Supporters Like You

What I do
I’m 86 and retired from my work at Cornell University, where I was a university architect and campus planner. I live in a retirement community called Splendido, where I volunteer as a co-chair for a group that arranges speakers to present various topics each spring and fall.

How trails are part of my life
My wife and I have one e-trike and one bike, and we ride a few miles every morning. Arizona heats up during the day, so we go out early, trying to be back by 7 a.m. This is a good way to go to be out in the air and enjoy the simple pleasures of getting around.

A special trail moment
On our rides, I enjoy seeing wild animals up close, like deer or javelina (a pig-like animal we have here in the Southwest). A week ago, three deer came out really close to the trail!

Why I love my trike
I used to ride a two-wheeled bike; however, one morning in the summer of 2020, as I was riding, I got caught up in a tight turn and fell, breaking my elbow and pelvis. After recovering from the accident, I decided to switch to a three-wheeler, so I tried a few options and bought a recumbent electric Catrike. My trike is comfortable, secure, goes as fast as I want and offers the kind of enjoyment I was used to on my two-wheeler.

Why trails are important to my community
Our local trails provide a safe environment, free of traffic concerns. A popular trail system that we enjoy in Tucson and Oro Valley is called the Chuck Huckelberry Loop (commonly known as simply “The Loop”), which, over the years, has been extended to more than 130 miles. Using these trails, one can ride around much of our region of more than a million people—outdoors, avoiding traffic and without using gas or producing pollution.

Favorite trail
We have a number of golf courses near our home. When one of them went out of business, its fairways and golf cart trails were taken over by our town. The golf course’s trails are now open to the community and are my favorite place to enjoy our desert landscape and mountain scenery.

Why I support RTC
I’m an RTC member to show support for a safe and growing alternative to driving vehicles, which are polluting and a detriment to the quality of our environment and cityscape.

How trails have impacted me
Trails provide good, safe places for riding bikes and trikes. We have friends nearby who have trikes, too, and we love sharing our experiences with them. It provides good exercise and keeps us healthy!

What I do

I work for a company that operates parking assets across the country for office towers, residential buildings, hotels, malls, hospitals, airports and stadiums. We’ve been parking cars at the Super Bowl since 1999! My other job is being a mom to two awesome boys, both of whom are seniors this year (high school and college).

Person I admire

I admire anyone who follows their dreams … those people who have found a vocation doing something they love. They’ve found what brings them joy and are immersed in being the best that they can be at it. My mother is one of those people, and I admire her a lot.

Favorite rail-trail

The White River State Trail. It’s close to home and nestled between rolling farmland—which I fell in love with as a teenager after I got my first car and started making the drive to my cottage in Lake Geneva from my home in Illinois. I would enter Wisconsin’s two-lane highways, green landscape, red barns and corn silos, and could not help but feel the land’s calmness and beauty. On the White River State Trail, it’s that same feeling, but on a bike; the landscape passes you by even more slowly. You may catch a farmer on his tractor, an eagle soaring or a deer foraging. The canopy of trees protects you from the hot sun. An added bonus is the coffee/ice cream shop at the middle mark.

My next big trail trip

I am going to head north to the Elroy-Sparta State Trail, which is 33 miles long. There are three long tunnels that everyone talks about—I can’t wait to check them out! It will be fun imagining I’m in Stephen King’s book “The Stand” or I’m a biker in the “Walking Dead.” Those long tunnels remind me of the apocalyptic movies where there’s always a dangerous event right in the middle. I’ll definitely bring a rider buddy with me!

Why I started using trails

I’ve been bicycling trails casually for a while, but when I was furloughed for four months last year, I took it up a notch. I started a blog to combine my love of biking and writing and to help those impacted by the pandemic. RBEL, Ride Bikes Eat Local (rbelgo.com), was born. By exploring trails and local restaurants and businesses, I have learned a lot about the people in my community and the history behind these places.

How trails have impacted me

Trails helped take my mind off the fact that I did not have a job, as well as the uncertainty that the pandemic brought upon my life and those around me. The endorphins you feel after a long trail ride—and the feeling of accomplishment and connection to nature—did wonders for my mental and physical health.

Why I support RTC

I am looking forward to the day when I can ride from coast to coast on a SAFE bike trail!

What I do

I have worked as a physician specializing in radiation oncology for close to 42 years. Besides work, I enjoy hiking, tennis, kayaking, biking and traveling the world. So far, I have visited Southeast Asia, Morocco, Tanzania, Egypt, Costa Rica, Greece, Russia, Norway, most of Western Europe, much of Eastern Europe and 47 states of America.

Favorite quote

“Leave the road, take the trails.”—Pythagoras

Person I admire

Theodore Roosevelt. He was a great president and environmentalist.

Favorite rail-trail

For many years, I lived and worked in and around Hartford, Connecticut. I biked and walked umpteen times on the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail from Farmington to up past the Massachusetts border, where the trail ends, and back. There are wonderful views, especially as you travel through Simsbury and East Granby toward the border. There are also nice spots along the way to sit and relax, as well as small restaurants in case you need a bite to eat. Plus, the towns of Simsbury and Farmington are quite lovely.

Why I started using trails

As a physician treating cancer patients, one needs activities to help relieve stress and escape the reality that life can be short. Biking and hiking trails are the perfect way to relax the body and mind. On rail-trails, you do not have to worry about cars/trucks flashing by you—or their noise and fumes. You can really enjoy nature at a leisurely pace; and—very importantly—as you imbibe the sights, sounds and smells of nature, you are getting exercise to keep you healthy.

My next big trail trip

Since I am still working, I am looking to explore trails closer to Keene. I would like to bike the entire 21-mile Ashuelot Recreational Rail Trail between Keene and Hinsdale, as well as the Northern Rail Trail in Grafton County, New Hampshire. Once I retire, my plan is to pack my bike and take off to sample many of the other rail-trails around the country. The official Rails-to-Trails Conservancy guidebooks will be most useful for this endeavor.

How trails have impacted me over the years

Rail-trails are simply great for exercising safely, keeping healthy, enjoying a variety of scenery and meeting people from different walks of life. They provide us all a perfect way to get out of the house, exercise, enjoy different scenic sites and escape the stresses of life. It is for all of these reasons that I have been a long-term supporter of RTC.