FROM OUR COMMUNITY
different trails and types of bikes allows one to continue the sport as one’s body mellows over time.
I SUPPORT RTC
FROM #TEAMRTC FAVORITE TRAIL IN AMERICA Iman Sylvain Western Regional Director
Each issue we highlight a member or special partner in our national trail community.
Special thanks to William Casey for supporting America’s rail-trails!
I’ve been on many road trips taking in the unique regions of our country, but they pale in comparison to riding along the mountains on Montana and Idaho’s NorPac Trail (rtc.li/norpac-trail) or taking in the vastness of the Nebraska prairie stretching out for miles from the Cowboy Trail (rtc.li/cowboy-trail). What I have learned from my experiences on the Great American Rail-Trail ® is how magnificent the vistas are in our country’s outback. MY GREAT AMERICAN RAIL-TRAIL EXPERIENCE
Every time I set foot on the Kā´anapali Beachwalk trail in west Maui, Hawai’i, I feel a sense of ease. As an active transportation
advocate, I can’t think of a better way to reach one of the most epic places to snorkel the coral reef! The beachwalk connects to many resorts and shopping centers, making it great for me as a tourist, and facilitates convenient public access to the beach for locals and visitors. The pathway also provides a safe and beautiful way to walk back from the lū‘au after indulging in pork, taro and Mai Tais! Early in the mornings, kittens come out for their morning meals. A nonprofit feeds, spays, neuters and immunizes the cats, who are now very used to beach- goers. On my recent trip in July, I saw a Hawaiian monk seal snoozing on the sand, right off the trail!
WILLIAM CASEY Leland, North Carolina
HOW TRAILS IMPACT PEOPLE’S LIVES
I’m a retired health care/hospital CEO whose hobbies include bike riding, kayaking and reading. As a volunteer, I’ve organized medical missions to serve the poor in Honduras for 15 years. WHAT I DO
Many politicians—or even trail enthusiasts—don’t realize how many people enjoy their nearby trails, even if they’re not hardcore bike riders. One of the most enriching chats I ever had on a trail was exchanging pleasantries with a senior farmer who was using a motorized wheelchair and very much appreciated rolling along in the summer sun and the gentle breezes.
WHY I STARTED USING TRAILS
My role as a CEO of hospitals and health systems was pretty high pressure, so I found riding on little- known trails with my friends to be very satisfying. Back in the '90s, we enjoyed the challenge of underdeveloped trails, like the Youghiogheny River Trail that paralleled the river south of Pittsburgh; in time, it became part of the renowned Great Allegheny Passage (gaptrail.org).
FEATURED LETTER TO THE EDITOR MAKING THE CASE
WHY I SUPPORT RTC
Millions of dollars, thousands of man- hours and many lives went into building our nation’s railroads—many miles of which now lie dormant, awaiting our action. We have to find a way to capitalize on these unused corridors and convince those standing on the sidelines that the repurposing of these old railroad beds, trestles and tunnels will create amazing public assets that will provide great benefits for years to come.
I wanted to write to thank you for your excellent article, “From Recovery to Resilience” [in the Spring/Summer 2025 issue of Rails to Trails ]. I feel that its distribution has helped us, many organizations working together, to make our case to further develop and strengthen greenways, trails and green space as tools to mitigate disastrous flooding in our many floodplain hazard areas. Best wishes for your continued success in spreading this word. Dave G. Nutter Asheville, North Carolina Corrections: Cover Story — We referred to the trail’s region as the “Alleghany” Highlands instead of the correct spelling, “Allegheny,” and indicated the National Radio Quiet Zone is 13,000 acres instead of 13,000 square miles. Destination — We mistakenly called the the Ohio to Erie Trail’s starting point the “Erie” instead of “Ohio” River. Apologies!
WHY I ENJOY LONG- DISTANCE RIDING
I’ve found that the motivations for and the satisfactions of trail riding go through a metamorphosis as one ages. As a young buck, I wanted long trails with challenging climbs over punishing gravel and ballast surfaces, and to camp out in a tent each night. Decades later, I prefer smooth, paved surfaces, visiting intriguing small towns along the way, riding recumbent bikes for greater comfort and staying in nice hotels. On rail-trails, this graybeard can keep up with the fellas on the gentle grades provided by yesteryear’s railroad engineers. The great thing about this pursuit is that it’s adaptable; the wealth of
PHOTOS: Counterclockwise, from top: William Casey on the Great Allegheny Passage (gaptrail.org) and Olympic Discovery Trail | Courtesy William Casey (2); Iman Sylvain | Courtesy Iman Sylvain.
Rails to Trails MAGAZINE | FALL 2025
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