Walking across NH in 7 days -- on rail trails When the organizers of the Stop Alzheimer’s Now Walk were looking for a way to achieve their objective of walking 100 miles across NH between October 4-10 to raise awareness about Alzheimer’s disease they approached the Bike-Walk Alliance of NH for advice. As the leading statewide advocacy organization in NH for walking and cycling, BWANH is uniquely qualified to recommend a route to meet their needs. The walkers were looking for a route that brought them in contact with people, was safe for the walkers, and social so the walkers could be joined by others along the way. BWANH board member Dave Topham suggested a series of rail trail segments which would provide the wide space, gentle grades and the level of interaction with the public the group desired. “What years ago started as many separate efforts is growing into a network of trails.” said Dave Topham “NH has a high number of rail trails and they continue to expand each year.” The Bike-Walk Alliance provides assistance to rail trail groups as they get started and shares information between the local groups that lead the effort in towns across the state. Rail trails in NH continue to build momentum as drivers of economic growth. “In many sections of the state towns are scrambling to get these built” says Tim Blagden, Executive Director of BWANH. “The recent round of Transportation Alternatives Program funds – a funding source frequently used to build rail trails, was extremely competitive with requests coming in at six times the level of funding available. Towns have realized a good rail trail through town is a tourist draw as well as a compelling local amenity.” For more information on the Stop Alzheimer’s Now Walks please visit stopalzheimersnow.org/walk-across-the-usa. Anyone wishing to join the walkers on all or part of their trek across NH from the seacoast to Vermont may request the itinerary by emailing [email protected]. No registration fees or pledges are required while certainly donations are welcomed. For more information on the Bike-Walk Alliance of NH please visit bwanh.org. Bike-Walk Alliance of NH 2 Whitney Ave, Suite 11 Concord, NH 03301 603-410-5848
Posted on: Thu, 02 Oct 2014 03:27:02 +0000
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