Explore More with the Trail Finder

When we launched the Trail Finder two months ago, we could only guess at how people would use it. You've surprised us – one family took a special Mother’s Day outing on a new hiking trail; another person planned a route to their business meeting across town. Visitors to the site have been sharing their comments and photos, too.

Now that you've had a chance to play with the Trail Finder, we thought you might like to know about a few more features to enhance your experience. (If you are just getting started with the Trail Finder, check out this useful guide first.)

More Features, More Fun!

• Refine your search: It's easy to find the trails you want. Using the search fields at the top of each page, you can look by keyword, town, or trail use. For instance, a search for walking trails in South Burlington presents nine different places to explore.
• Share a link: Want to email your friend a link or start a discussion about a trail in your neighborhood forum? When at a trail detail page, center the map how you'd like to show it, and click the "Link" button above the map to get a link you can paste into your message. For instance, here's a link to Mills Riverside Park showing the topo layer.
• Download to your GPS: You can take the data with you on your personal navigation device! All the data that our volunteers have diligently collected is available for anyone to download. Simply click the "Download" button above the map to find a set of Google Earth KML files for each trail (Google Earth is free, get it here). KML can be readily converted to whatever format your GPS software needs, see this for more details.

This resource for 70+ hiking and biking trails in Chittenden County has been made possible by our generous underwriting sponsor, the Skirack, Local Motion members and volunteers, and our many other project funders and partners. Happy Trails!

Causeway Bike Ferry News

For 2008, the bike ferry across the cut in the historic and incomparably scenic marble causeway between Colchester and South Hero will operate for all five weekends in August, plus Labor Day (September 1st) from 10am-6pm. A donation of at least $5 to help offset our operational expense is suggested for round-trip passage.

Why don't we offer ferry service throughout the season? We will someday, and we're making progress towards that goal, but our current permits restrict operations to August weekends due to concerns regarding increased bicycle traffic between the causeway and South Hero village. Since imposing these restrictions on bike ferry operations, the Town of South Hero has lowered the speed limit on South Street, and has begun the process of engineering potential road improvements including the addition of 3-4' shoulders. Also, Local Motion has demonstrated, through six years of August weekend service, that this recreational connection to Colchester and Burlington is safe, practical, and popular with residents and local businesses.

There is another factor which prevents us from expanding service, and that is the weather. The frequent strong southerly winds at this site make it a difficult place to operate on a regular basis. To counter the power of Lake Champlain's wind and waves, Local Motion is working with consultants and stakeholders to design floating wave-attenuating breakwaters for placement to the south of each existing dock. The wave attenuators are part of a larger project, which includes design, engineering and permitting of docks and fishing platforms that will meet Federal ADA guidelines. This project is funded through a grant secured by Senator Bernie Sanders and a VTrans Transportation Enhancement grant.

Charters Available

In addition to August weekends, the ferry is also available anytime throughout the season for hire as a charter. To cover our costs, we must charge a minimum of $120, but that includes one-way passage for up to 18 passengers. Call our Trailside Center for details and reservations. A scenic route that includes our ferry is known as the "triple ferry route" - a loop through the Champlain Islands, across the lake on the Plattsburgh ferry, along the New York shore to Port Kent, and back to Burlington on a second Lake Champlain Transportation Co. ferry.

Walkers, Bikers Among Those Calling for Better Transit

Area residents formed a transit advocacy group at a kick-off meeting on Monday, June 23. Over 40 residents turned out to discuss how to change our transportation system with good 21st Century thinking. CCTA's bus service has been constrained for decades by its reliance on the local property tax of 5 member towns. Because of the importance of good transit service for walkers and cyclists, Local Motion Executive Director Chapin Spencer has served on the CCTA Board for the last seven years. "With high gas prices and concern over climate change, more residents are calling for better transit service – but without an organized citizen voice we won't have the political leadership for substantial transit improvements. I hope you'll consider playing a part." For info and to get involved, contact Mary Sullivan at marysull@yahoo.com.

New Partnership at Trailside Center

Local Motion's Trailside Center is open for the season with bike rentals, trail maps, and free air. New this year, we are partnering with our very own Bike Recycle Vermont (BRV), who shares in the rental revenue in exchange for providing half of our rental bikes and for maintaining our entire rental fleet. The revenue helps to fund BRV's non-profit work of giving donated, repaired bikes to low income folks, and to do job skills training with kids and teens. Vermont Adaptive Ski & Sport and local bike shops Skirack and North Star Sports continue to supply some of our rental bikes as well, as they have for several years.

Come on down to the Trailside Center for nifty gift items made from recycled bike parts, Local Motion water bottles and T-shirts. Bring out-of-town guests in to rent bikes and explore Burlington's bike path and the Colchester Causeway. Local Motion Members enjoy 10% off. We have a big fleet of rental bikes, including tandems, kids' tag-alongs and trailers. We're here 7 days a week from 10 – 6 through October; Extended hours 9 – 6 in July and August.

Bike Parking @ Burlington July 3 Fireworks

Avoid the parking and traffic hassles by biking to Burlington's Independence Day festivities. Secure, staffed bike parking will be available in Waterfront Park between the bike path and the railroad tracks, 5pm to 10pm. Remember to bring your bike lights as it's state law to have lights at night. Thank you to the Green Mountain Derby Dames (Vermont's roller derby queens) for operating the bike parking station this year! Contact Nicole at nlosch@ci.burlington.vt.us to volunteer.

Bike To The Drive-In Returns -- Friday, July 18

High gas prices won't dampen our summer plans! Get out your bike and ride to the 4-screen Sunset Drive-In with Local Motion. We'll hop on the Burlington Bike Path to Colchester and pick up fellow bikers along the way - 7:30pm departure from ECHO on the waterfront, 7:45pm at Starr Farm Dog Park (see map for route). Movie listings: www.sunsetdrivein.com.

What to bring: money for movie and snack bar, front and rear lights for riding home (required by state law), bug repellent, blanket/chair. Optional: portable radio for sound (we'll have a few), frisbees, etc. Rain date will be Saturday, July 19. Call 652-2453 to check event status if inclement weather. Co-sponsored by Local Motion and the Old Spokes Home.

Montpelier Bikes Project

In the Capital City, a new "Montpelier Bikes Project" has begun! This month, volunteers are needed to help with assessment of existing conditions for bicycling – count bikes, inventory bike racks, and survey city residents as to the barriers to bicycling. The Montpelier Bikes Project is also looking for 6-8 avid bicyclists to join and help shape a pilot "Bicycle Ambassadors" program. For more information, please email Montpelier Bikes Project coordinator Becka Roolf of consulting firm Going Green at info@goinggreenvt.com or call 802-279-4037. More info about the program at montpelierbikes.blogspot.com.

Way To Go! Outdoor Gear Exchange Encourages Green Commuting

Following up on a wildly successful 2008 Way To Go Commuter Challenge, Outdoor Gear Exchange has implemented a year-round incentive program to encourage staff to find greener ways of getting to work. With two-thirds of staff participating, owners Mike Donahue and Marc Sherman had to install a bike parking area in the back of their store. OGE joins the ranks of other businesses such as Burton, NRG, Stark Mountain Woodworking, VT Energy Investment Corporation, Fletcher Allen Health Care, UVM, Champlain College, and American Red Cross who provide financial incentives to get their staff commuting by foot, bike, bus or carpool. Contact chapin@localmotion.org if your business would like to start such a program.

Active Recreation & Transportation Fuels VT's Economy

What industry supports 35,000 jobs across Vermont, generates $187 million in annual state tax revenue, and produces $2.5 billion in annual retail sales and services across Vermont? It's our active outdoor recreation economy – hiking, bicycling, skiing, hunting, fishing, etc. A state-by-state study completed by the Outdoor Industry Foundation shows the economic benefit of our state's active outdoor culture.

Did you know that the League of American Bicyclists' magazine "American Bicyclist" is published at Lane Press in South Burlington? Did you know that branding company JDK has a large account with the world's largest bicycle manufacturer Giant Bicycles? Did you know that the athletic Darn Tough brand of socks rejuvenated the Cabot Hosiery Mills of Northfield, VT – now employing 100 people? Vermont must continue to capitalize on our active outdoor brand. Local Motion seeks to do our part by expanding our recently-launched Trail Finder to cover regions beyond Chittenden County. Contact charlene@localmotion.org to help out.

Hinesburg's Principal Groudreau Keeps Kids Active

Local Motion is proud to recognize Hinesburg Community School's Principal Bob Goudreau as one of Safe Routes to School's outstanding supporters.

On most Wednesday mornings in Hinesburg, you will find Mr. Goudreau and Assistant Principal Thom Fleury out on the sidewalk, walking with a group of children to school. Since Bob arrived at Hinesburg Community School, he has made it a point to join in the regular Walking Wednesday program, a supervised group of children who walk about three quarters of a mile together from the Post Office to the school. "It's so good for the kids; not only for health reasons but for the way it builds a sense of community; a place where the kids feel they belong," says Bob of the program.

Bob has been involved with SR2S since 2004 when the Safe Routes program was piloted in Vermont. Then principal of Camels Hump Middle School, he actively encouraged walking and biking as healthy ways to travel. Taking his efforts into the learning environment, he incorporated walking into his school's social studies curriculum through a mileage tracking campaign where students studied different locations as they collectively walked across the country.

In 2007, Principal Goudreau arrived at Hinesburg Community School and was quick to support the efforts of the SR2S team. "Working with Bob is a pleasure. Having worked with many schools, I know the value of having a principal who is active and supportive," says Pam Mathews, Regional Safe Routes to School coordinator and HCS parent. "With his support we are able to keep the program moving forward."

Bob Goudreau recognizes the social, health and safety benefits Safe Routes to School can bring to schools and their larger community. Through SR2S initiatives, Hinesburg has won grant funding for a new piece of sidewalk, encouraged more kids to move under their own power, and brought pedestrian safety to students in grades K-2. "I'm happy with what has been done but would like to do even more," says Bob.

Keep up the good work Bob and best wishes Hinesburg for a safe, healthy and active 2008-2009 school year!

In The News:

• Vermont Summer Biking Highlights [Seven Days]
• At 66, LM Member Rick Hubbard Pedals Across USA [Free Press]
• Montpelier's Artistic "Sculptcycle" is Underway [Seven Days], www.sculptcycle.org
• New Book: Biking the US of Awesomeness [Seven Days]
• VT Students Pedal Across USA Registering Voters [Free Press]
• Catamount Trail Finalist for Major Grant [Free Press]
• Green Mtn Bike Club Criterium Series [Free Press]
• Burton's Bikers Band Together [Free Press]
• VMBA Wins $9,000 Bikes Belong Grant [Bikes Belong]

See all the news in Local Motion’s Media File: http://localmotionvt.blogspot.com

Job Opportunity

Catamount Trail Association – Trail Management and Protection Director

The Catamount Trail Association is seeking a highly motivated professional for a full-time, year-round position as Trail Management and Protection Director for the 300-mile-long Catamount Trail, a backcountry ski trail running the length of Vermont. Full job description and contact: www.catamounttrail.org.

Calendar

Get involved with your local town trail group! Every town has a Recreation Path Committee or Trail Committee, and they usually meet monthly. Meeting dates at www.localmotion.org/advocacy/committees.htm

Sibling Organizations:

• Catamount Outdoor Family Center
• Catamount Trail Assoc.
• Fellowship of the Wheel / VMBA
• Green Mountain Adventure Racing Assoc.
• Green Mountain Athletic Assoc.
• Green Mountain Bike Club
• Green Mountain Club
• Lake Champlain Bikeways
• Lake Champlain Land Trust
• Run Vermont
• Vermont Bicycle & Pedestrian Coalition
• Vermont Trails & Greenways

 

Happy Trails!
Local Motion 2008 Crew
Anna, Brian, Chapin, Charlene, Chris F., Chris P., Jill, Kevin, Leanna, Lou, Mark, Pam, Ron, Ryan, Solvei, Todd, and Wilson