Several cities are looking into the idea of making biking and hiking trails more utilitarian rather than purely recreational. They want to make it easier for people to get to work, do errands and visit downtown museums, restaurants and other amenities without always having to get into their cars. It can be difficult to connect trails in built-up urban areas, but many places are finding ways.
Seattle has connected trails so bikers can make their way across the city. Rhode Island has its East Bay Bike Path, a 14.5-mile trail that runs into Providence. Charleston, South Carolina, is planning trails that can be used for transportation.
Indianapolis sees its Cultural Trail as useful for improving air quality, relieving congestion, improving health and bolstering economic development. The plan is to connect five cultural districts with a dual-purpose pathway that would separate bicyclists from pedestrians--and both from the road. "It's a very popular concept," Dearing says.