Little Miami Scenic Trail is Trail of the Month for December

Trail of the Month: December 2009
Ohio's Little Miami Scenic Trail

Before the railroads reached Xenia, Ohio, locals had to depend on turnpikes and other back roads for travel between nearby communities. Those often unreliable routes made commerce a real slog in wet weather and icy winters. But after the Little Miami Railroad arrived in 1845, Xenia suddenly found itself fluidly connected to markets in Cincinnati, Columbus, Dayton and beyond. Trains through town shuttled everything from Civil War recruits and ammunition to farm goods and faraway passengers. On a map, Xenia looked like the hub of a great bicycle wheel, with rail spokes shooting out in from almost every direction.

By 1984, the last of those tracks had fallen out of service and into silence. Yet that spider web of unused corridors left the perfect blueprint for a rail-trail revival. Over the next 25 years, with the cooperative effort of towns and counties along the route, as well as the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (DNR), rail-trail supporters built the region into a recreational powerhouse.

The north-south spoke through Xenia gradually grew into the backbone of this trail network. Opened in 1997 and now running 78 miles from Springfield southwest to the outskirts of Cincinnati, the paved Little Miami Scenic Trail is now one of the most recognizable and well-integrated rail-trails in the country. It incorporates more than a dozen communities, and like a mature vine the pathway has planted deep roots. Each stop and station along the route sprouted bicycle shops and ice cream parlors, bed-and-breakfasts and local festivals. Trail users feel cared for and catered to, treated to Midwest charm with big city ease—and the result is one highly popular pathway.

"Whether you're a novice rider or a road warrior, it's perfect," says Chrisbell Bednar, director of Greene County Parks, which manages about 14 miles of the trail surrounding Xenia. "People build vacations around this trail."

Mile 0 fittingly begins in Xenia, and you'll quickly understand the town's billing as the "Bicycle Capital of the Midwest." From the parking lot of Xenia Station, you can veer northeast to London on the Prairie Grass Trail, west to Dayton on the Creekside Trail, or directly east on the Jamestown Connector Trail. "We're real proud of the trails we have in Greene County," says Bednar. "It's kind of like our interstate recreational trails system."

Bednar says the trail has been incredibly fortunate to have sturdy political and public backing. Indeed the Little Miami Scenic Trail has thrived in no small part because of an exceptionally active coalition of supporters—folks who've been as willing to chip in financially as roll up their sleeves for maintenance.

In 2008, when Hurricane Ike pressed into Ohio, the storm snarled trees up and down the pathway. The Ohio DNR manages more than 50 miles of the trail as the Little Miami State Park, and that stretch included some of the hardest-hit areas. But the state didn't have the budget or resources to clear the pathway right away, says Alan Ferguson, assistant park manager for Ohio State Parks. Local businesses didn't want to wait and lose important customers, so they quickly organized the Friends of the Little Miami State Park and rallied volunteers almost overnight. Within a matter of days, says Ferguson, they managed to re-open the trail. "They've been just wonderful in garnering support and goodwill."

That level of volunteer dedication is hardly unusual on the Little Miami Scenic Trail. Perhaps the most vigorous contribution has come from Tom Recktenwalt, who has spent the last 12 years cataloguing Ohio's rail-trail progress from the seat of his bicycle.

Recktenwalt remembers searching in vain for some online information about the Creekside Trail in the 1990s. Not finding any, he decided to produce his own. Recktenwalt bought two bikes, a pair of helmets and a bike rack and started touring local pathways with his wife. He has since volunteered countless hours exploring trails in southwest Ohio, taking meticulous notes and more than 6,000 photos along the way. You can find all of Recktenwalt's play-by-play trail accounts on his website, Miami Valley RailTrails, which he has maintained since 1997.

What attracts such committed supporters, of course, is precisely what draws visitors from all over the state and country. In the course of 78 miles, trail users get to cruise a continuous, well-maintained, largely shaded and cool route—including a gradual downhill grade heading south from Springfield. They get to enjoy the Little Miami National Scenic River, as well. as protected wildlife areas and an Ohio countryside of grassy pastures, wildflowers, farmsteads, soybean and corn fields. They get to explore quaint downtowns, sample trailside ice cream parlors or stock up within feet of the pathway.

There's a little of everything, really, and what you get from the trail could change with every visit. So whether you're into birding or biking, ambling or antiquing, the Little Miami Scenic Trail has a way of feeling tailor-made just for you.

For more information, photos and user reviews of the trail, or to post your own comments, please visit TrailLink.com.

Check out Cincinnati's Bicycling Report Card

http://www.soapboxmedia.com/devnews/1201bicyclingreportcard.aspx?utm_campaign=Cityview&utm_medium=Email&utm_source=VerticalResponse&utm_term=City%20gets%20a%20%22C%22%20on%20first-ever%20Bicycling%20Report%20Card%20but%20real%20opportunity%20exists%20for%20improvement

Miami Valley Trails November Newsletter

http://www.miamivalleytrails.org/MVRT%20-November%202009.htm

Ohio River Trail Update – Fall 2009

The goal of connecting the Ohio River with the Great lakes with a 453-mile bike/hike trail in the next decade is making steady progress in communities throughout Ohio. To date 262 miles are completed and 54 under construction. The most difficult section to complete of course is in Cincinnati, from Lunken to downtown.

Taking the leadership on the Little Miami Trail, Jack Sutton, Director of the Hamilton County Park District is in the planning/engineering phase on the extension of the Little Miami Trail from Newtown to Beechmont and will start construction within the year. Jack is currently working on securing the balance of the funds for the Beechmont to Salem section and a State Capital Grant of $1 million has jumped started the effort.

Wym and Jan Portman are leading Ohio River Trail private sector campaign to raise $3 million for downtown to Lunken. To date $1.1 million has been pledged. And, at this time there are three sections of the Ohio River Trail being managed by the City of Cincinnati that are moving forward. They include the following. The Elm Street to Main section is currently being built as part of the relocation of Mehring Way. The second section from Wilmer to Carrel Street is scheduled to be constructed next year. Finally, the Lunken/Wilmer to Salem section will take about 2 years for the environmental phase and an additional two years for the design and construction phase to be completed in 2013.

Assisting with all the legal and political challenges of the trail are Jeff Schloemer, Bruce Petrie and Rick Greiwe. The downtown to Carrel Street section will be built on an abandoned line in the Oasis Rail Corridor. SORTA has worked out a lease agreement with the Hamilton County Park District to manage the construction and to operate and maintain the trail. This agreement will be renewable on an annual basis. State and Federal transit authorities want to keep all the options open for future passenger rail therefore the trail is considered “temporary.”

The Oasis Corridor is approximately 50FT wide, which is generally enough real estate to accommodate both rail and trail in the future. The lease for the temporary trail still has to be approved by the Federal authorities.

Fortunately there are many examples of transit corridors that accommodate Rails with Trails and the Ohio River Way team will continue to push forward with their mission to leverage the recreational qualities of the Ohio River which is our region’s most valuable natural resource.

Rails to Trails Newsletter

Please check out the latest newsletter from Rails to Trails. Lots of great information and updates about what's happening in the trail world.

http://www.miamivalleytrails.org/MVRT%20-September%202009.htm

TRANSPORTATION IN CINCINNATI, OHIO PROVIDED BY CINCINNATI BIKE/PAC

Did you know...

• According to the Bureau of Labor & Statistics in 2006, 23.8% of residents of Cincinnati did not have access to a private automobile.

• According to the same source, average cost of private car ownership per household in the United States including parking, gas, finance costs, insurance and maintenance was $8,608.

• Over the past three decades, adult obesity has doubled and childhood obesity has tripled.

• 26.6% of greenhouse gas emissions come from transportation in Cincinnati. According to the Climate Protection Plan adopted in 2008, the city’s goal is to reduce those emissions by 40% by 2028.

• We also understand that average folks will not start to use their bikes as a form of transportation until they feel safe - which means segregated paths like they have in Xenia and Marietta and Dayton and Yellow Springs and Athens and all the other cities and towns in our state that have made significant progress in encouraging alternative transportation choices.

• Cincinnati Bike/PAC supports the Ohio River Trail as a healthy, affordable and essential transportation choice for the citizens of our city.

LETTERS OF SUPPORT FOR THE OHIO RIVER TRAIL

OHIO RIVER TRAIL NEEDS LETTERS OF SUPPORT!


The Ohio River Trail could use your help with Letters of Support for the trail. Many of you are already aware of our fundraising campaign and that $12 million dollars has already been identified to build the trail. To complete the fundraising campaign we must raise $4 million in addition to the $12 million from private donations.


To help raise these final dollars we are applying for grants that specifically target hike & bike trails. Some of these grants would like to see letters of support from local businesses and residents to show how the trail will help their businesses and impact the region.

Our goal is to collect as many trail support letters to show how the trail will impact the community, the region and local businesses and tell the story regarding why it is important to get it done now.


Please help us get the trail built! If you decide to write a letter of support, please address your letter to The Ohio River Trail Project and answer one or all of the following questions:




1. How the trail will increase/impact bicycle ridership in the area and the region.


2. How the trail will impact small businesses. If you own a business, describe how it will affect your business.


3. Why you think it is important to build the trail now and how it will improve the quality of life for local residents.



Send your letters on letterhead, stationary or just on regular paper. You can email them to me at tlubic@gmail.com or you can mail them to: The Ohio River Way, PO Box 43261, Cincinnati, OH 45243. Thanks so much for your support.

Did you know...

OHIO RIVER TRAIL FACTS

The Ohio River Trail will complete the hike and bike trail from Newtown to downtown Cincinnati opening up an exciting network of 255 miles of trail. The Campaign Committee will raise private funds to match public funds committed to connect the trail from Lunken airport to the Friendship and Riverfront Parks. This project is a vital link in the vision for a healthy and vibrant region adjacent to the Ohio River and its tributaries.

Responsibilities:

Ø The Ohio River Way Campaign Committee will raise $4m dollars to fund the link.

Ø The Ohio River Way Board will be responsible for Governance and Oversight.

Ø Hamilton County Parks will oversee construction and maintenance of the Trail.

Benefits to the Region:

• Increasing quality of life in and around the Cincinnati region
• Building a dynamic urban core
• Attracting the best and brightest to live and work in the region
• Improving opportunities for health and fitness along the river
• Stimulating residential development downtown and in the trail corridor
• Tying neighborhoods to downtown activities and downtown to green space and parks

Goals and Project Costs ($16.8M):

• $4 M – private sector campaign for downtown to Lunken Airport segment (2010)
• $3.3 M – Federal & City funds secured to cross the Little Miami at Kellogg and build Wilmer to Carrell segment (2012)
• $5.7M – Request to State of Ohio Capital Budget to connect Kellogg to Beechmont ($1M secured to date)
• $3.8M – Hamilton County Parks and Anderson Township funds secured to connect Beechmont to Newtown (2012)
• Tie into trail to Lake Erie by 2020 (255 of 453 miles completed)
• Create a collaborative model for completing a 150 mile regional trail from Maysville, Kentucky to Madison, Indiana by 2020

Trail Partners for the Ohio River Trail:

• Ohio River Way, Inc.
• Hamilton County Park District
• Leadership Cincinnati
• Cincinnati City Council
• Hamilton County Commissioners
• Cincinnati Park Board
• Cincinnati Recreation Commission
• Bike/PAC
• Trail Yeah!
• Cincinnati Regional USA Chamber
• Leave No Child Inside

The Ohio River Way Ÿ P.O. Box 43261 ŸCincinnati, Ohio 45202 Ÿ 513-723-1916 voicemail

The Mural Ride

Next Bike-About is August 22nd Hamilton County Commissioner David Pepper will lead this month's Bike-About along the Ohio River and vicinity, exploring murals and views along the footprint of our future trail. The ride is Saturday August 22nd, leaving from Fountain Square at 10am. Helmets required. We are looking for experienced ride leaders to help on this one; please note your interesting in leading when you rsvp to info@cincybikepac.org Keeping enjoying summertime! The Bike/PAC Team

New study links bike commuting, healthier people

New research published in the medical journal, Archives of Internal Medicine, indicates that people who ride their bicycles or walk to work are healthier than those who drive or take public transportation.

The study, published by the journal in its July 13 edition, reports that participants who bicycle or walk to work are more fit and less fat.

Unfortunately, slightly less than 17 percent of the more than 2,000 adult commuters surveyed in the study said they ride their bikes or walk to work, even part of the way. Researchers who led the study at the University of North Carolina’s Gillings School of Global Public Health said getting more people to “commute actively” requires reducing environmental barriers to make biking and walking safer.

Penny Gordon-Larsen, the study’s lead researcher, told the Associated Press that environmental barriers – including a lack of bike paths, crumbling sidewalks and long commute distances – keep Americans from active commuting by bike or foot and in their cars.

The research is yet another indicator of how the Ohio River Trail project – connecting downtown Cincinnati to Lunken Airport and eventually the Little Miami Bike Trail – can benefit the region.

The study included adult commuters in Chicago, Minneapolis, Birmingham, Ala., and Oakland, Calif. During examinations conducted between 2005 and 2006, participants reported the length of their commute in minutes and miles, including details on the percentage of the trip taken by car, public transportation, walking or bicycling.

Researchers also recorded the participants’ height, weight and other health variables, including blood pressure and fitness levels as assessed by a treadmill test. In addition, subjects wore an accelerometer to measure their levels of physical activity during at least four days of the study period. The average length of active commuters’ trips was 20 minutes for men and 17 minutes for women.

Previous research has shown that nations with higher levels of biking and walking have lower obesity levels. Only a small amount of research has been conducted analyzing the health of Americans of commute to work by bike or foot.

Bicycle Events of Note

Bike/PAC will have its monthly meeting on Monday, June 8 at 7 p.m. at City Hall. The featured speaker this month is Councilmember Laketa Cole. Councilmember Cole is chair of the city's Neighborhood Development Committee and will discuss the role of bicycle transportation in neighborhood development. This event is free and open to the public.

The Mercantile Library will host an event called Complete Streets on Tuesday, June 9 at 6 p.m. This event will feature Councilmember Roxanne Qualls and Clete Benken, ASLA and Principal of
Kinzelman Kline Gossman. The program is $8 for Mercantile Library and Architectural Foundation members; $10 for others. Reservations required. RSVP by June 5th at 513.621.0717 or mercantileinfo@mercantilelibrary.com

Your Ohio Ride Schedule

So, have you figured out what rides you're going to do this summer? Whether you want to hit the trails or the road, this guide has something for you.

Open publication - Free publishing - More ohio

Update from Friends of the Little Miami State Park

We have exciting news and a unique opportunity. With your help, we can pave 11 of the 15 trail bridges in the Little Miami State Park, redeck the remaining 4 bridges, and smooth out the 20 "patches" south of Morrow!

Since its founding less than 6 months ago on November 16, 2008, FLMSP has been unwavering in its commitment to improving trail safety. While, as an organization, we're moving on several fronts (e.g. Adopt-a-Trail, Trail Sentinel program, pipe-safes, etc.), trail safety has always been our number one priority. That's the reason we purchased 32 new oak boards to replace the rotten boards on several bridges.

Having replaced many boards, we all know that the ultimate solution is to pave over all of the wooden bridges. Paving eliminates uneven and rotten boards together with the associated slime mould. In fact, we've priced ChipSealing (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chipseal) for three "rivet-head" bridges just south of Xenia and were quoted $21K. For an organization with $3,600 in the bank, this was clearly out of our reach.

But our advocacy for the trail and our persistence has paid dividends. At our 3rd Public Meeting on April 26, five representatives from Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) and Ohio State Parks were in attendance:

* John Hunter, ODNR Division of Parks & Recreation, Assistant Chief
* Tim Carr, Ohio State Parks, Regional Manager Cowan Lake Region
* Jim Henehan, Ohio State Parks, Manager Community Partnerships Program
* Gus Smithhisler, ODNR, Division of Engineering
* Alan Ferguson, Ohio State Parks, Park Manager for Little Miami State Park

At the Public Meeting, FLMSP president Simeon Copple was very clear about both our accomplishments and our goals. On Monday May 4 we had a follow-up meeting with representatives from Ohio State Parks and on Thursday May 21 we were informed that:

* Ohio State Parks has secured a contractor to pave 11 of the 15 bridges for $22,150.
* ODNR and Ohio State Parks have committed $18,160 in funding for this project --- if FLMSP provides the remaining $3,990. With only $3,600 in the bank, this means that FLMSP has an immediate need to raise $390.

However, the FLMSP Board is of the opinion that we should set our fundraising target at $7,000 for the reasons below:

* Remediate (i.e. smooth out) the 20 "patches" south of Morrow by using infrared technology to reheat the "patches" and then rework/reroll them --- $3,423.
* Replace rotten boards on the Lake Remington (mile marker 46.0), Bear Run at Foster (mile marker 38.0), and Spring Valley (mile marker 6.0) bridges --- $1,427.
* Anticipate future expenses for trail signage, pipe-safe locks, Adopt-a-Trail equipment and hand tools, etc. --- $2,150.

As an organization, we've come very far in a short period of time and we have before us a very real opportunity to make a significant contribution to the safety of the Little Miami State Park. No one wants to hear of anyone else air-lifted from the trail or taken away in an ambulance.

Therefore, our objective is to raise $7,000 in the next 30 days. How can you help?

* Become a member, e.g. individual, family, association, or corporation.
* Make an outright gift in cash, check, or credit card.
* Make a pledge of "x" dollars for "y" period of time, e.g. $100 a month for 3 months, $100 a quarter for four quarters.
* Introduce FLMSP to any decision makers within any benevolent organizations, foundations, clubs, etc.
* Publicize our appeal to all media outlets that you know of.
* Express your thanks directly to Alan Ferguson, Manager Little Miami State Park Alan.Ferguson@dnr.state.oh.us.

If you want to introduce any new people to our organization, please forward this e-mail to them and direct them to our web site www.FLMSP.org --- which will be THE place to get updated information as this project progresses. As for making a donation, simply go to www.FLMSP.org and make an online Mastercard or Visa donation.

We believe the cause is right. We've worked hard to make sure the price is right. And there's power in numbers --- if each of the 282 people on our email list gave just $25, we'd raise $7,050. We hope you agree and can find a way to help.

If our fundraising efforts are successful, we've been assured the work will be completed by the July 4th weekend.

Sincerely,

Steve Murphy
Vice President
Friends of the Little Miami State Park
vicepresident@flmsp.org

Why I Support the Ohio River Trail: Don Mills

For the 30 plus years I used biking as cross training for racquet sports. Street biking seemed a little bit too hazardous, so I started using the Little Miami Scenic Trail.

Being a long time resident of Terrace Park, I was embarrassed by the community's blockage of the continuation of the LMST through "The Park". Upon my retirement in 1999 I undertook to facilitate the extension of the LMST through "The Park".

Subsequently I became involved with the Ohio River Way and its goal to extend recreational trails 25 miles east and west of Cincinnati along the Ohio River. In order to accomplish the aforementioned goal it was first necessary to connect the LMST to downtown Cincinnati, then New Richmond, then to Lawrenceburg and finally to Maysville.

It became apparent that the proposed trail next to the Ohio River was not realistic is my lifetime and an alternate route seemed a more likely solution - the dormant Oasis railroad line. After many hours of talking and walking with various government officials The Ohio River Way became convinced that this was the best solution for the good of Cincinnati. Thus the Ohio River Trail plan we know today was born.

Please support The Ohio River Trail.

-- Don Mills

Building a path to a healthier, wealthier Cincinnati

Greenbelt trails aren’t just for fun anymore.

Research data and case studies point to greenway trail systems helping create healthier and wealthier communities. That’s a big deal for cities like greater Cincinnati seeking a competitive edge to lure new tourists, businesses and residents, especially those highly coveted young professionals.

Studies provide ample evidence that suggests completing the Ohio River Trail between downtown Cincinnati and Lunken Airport – and its eventual links to a much broader regional trail system – would be big plus for Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky.

Make no mistake, bike/hike trails are still fun. Fun is why trails have such a magnetic quality, one that attracts people, gets them out and gets them moving. It’s one reason so many CEOs say trails and similar quality of life amenities are important considerations when selecting business locations. Livable communities make it easier to recruit and retain hard-to-find talent, something that can go right to the bottom line of a financial statement.

Show me the money

Anyone looking for information about the economic benefits of what’s called green infrastructure, especially trail systems, only need surf the internet to uncover an abundance of examples. A few worth noting include:

The state of North Carolina invested $6.7 million to widen bike lanes, build off-road trails and improve bike friendly infrastructure along its Outer Banks coastal region. The state estimates its public investment has generated an additional $60 million a year in tourism-related revenues. That’s an almost 900 percent return on initial investment – every year.

Between 1975 and 2006, the city of Minneapolis invested $86 million of public funding in its downtown scenic byways district along the Mississippi River, generating $1.5 billion private investment and 20,000 new residents.

In Denver, an $80 million public investment in greenway trails and related green space resulted in $5 billion worth of private investment.

A University of Cincinnati study in 2008 showed the average sale price of a property decreases in value by $7.05 for every foot in distance it rests from a bike trail. In other words, being closer to the Little Miami Scenic trail adds to the value of single family residential properties.

Power to the People – Ride On!

Then there are the health benefits of peddle power. Those benefits are especially important in a country fighting an obesity epidemic and grappling with a healthcare system about to collapse under the weight of its own costs. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, more than 34 percent of Americans are obese and 32.7 percent are overweight.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control includes bike trails as a central component of its scoring system and recommendations for what denotes healthy communities and healthful urban design.

A few quick examples of medical studies on the benefits of trails and active green space include:

A 2005 study in the Journal of Health Promotion Practice showed that in Lincoln, Nebraska, every $1 spent on trails produced $3 in public health benefits. One of the primary benefits identified by the study was the reduction of health care costs associated with inactivity.

A 2008 study in the American Journal of Health Promotion on green space and trails showed an association between living in greener neighborhoods and a reduced risk of being overweight among children between the ages of 3 and 18.

Another study in the American Journal of Health Promotion published in 2005 showed an association between the amount of green space and trails in a community and the degree to which people walk or ride their bicycles for daily transportation needs. Higher amounts of park acreage, for example, led to higher activity levels for walking and cycling.

A 2006 study in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health reports the percentage of green space in people’s living environment has a positive association with the perceived general health of residents. The study went on to conclude that green space and related amenities are more than a luxury and that they should be included in any community planning policy.

If you are interested in helping put Greater Cincinnati on the path to a healthier, wealthier future, please visit www.ohiorivertail.com for more information, or to contribute.

-- Nick Miller

A Trail for Your Commute

So I am riding my bike one day on Riverside Drive on the way over towards Lunken Airport from downtown. Wow! Is this road busy during commute time for drivers! Drivers, caffeine induced, trying to get to work and at times some are late. I have been one of them. I have nothing against people traveling to work, we need them! But.....it is hard to see all of the cyclists and runners, especially when the sun is just coming up over the horizon.

Wouldn’t it be nice to get off this road? Well that’s what the final 4 miles of the Ohio River Trail, so called THE FINAL LINK will do for us.

A friend showed me some pictures of the rail that the new recreational trail will eventually reside. I walked part of it after the ride, and I couldn’t believe in some sections, that I was actually near the road or near downtown. What a fantastic views between Riverside Drive (below) and Columbia Parkway (above) as you travel down the river.

So we have some work to do. First, we need money to build the trail, private funds to go along with the public funds to create this great FINAL LINK, which when done will stretch all the way from Newtown to downtown. Over 75% of the cost will come from Federal, State and local funds, with the City of Cincinnati kicking in a great grant to support the project. We have the support of our Mayor and City Council. Yeah!

Now we just need to get through this economic downturn, raise some money and soon we will be able to enjoy a first class recreational trail. And oh by the way, after it is down there are plans to link the Sawyer Point area to trails being developed in Northern Kentucky too!

So join me in being a part of THE FINAL LINK!

-- Dave Szkutak

Building A Web of Transportation and Fun

I used to be a Snob-Cyclist who was too cool for trails. I thought they were boring, straight and flat like the railroad beds that serve as their foundation. But that was before my experiment in oil-free vacations at the height of gas prices last summer.

One of my best friends lives in Cleveland and I hadn’t seen her for a while. So I packed a handlebar bag and 4 panniers (big bags that attach to racks over the front and back wheels of a bike) and headed north. I took my time, starting out early in the morning and finishing everyday by two o’clock in the afternoon. It took me 3 1/2 days to get to my destination but I got religion before the end of day one. Trails are more than a strip of pavement. Trails are a community. They are the super highways of non-motorized transport.

On the trail there’s always somebody to ask for directions when you get lost, somebody to talk to when you’re sick of your own company. The first night at my campground I got two dinner invitations from families who had come to Ohio just to ride our trail: one from Florida, the other from Illinois. Restaurants, gift shops, ice cream parlors, rest areas, campgrounds and bike shops have sprouted up all along the way. After I left the bike path for the open road just south of Columbus, I came to appreciate how much more comfortable it is to ride along in the shade without the worry of cars. It’s hot on that black top at the end of June.

My trip totaled almost 600 miles, about a third of it on trails. In the past, I’ve traveled the world and stayed in plenty of fancy hotels. But I’ve never had more fun and met more interesting people than I did pedaling to Cleveland and back. I can’t wait until trails connect neighborhoods and attractions all over our city and all over our state in one great big web of alternative transportation and recreation fun. The Ohio River Trail is for everybody. Let’s get it done.


Kathy Holwadel is Chair of Cincinnati Bike/PAC

Volunteer Opportunity: See you at the pig!

Calling all Ohio River Trail advocates and friends!

Come and visit us at the Flying Pig P&G Health Expo on Friday, May 1 and Saturday, Mary 2 at the Duke Energy Center. We will be handing out Ohio River Trail literature and spreading the word about the trail. If you would like to help out, please email Teresa at tlubic@gmail.com or leave a comment. It's going to be a great weekend for the Flying Pig and a great weekend to get the word out about the Ohio River Trail!

Ohio River Trail – The Perfect Accessory for the Object of My Affection

Usually it happens during those crisp fall mornings, when the sun-soaked tops of Cincinnati’s skyscrapers and hills start emerging from a fogged in Ohio River valley. My longtime love affair with the Queen City of the West is renewed, and after 20 years as a transplanted citizen, I remember what attracted me to this world-class beauty in the first place.

If only the object of my affection would get over its inferiority complex. I recall the day when my heart was broken – yet again – hearing an economic development expert describe Cincinnati as “a really great dog that just won’t wag its own tail.” 

So busy trying to reinvent itself all the time, and wondering what kind of city it wants to be, Cincinnati doesn’t spend enough time embracing what it already is.

Look in the mirror, my beloved, I beg of you. Instead of an extreme makeover, you just need to accessorize a bit more thoughtfully. Why not try on a beefed up transit system, or dedicate your self to enhancing outdoor recreation and green space? Tossed in with just a little imagination, much lesser places have transformed themselves into great communities with such ideas.

That’s why I support the Ohio River Trail, and other projects like it in our region. They celebrate and use what’s already here in abundance – a unique, historic community nestled amid scenic river valleys, and seasoned with interesting architecture, distinct neighborhoods, a strong arts community, and great people.

The big extreme makeover plans come, they go, and our city is still pretty much the same wonderful place. The Ohio River Trail is a simple idea with a potentially big payoff – one of those real life “build it and they will come” propositions.

The trail will connect neighborhoods, people and possibilities. It will improve our quality of life. People from here and elsewhere will be able to see our city and river valley from a whole new perspective. The trail will encourage individuals and families to get out, explore and be more active. Numerous case studies point to how greenway trails lead to healthier citizens and stimulate economic activity and private investment.

As a long time cyclist who does most of my riding on the roads, I’m often approached by people who say they would love to start bicycling, either individually or with their families. The hurdle is they’re uncomfortable riding – or at least getting started – on often-busy roadways, especially with the kids in tow.

The Ohio River Trail – and the regional trail network it hopefully will connect to one day – will encourage more people to get started by providing a safe, inviting riding environment. It will attract current residents, new residents, tourists and even businesses looking for world-class cities that offer high-quality-of-life amenities that appeal to young professionals.

When I moved here, it was because I picked Greater Cincinnati, not the other way around. I was taken by its natural beauty, old historic neighborhoods and proximity to my Hoosier roots. It’s why I support the Ohio River Trail, and would like you to as well.

 -- Nick Miller

Be the Final Link

Welcome to The Final Link, the blog of the Ohio River Trail campaign.

Our goal is simple -- build a trail from Lunken Airport to downtown Cincinnati. But, what we have to accomplish to meet our goal is no small task. We need to raise $4 million.

That's a lot of money, but together we can build it one inch at a time.

Whether you walk, bike or run, the trail will offer exceptional recreational opportunities while taking advantage of one of our area's greatest natural resources, the Ohio River. We hope you join us as we try to build the final link. And, we hope you consider giving to the campaign. Every dollar counts.

Soon, you'll be seeing posts from members of the campaign about why they support this project and what the Ohio River Trail will mean to our community. We'll update you on the progress of the fundraising campaign and any news about local, state and national efforts to build trails. We sincerely hope you join the conversation and tell us why you support the Ohio River Trail.

If you're interested in getting involved in the campaign to build the Ohio River Trail, please email us at OhioRiverTrail@gmail.com. We can't wait to hear from you.

-- Laura