[IndianaTrails] Can we afford not to build a bike path?

[Robert J. Matter]

Excellent pro-trails letter-to-the-editor from Bennington, Vermont. -RJM

http://www.benningtonbanner.com/ci_7190477?source=most_viewed

Can we afford not to build a bike path?
Letters
Article Launched: 10/16/2007 03:21:14 AM EDT

Tuesday, October 16
I hope in the future as a community we put attention, dialogue, and time 
into the future of a public bike path for our citizens. Bike paths cost 
money but unlike a lot of other projects we might have in the making, 
bike paths bring money back into the community. The town of Rockmart, 
Ga., recently put a rail trail in their community, and this is what the 
mayor is quoted as saying, "In the last 12 months we've had more 
tourists than in the last 30 years. Before there was nothing to bring 
them here."

Bike trails can help downtowns become revitalized and vibrant. That is 
something we hope for here in Bennington. Visitors to Little Miami's 
scenic bike trail in Ohio spend on average $13.54 per visit on just 
food, and they spend $277 a year on clothing, accessories and equipment 
to use on these trips. By the way, Little Miami's trail gets about 
150,000 trail users each year.

In Milford, Del., the trail there is credited with inspiring downtown 
reinvestment and a net gain in new business, with more than 250 people 
working in a downtown that was nearly vacant 10 years ago.

John Murtha, congressman from Pennsylvania, is quoted as saying this 
about the Great Allegheny Passage Trail, "The trail is already 
attracting a lot of people, and were just starting to market it. It's a 
major asset for our region. Not only because it attracts tourist 
dollars, but it's a key piece of our economic rebuilding effort."

By the way, before the Great Allegheny Passage Trail was even completed 
it brought an economic impact that exceeded $14 million a year. And in 
the months following the Mineral Belt trail in Leadville, Colo., the 
city reported a 19 percent increase in sales tax reported.

How do these trails affect property values? Well, a 1998 study done on 
property values in Brown County, Wisc., that border the Mountain Bay 
Trail sold faster and on average 9 percent more than properties that 
didn't border the trail.

A rail trail that goes from Bennington to North Bennington is great, but 
a trail that winds by two museums, historic district, 306-foot monument, 
country club and ends up downtown, and is already there waiting for the 
pavement to be rolled, is too good to be true.

We can spend a million on a skate park and basically get a million 
dollar skate park that really only benefits a small group. We could also 
build a trail system that is open for skateboards, rollerblades, bikes, 
baby strollers, joggers, walkers and cross country skiing and will be a 
economic boon for the community and help downtown become the vibrant 
place we all want.

A bike trail will also help beautify the area by cleaning up the trails 
and rails that are overgrown and collecting debris.

As for the people that think it will create mischief in the form of ATVs 
and a place for teens to drink, I have to say this: What would attract 
more mischief — a trail that is open and used by many and will virtually 
police itself by being used by the public, or an abandoned rail track 
that is overgrown and a great place to hide?

If you walked the corkscrew today you will find campfire debris, and ATV 
tracks, and yes, beer bottles and cans. By creating a public bike path I 
believe that would end.

PHIL PAPPAS

Bennington