Posted on 02/14/2020 1:12:53 PM PST by rktman
A road trip may be the classic way to traverse the United States, but cyclists will eventually be able to make the cross-country bike trip a reality on a newly created trail system. Once it is completed, the Great American Rail-Trail will connect more than 3,700 miles of repurposed train routes and multi-use trails—all separate from vehicle traffic—across 12 states from Washington, D.C., to Washington State. Here’s everything we know about it so far. Where Will the Route Go?
In May 2019, the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) revealed the route that will connect 125 existing trails with another 90 “trail gaps,” or sections that will need to be developed to turn the new Great American Rail-Trail into one contiguous path.
(Excerpt) Read more at getpocket.com ...
The only cross country bike trip I want to take is on the seat of my Indian Scout. I don’t do peddling.
This is a very nice project and it will take many years, however it’s been in the works for some time.
My longest bike trip was 1,500+/- miles and it would be nice to do a long ride NOT on the roadways...
‘My hunch is that the Rockies might be a bit tough.’
the uphill part (in the Rocky Mountain National Park in CO) is surprisingly doable, and many people accomplish it easily...the downhill part, however...terrifying, especially with all the road traffic...
‘It will likely be too crowded to enjoy.’
yes it would...
All I can say is Coeur d’Alene - one of the most beautiful places in the country.
I did it on a motorcycle. It was huge fun.
Great interactive map lets you see the proposed route in detail:
https://gis.railstotrails.org/grtamerican/
Remember, Lewis and Clark pushed wagons and carts over these mountains in far more difficult circumstances. And they didn’t have carbon fiber or a c-store every 10 miles.
Although that may be the intent, the fact is under Reagan's Rail Banking initiative, many miles of rail line that were to be abandoned due to non use failed to revert to the original landowners. The railroads only leased the Right of Way for rail use. The Rail Banking program was a run around land grab by the Federal Government to avoid having to go through normal legal channels.
My physical therapist did this down the US west coast with her husband. She was already a marathon runner and started training for this months ahead of time. More than half who started didn’t finish. She said while it was tough, it was easier than some of the weeks she went through training and prep because they had all day to ride and they weren’t racing everyone. I’ve done 80 miles a few times in a day and that was brutal, but I can see how you can build up to that.
Coincidentally the same year, there was a documentary about a group who went cross country. During that event, a woman was hit by a car and died.
It was the 2nd most trip of my life. Michigan (why didnt they route the trail thru the UP, eh?) to Wyoming, not purposely on a freeway.
“My longest bike trip was 1,500+/- miles and it would be nice to do a long ride NOT on the roadways...”
Mine was about 900 miles, Hong Kong to Shanghai via back roads
Hilarious! Well deserved for those cyclists who insist on riding on the white line, they can’t possibly ride on the PAVED SHOULDER...douches eat dust!
But the article kind of jumps the gun.
"Decades" to finish the trails
That’s what I thought of as well. Gotta set up those charging stations tho....
Good grief. Those cyclists were breathing in some heavy duty exhaust fumes. :-)
That’s what happens you don’t know your Donner history. You get eaten alive.
trails-all separate from vehicle traffic
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I’ll believe it when I see it.
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