There are thousands of miles of unused railways out there and it's an excellent idea to pave stretches of it over and give people a safe place to experience nature away from the noise and traffic of city streets.
Most of us live in a concrete jungle and it's nice to go to a place where you can ride your bike, walk your dog or just stroll for a few miles without having to dodge automobile traffic and cross busy intersections. Not to mention all the noise that goes with it.
Then out in the suburbs, you don't have sidewalks in most neighborhoods. People have to take their cars to drive to a store that might be just a few blocks away but don't want to walk out in the street to get there. No wonder our biggest social problem is obesity (and all the disease that goes with it).
This is not a "liberal" thing at all. Or it shouldn't be.
Amen.
I agree completely. Rail trails make excellent cycling routes: straight, shallow grade, minimal traffic. I’d like to see this trail completed but without taxpayer money.
Look at the success of the Appalachian Trail. And that’s only for hikers.