Trails! They're good for you...
All photos by Carey Kish

Do you mountain bike or ride a road bike?

Then trails are important to you.

Do you hike, walk, run, jog?

Then trails are important to you.

Do you snowmobile or ride an ATV?

Then trails are important to you.

Do you enjoy cross-country skiing, snowshoeing?

Then trails are important to you.

Are you an equestrian?

Then trails are important to you.

Are you a differently-abled person who likes to get outdoors?

Then trails are important to you.

Trails! They're good for me!

Where am I going with this?

I suspect that you already know.

Trails... They connect us to the past, carry us through the present, and represent a hopeful part of our future.

Regardless of how, when and where we recreate, we love them, we use them, we need them! And we might not even realize just how much, how important trails are to our lives, how good they are for us in so many ways.

But did you know that with current funding levels here in Maine it could take 75 to 100 years to build just the shared-use trails that have already been approved?

That's much too long.

And that's why the folks from the Trails for a Healthy Maine Coalition, together with hundreds of supporting organizations and concerned citizens are working hard to gain legislative support for a $10 million bond to fund these important shared-use trail projects sooner rather than later.

Trails! They're good for Maine's future!

Consider these facts from THM:

• Trails make for healthier Maine people because they combat physical inactivity by encouraging walking, bicycling, skating and running.
• Trails promote economic development and a higher quality of life in our communities. A trails bond is estimated to create more than 400 jobs.
• Trails encourage visitors to spend more time and money in Maine. MaineDOT figures show that bicycle tourism alone generates more than $66 million annually to the Maine economy.
• Trails connect our communities, homes and schools, and provide Maine people and visitors with safe and healthy transportation options.
• Trails that connect schools and neighborhoods encourage students to bike and walk more. It’s a fact that healthy, active kids grow up to become healthy, active adults.

It's time to make this most excellent and important investment that will pay big, big returns, don't you think?

I thought you'd agree.

So, what's the next step?

Trail enthusiasts of all stripes will be gathering for a press conference at the Maine State House next Tuesday, February 27 at 11:30am to support a $10 million Trails for a Healthy Maine Bond and to "highlight the importance of more funding for trails because more trails for Maine means a healthier people, economy, environment, transportation, and future."

Let's hope the good word gets heard by our decision makers! Just to be sure, if you think more shared-use trails are a good idea, maybe you'll want to contact your legislator and let he or she know.