Let's fund the trails transformation we need
From winding backcountry trails to the paths we use every day to walk, roll, or bike around our neighborhoods, trails connect us to the outdoors and to each other. Yet millions of people still lack safe, accessible routes close to home—even though nearly half of all trips Americans take are within a 20‑minute bike ride, and more than one‑fifth are within a 20‑minute walk.
Investing in trail and active transportation networks helps protect the places we love while making it easier for people of all ages and abilities to get outside, commute safely, and stay connected to their communities—without relying on a car. Congress has the opportunity to support four key initiatives for bike, pedestrian and wheelchair-friendly infrastructure. These initiatives can help us support close-to-home recreation, trail infrastructure and safe commuting nationwide:
- Reauthorizing the Active Transportation Infrastructure Investment Program (ATIIP), which helps communities build connected trails systems so people can get where they want to go safely by foot, bike or wheelchair;
- Funding the Transportation Alternatives Program, which supports trail maintenance, technical assistance and metropolitan planning in every state;
- Funding the Recreational Trails Program, which funds the development and maintenance of recreational trails; and
- Funding the Highway Safety Improvement Program, which helps communities improve safety on roads and trail crossings.
We need Congress to support robust funding and implementation for these critical programs, now.