Should America Build a Coast-to-Coast Bicycle Trail?
Should America Build a Coast-to-Coast Bicycle Trail?
Bicycling is booming—for commuting, fitness, and adventure. If America wants safer roads, stronger small towns, and cleaner travel options, the next step is obvious: connect the country with a continuous, car-free bicycle and pedestrian trail from coast to coast.
The Vision
Picture one protected route linking beach towns, prairies, mountain passes, national parks, and main streets—thousands of miles you can ride without battling traffic. The idea isn’t fantasy; it builds on proven corridors and existing trail networks. What’s missing is national coordination and funding to stitch it together into a true cross-country spine. If you’ve ever planned a multi-day ride like Your First Multi-Day Bicycle Tour: FAQs for New Cyclists or hauled gear like in BOB Trailer Is Sensational for Long-Distance Bicycle Touring, you know how powerful uninterrupted riding can be.
Why It’s Worth Doing
1) Safer, Cleaner Transportation
- Protected space cuts collision risk and invites new riders—commuters, students, and seniors—who won’t mix with high-speed traffic.
- Each bike trip swapped for a car trip reduces congestion, emissions, and parking demand.
- A national spine anchors local networks, making short in-town trips safer too. For visibility and night riding, see Top Cycling Visibility Tips for Riding in Traffic and Low Light.
2) A Real Economic Engine
- Long-distance riders spend money—on meals, lodging, repairs, and supplies—revenue that sticks to rural main streets.
- Existing long trails have sparked cafés, inns, outfitters, and shuttle services. Multiply that effect across thousands of miles.
- Shoulder seasons get a boost: riders fill rooms when car tourism dips. For touring essentials, see Two Things You Need on a Long-Distance Bicycle Tour.
3) Health and Access for All
- Cycling delivers strong cardio benefits with low joint impact—ideal for families, beginners, and older adults.
- A national route unlocks “human-speed” travel: Blue Ridge vistas one week, desert mesas the next.
- Trails double as local parks and daily fitness paths, not just epic tour corridors. For age-smart guidance, read Cycling for Seniors: Smart, Safe, and Life-Changing Tips for Riders Over 60.
The Hard Parts (and Practical Fixes)
Cost & Upkeep
- Phase it: connect existing regional trails first; close gaps over time based on impact and readiness.
- Blend funding: federal active-transportation programs + state grants + local matches + private sponsors.
- Standardize surfaces, signage, and maintenance plans to keep long-run costs predictable.
Land Access & Routing
- Prioritize rail corridors, utility easements, canal paths, levees, and public lands to reduce conflicts.
- Where private land is essential, offer fair easements, reroute options, and meaningful community input from day one.
- Design for local use: safe town entries, wayfinding, secure bike parking, water/restrooms, and service nodes. Reality check on conditions? See Cycling in Windy Conditions: What Years of Riding Taught Me.
We’re Not Starting From Zero
Momentum already exists. The Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s Great American Rail-Trail aims to connect Washington, D.C., to Washington State across ~3,700 miles and is already more than halfway complete. A unified federal push could accelerate connections, set standards, and deliver a true coast-to-coast backbone.
The Bottom Line
This isn’t about chasing a record. It’s about building something useful, safe, and proudly American: a cross-country route powered by legs and curiosity. Fund it, phase it, finish it. The payoff shows up in fewer crashes, stronger small towns, better public health—and a country you can actually experience at the speed of a bicycle.
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