness
• more exposure to the great outdoors
• positive experiences for our children
• less time in front of the t.v. & computers

So the next time you hear a politician or company (such as AAA's recent statement) try to convince you that trails are a waste of money, please don't let them get away with it. Trails are probably the best and wisest use of money that we have going.

Obesity rate directly related to trail access?