BIKING & OUTDOORS – The Future of Trails in New York

By Jeff Olson, The Third Mode (the3rdmode.com) 

The publisher/editor of Adirondack Sports, recently asked Jeff Olson of Saratoga Springs a relatively simple question: “What’s the future of trails?” Jeff is a well-known leader in the trails community and has been involved in a wide range of projects including Citi Bike in NYC, the Empire State Trail and many others through N.Y., the U.S. and internationally. He also likes to bike and ski a lot. Here’s what Jeff had to say:

We are living in challenging times, and trails are becoming an increasingly important part of our response to climate change, social inequality and public health. We are fortunate in New York to have some of the best trails in the world, from the recently completed Empire State Trail to the historic hiking trails in the Adirondacks and Catskills, and the new urban ‘complete streets” movement that is happening in our cities. While I’d never say that being more physically active can solve every problem, I am a total believer that it can be a very effective solution for a lot of the challenges we face. Spending more time outdoors and living a healthier lifestyle is good for ourselves, our communities and the planet.

It may seem like there’s a paradox when there’s more demand for outdoor activity combined with the need to protect the natural environment. The response to this issue can come from making it easier for people to spend more time being actively outdoors in places that are closer to home. This is why it is so important to get involved in efforts to help out on our local trails, complete streets, parks, and open spaces. By integrating people and nature within our communities, we can reduce our carbon footprint, take some of the pressure off the wilderness and find a better balance for life on this planet.  

There is no guarantee that we will leave behind a better world for the next generation, but it’s important that we try as hard as we can. I’ve worked on these issues for decades, and there’s never been a more important moment for more people to get involved, and there had never been a greater confluence of both need and opportunity. In my opinion, the future of trails is bright, and trails are an important part of our future. Here are some of the trends that I see in the years ahead:

Connecting People and Nature – We are at a critical time in human history. People need connections to nature that are an integral part of our lives, and not just as a special experience that requires driving in a car to get to. This became very clear during the Covid-19 pandemic. Trails, bike lanes, greenways and sidewalks have become a necessary part of our cities, towns and communities for both our mental and physical health. Every home needs to be a trailhead so that all of society has access to and respect for nature as part of daily life.

  Sustainability – Climate change has already happened, as Sandy, Irene and other “once in a lifetime” storms have shown us with increasing frequency. While we need to provide more sustainable trail designs to protect sensitive landscapes, it’s actually much more important to think of trails as a priority response that will help us create a sustainable future at a much bigger scale. The more we can provide the green infrastructure that allows people to walk, bike, hike, run, ski, paddle and use the full range of human-powered transportation and recreation, the more we all can help contribute to creating a sustainable future.   

Technology and Equity – You may have heard the phrase “we don’t need driverless cars as much as we need carless drivers.” We need to remember that every driver is also a pedestrian, and while right now there is a major push towards electric cars and automated vehicles, that is only a benefit for the small percentage of people who can afford that technology. To truly be equitable we need to focus just as much on walking, on both pedal-powered and electric bikes, on shared “micromobility” and other innovations that more people of all ages, interests and abilities can use to get to where they are going, in a sustainable way, more often. The outdoor industry can help make this happen by being more inclusive and supporting diversity as an integral part of our community.    

It’s important to realize that in response to these trends, there are a growing number of transformational projects that are leading towards a positive future. Major trail and greenway projects that would have been considered impossible a decade ago are getting built now. There is a greater emphasis happening to make sure that street designs are safer for walking, running and biking. Trailheads are being redesigned so that they are directly connected into town centers. Landscape conservation, environmental advocacy and outdoor recreation are being thought of as complimentary to one another. Even in our divided society, we are collectively learning that the great outdoors belongs to everyone, and that we can all work together towards common goals. Here are a few important examples that build on these themes from across our state: 

Empire State Trail – It is truly amazing that the $300 million, 750-mile Empire State Trail was completed in less than four years during a pandemic. People of all ages and abilities can now travel across the state on paths that connect the Erie Canal, Hudson Valley and Champlain Valley into a continuous system. Existing trails like the Mohawk-Hudson Bike-Hike Trail, Champlain Canal Trail, Wallkill Valley Rail Trail and others have been added to, interconnected and upgraded as part of the EST initiative. The whole system is consistently designed with trailheads, signage, wayfinding and online mapping that joins together decades of efforts into a truly epic statewide trail. In March, the Empire State Trail was selected as the best rail trail in the U.S. by Outside magazine. Visit: empiretrail.ny.gov.

Palmertown Range – This fast-developing public-private partnership project is creating a 10,000-acre conservation and recreation landscape with top-quality, four-season, close to home trails in Saratoga County. Soon, the Adirondack Park and upper Hudson River Valley will be accessible from Moreau State Park to Saratoga Springs with mountain biking, hiking, winter sports and other outdoor experiences that are all available within one of the fastest growing counties in the state. Visit: saratogaplan.org/explore-parks-and-trails/palmerton-range.

Western NY Greenways – The greater Buffalo-Niagara region is in the process of developing a large-scale regional trails system that will link Lake Ontario to the Southern Tier and Lake Erie to Rochester. With significant support from local communities, private philanthropy and public funding, major projects including the Genesee Valley Greenway, the Niagara Shoreline Trail and other large-scale projects are being interconnected at a scale that will connect the entire Western NY region. Visit: gbnrtc.org/bikebuffaloniagara.

Whether you plan on biking across the state, running a 5K, walking to get a cup of coffee, hiking in the wilderness, mountain biking on nearby trails or skiing in a local park, it’s great to know that our home state is making such important initiatives possible. The challenges of our time, from climate change to social equity and pandemic response are bigger than all of us. At the same time, our love of the outdoors and the pure joy that being in nature can bring, provides the common ground to build trails that help us build community. That is a worthwhile endeavor to devote our energy to and to leave as a legacy for future generations.