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Pavement Ends
James Baughn

What would it take to build a rail-trail?

Posted Tuesday, May 29, 2012, at 9:07 PM

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  • I've done a fair number of rails to trails, particularly in Florida. They've proven to be an asset to the communities they link.

    The Withlacoochee trail west of Orlando, for example, goes through rural areas that you would think wouldn't attract riders, but there are two thriving bike shops on that 49-mile trail.

    One of them actively promotes things like Full Moon Rides that draws riders from a hundred miles away.

    The main reason for banking the local roadway is looking at the day when that area may not be as rural as it is. When my dad built Route W, it was a rural road. Now, I can tell when it's spring by all the people complaining about bike riders.

    I've ridden Cape to Advance to retrace a ride my parents made when they were newlyweds. I didn't mind riding it eight or 10 years ago, but I noticed on one of my recent trips back to Cape that rumble strips had been cut into a shoulder that had been good riding before.

    I'd love to have been able to ride that stretch on a rails to trails made out of the old Houck Railroad line.

    Good luck. It's an admirable project.

    -- Posted by Ken1 on Tue, May 29, 2012, at 9:58 PM
  • One con the writer failed to mention is that the people who live along this corridor do not want a bunch of people walking/running/riding in their back yards every day and lots of them on weekends. How would you feel about the security of your property with a bunch of strangers in your backyard????? These rails are about 50 yards from my back door and I don't want people running up and down my yard and bet you wouldn't either. There are lots of trails for people to use in this area without infringing on my property. Our deeds show that the land is to revert to the landowner should the railroad ever go out of business; these promises should be honored.

    -- Posted by someonewhoknows on Mon, Jun 4, 2012, at 8:45 AM