Across Ohio, old railways converted into walking, biking paths

By Nadia Ramlagan

Ohio communities could face significant setbacks to walking, biking and hiking trails as Congress considers the next Surface Transportation Act, which supports efforts to maintain trails.

Current Biden-era funding expires this September.

Kevin White, public transportation manager for the city of Wooster, said federal dollars are critical for ensuring access to trails. He added the region is home to populations who depend on safe travel paths offering protection from drivers, noting some surrounding counties have implemented extra-wide trails.

"That gets the Amish buggies and some of the electric bikes off of our roads," White pointed out. "Especially when we've got a lot of hilly ups and downs where there's a lot of gaps in visibility. So it is a major safety concern for our community."

Walking paths are also a safety issue. According to data from the Governor’s Highway Association, pedestrian deaths have reached a 40-year high, with more than 7,500 people killed by drivers while walking in 2022. Safe, designated walking paths help prevent such tragedies.

Bob Reynolds, mayor of Wooster, said there are around 18 miles of multiuse trails within the city to help get people connected to larger rails-to-trails projects.

"We certainly do a lot of multiuse trails within the city to get people connected with rails-trails projects," Reynolds emphasized. "One of our interests is expanding on that to give our people connectivity to bigger projects already in place."

Ohio’s outdoor recreation economy generates around $12 billion in economic impact throughout the state.