Rails to Trails Conservancy’s annual nationwide celebration of trails clearly illustrated the far-reaching benefits that connected walking and biking infrastructure deliver to people and places in all types of communities nationwide.
As the U.S. Department of Transportation continues its review of nearly $3 billion in grants that were issued to trail, walking and biking projects under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Celebrate Trails Day made clear the universal demand for and direct impact of this infrastructure in America’s small towns, suburbs and cities alike.
“There is unmatched potential in trail networks to make walking and biking part of our everyday lives, unlocking all of the good that happens when we are active outside, in the places where we live,” said Brandi Horton, RTC’s vice president of communications. “Celebrate Trails Day was a moment to unite everyone in a common appreciation for trails—and more than 33,000 people got outside to lift up the the impact of connecting trails where they live. This is evidence that our time on the trail is so much more than a day outside.”
On Celebrate Trails Day, more than 275 events took place across the country, bringing together over 33,000 people—citizens, families, neighbors, advocates and elected officials—to experience the potential and impact of the nation’s developing trail and active transportation networks. In a survey of participants, RTC found that, on average, people spent $41 preparing for or participating in Celebrate Trails Day activities, generating an estimated $1.3 million in direct spending associated with the day—providing a tangible example of the ways that trails and active transportation contribute more than $34 billion annually to the U.S. economy.
In addition, people reported spending an average of 104 minutes being physically active on Celebrate Trails Day—28% more time than a typical day (81 minutes) and more than two-thirds of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommended 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity. In total, Celebrate Trails Day generated more than 3.4 million minutes of physical activity nationwide, evidence of the power of trails paired with programming to serve as a catalyst for people to be active.