Bustem' Down
Give Peas a Chance
I think this has something to do with horses, so I'll ask here. What is it? I see houses in my area with signs up protesting Rails to Trails.
Rails to Trails
- Thread starter Bustem' Down
- Start date
fredsaid2
New Member
Rails to Trails
turning old railroad right of ways into trails for walking, biking, equestrian activities
turning old railroad right of ways into trails for walking, biking, equestrian activities
itsbob
I bowl overhand
Huge program in PA.. they were trying to make hiking and biking trails from Eerie to Scranton. Where I lived I had over 20 miles of trails at the bottom of the hill I live on, shadowing the Allegheny RIver.. BEAUTIFUL bike rides.. over railroad trellis's.. through old tunnels, along aold estates..Bustem' Down said:
happyappygirl
Rocky Mountain High!!
WHY would someone protest that?itsbob said:
K
Katie
Guest
They have a good amount of converted trails on Cape Cod, MA that are nice biking trails. They have volunteers ride their bikes along the trails to make sure there are no issues.
Bustem' Down
Give Peas a Chance
Beats me, but I see signs out against rails to trails.happyappygirl said:WHY would someone protest that?
ohstate
Member
Probably a nimby issue. Right now they have no trains on the tracks and no one using them. Once the rails are converted to trails, you have strangers practically in your backyard hiking, biking and doing who knows what else. Maybe they don't want the noise, trash and potential for crime that could come from making unused space into public space.
Or, I could be wrong. It's just a guess.
Or, I could be wrong. It's just a guess.
itsbob
I bowl overhand
From what I understand from PA, when the RR abandoned the lines and pulled up the rails, property owners kind of assumed the property as their own, made it part of their yards.. For rails to trails to work the state takes ownership of the RIght of Way back from the property owners, and puts the trail right through their back yard.happyappygirl said:WHY would someone protest that?
Property owners that used to abut the rail are also concerned less desirables on the bike trails having access to their property and homes.
We had one section that ran right through downtown Oil City, and they had to put the trail up on the street.. the old rails were down on the water and the property owners that owned the water front property would have had the bike trail wedged in between their homes and the water.
Midnightrider
Well-Known Member
thats probably it, i remember reading about the one in upper st marys a while back and people were biatchin that it would go through their backyards and such.....itsbob said:
i guess they dont realize its not their land
ohstate
Member
Actually, they -may- own the land. Who owns the land after the RRs abandon their easement to it is hotly contested and there are many court cases ongoing. Different courts are issuing different decisions on the matter, so these controversies will continue.
http://www.railtrails.org/resources/documents/resource_docs/RailstoTrailsConversionCommentary.pdf
http://www.railtrails.org/resources/documents/resource_docs/RailstoTrailsConversionCommentary.pdf
itsbob
I bowl overhand
This sounds like a nice one.. but you have to wonder about muggings on the bike trail.
http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/rectrails/rwt/section3b.htm
http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/rectrails/rwt/section3b.htm
Phyxius
Zoooooooom
Easy solution to undesirables enterring your backyard...a fence. Do people honestly think there aren't hobos and other transients riding illegally on the rails?
There are tons of trails out there with people on them. Like the C&O Canal and Towpath, B&A Trail. Also, most rivers also run along people's property. I know when I go kayaking, especially down some of the smaller runs, like Big Gunpowder Falls, you're RIGHT in some people's yards. Not to mention....roads. Anyone and their mother can stroll right down your road.
People think my yard is a public place because I've got horses, so they walk themselves right up and reach through thru the fence.
I know that wasn't your question and I'm sorry for going off on a tangent. I'm all for more trails for pedestrians, equestrians, cyclists etc.
There are tons of trails out there with people on them. Like the C&O Canal and Towpath, B&A Trail. Also, most rivers also run along people's property. I know when I go kayaking, especially down some of the smaller runs, like Big Gunpowder Falls, you're RIGHT in some people's yards. Not to mention....roads. Anyone and their mother can stroll right down your road.
People think my yard is a public place because I've got horses, so they walk themselves right up and reach through thru the fence.
I know that wasn't your question and I'm sorry for going off on a tangent. I'm all for more trails for pedestrians, equestrians, cyclists etc.
itsbob
I bowl overhand
In some places when the RR abandoned a rail line they put the land and the right of way up for sale. A lot of homeowner jumped at the chance because it was a great deal for them.PrepH4U said:
Now some of these homeowners have kept ownership, but deeded over the rights for Rails to Trails to use, some are jerks and won't do anything to help a good cause. Where the trails do go through populated areas I haven't heard of any increase in crime, break-ins or otherwise.
In Oil City it was a single homeowner that prevented the trail from following the river through the town. Now you have to leave the trail, come up into traffic onto the main road, ride through town, then go back down to the river and meet the trail again.
mygoldnhorse
Cowgirl Up
St Mary's or Charles County? They have been working on the trail from Hughesville to Lexington Park for about 5 years now. So far you can go from Hughesville to Laurel Grove Park and maybe even further at this time. I heard there was going to be a rails to trails in Charles County but I have not heard any of the details.Bustem' Down said:
SouthernMdRocks
R.I.P. Bobo, We miss you!
itsbob said:
They have it going through WV also. I tried to purchase a farm about 15 min away from the rails but it fell through!!
