It’s no secret that passenger trains in America have not had the same level of success as their European counterparts. The infrastructure wasn’t established well enough before the introduction of affordable automobiles, and the larger distances between major cities made the costs too high to entice families to forgo their private car full of cheap (at the time) gas.

However, as more and more trains are being derailed (figuratively) by failing companies, the decommissioned tracks are being repurposed to support healthier recreation trails where there was once pollution and wildlife danger. The program working to get more people on their feet and their self-powered wheels is called Rails-to-Trails, and could hopefully take something that began as an industrial invader of the environment and turn it around to promote more outdoor experience and nature sympathizers.

A bike waiting for adventure at the entrance to Rails to Trails, Road D

The question remains: is a human trail any less impacting on the environment than train tracks?