My professional purpose is deeply tied to helping communities prosper through trails. I’ve been specializing in the Trail Town model since 2007 and spend a lot of time on this topic. And yet, I’m always learning and sometimes even have to reconsider what I thought I knew about Trail Towns. One of these moments occurred in 2023 when I learned that the Florida Trail Gateway Communities program was the first functioning Trail Town initiative. In that very moment, I realized I needed to updat...| Cycle Forward
For the first time, a collective study has been conducted to understand the structure, challenges, and impacts of Trail Town & Gateway Community programs across the U.S. and Canada. This survey gathered insights from 19 programs that serve hundreds of communities and thousands of trail miles. In his book, On Trails, Robert Moor writes that “every […] The post First-Time Study on Trail Community Programs appeared first on Cycle Forward.| Cycle Forward
Photo credit: Renee Rosensteel, Courtesy of Rails to Trails Conservancy The Industrial Heartland Trails Coalition (IHTC) is working to complete and connect a system of multi-use trails across 51 counties in western Pennsylvania, northern West Virginia, eastern Ohio, and southwest New York. One of the coalition’s supporting organizations, Rails to Trails Conservancy (RTC), realized that […] The post Unlocking the Economic & Community Development of IHTC Trails Report: Positioning Regional ...| Cycle Forward
Photo courtesy of IMBA According to the International Mountain Biking Association (IMBA), mountain biking contributes $133 billion annually to the U.S. economy. Interest in mountain biking continues to grow and evolve, especially with the rise of new trends such as bikepacking, gravel riding, and electric-assist mountain bikes (e-bikes). When the Pennsylvania Environmental Council wanted to […] The post North Central Appalachia Mountain Bike Summit: Activating and Connecting Trails and Comm...| Cycle Forward
I’m passionate about the Trail Town model and have devoted the last 18 years of my life to the topic. Wow, just writing that is really kind of staggering to me! It’s more than just work for me. I feel deeply devoted to helping communities, trail managers, and entire regions figure out how to create […] The post Questions People Ask About Trail Towns (Part 1) appeared first on Cycle Forward.| Cycle Forward
The Three Rivers Water Trail is a series of 31 river access points along the Allegheny, Ohio, and Monongahela, and Youghiogheny Rivers in Allegheny County (Pittsburgh, PA). Many Pittsburghers (including Amy!) can be found recreating along these historic rivers. The Water Trail is managed and maintained by nonprofit Friends of the Riverfront (Friends) with assistance […] The post Friends of the Riverfront: Three Rivers Water Trail Management Plan appeared first on Cycle Forward.| Cycle Forward
I have so much to unpack following last week’s World Trails Conference in Ottawa, Canada! The conference gathered 400 people from 35 countries and was a truly inspiring event. It was both a thrill and an honor to be among a global audience that was thinking about how trails can have a greater impact on planet Earth. The post “You Can’t Bake a Cake Without Flour”: Reflections on the World Trails Conference appeared first on Cycle Forward.| Cycle Forward
Some of you may know that I was in Newfoundland earlier this month. It’s a spectacular place (here are some photos). We went on a boat tour south of St. John’s hoping to see both whales and puffins. Before boarding, we noticed a white board that noted the day’s wildlife sightings. Whales weren’t listed. “Oh well,” we thought. Who can control such a thing? Our tour guide further cemented (or anchored?) the message, telling us that whale sightings are only so likely in the middle of...| Cycle Forward
In the interest of not burying the lead, let me first say I graduated from the Appalachian Leadership Institute (ALI) on Wednesday. It’s been quite the journey, one that has taken the better part of the last year to complete. I’ve gone to sessions in six Appalachian states as well as D.C. We learned about community development, economic development, tourism, housing, healthcare, and other issues and opportunities within the region. It’s been the learning and bonding experience of a li...| Cycle Forward
I’d like to reflect on the PA Downtown Conference’s opening keynote presentation, which focused on how we can aspire to become a stronger, more unified nation. The speaker, Shaylyn Romney Garrett, co-authored The Upswing: How America Came Together a Century Ago and How We Can Do it Again. Her co-author was Robert Putnam, best known for Bowling Alone. The post Creating a New “We”: PA Downtown Conference Reflections appeared first on Cycle Forward.| Cycle Forward
I stopped by the Swamp Rabbit Trail in early December. I had been in nearby Spartanburg, South Carolina attending the Appalachian Leadership Institute (and also had given a keynote presentation at the Carolina Thread Trail Forum in neighboring North Carolina)... The post Swamp Rabbit Trail Trip Report appeared first on Cycle Forward.| Cycle Forward
Gravel cycling, perhaps better explained as mixed surface riding, is one of the fastest growing forms of cycling. The sport is poised somewhere between road cycling and mountain biking. Most routes incorporate unpaved dirt and gravel roads, hence the term “gravel.” When the Pennsylvania Environmental Council wanted to advance a reginal understanding of the sport, […] The post Gravel: Another Great Cycling Option in Pennsylvania appeared first on Cycle Forward.| Cycle Forward
The High Trestle Trail in Iowa is one of my favorite trails to talk about. I visited in 2015 and was completely enamored with the High Trestle Trail Bridge. I’ve been sharing the story of the bridge ever since. In fact, when I issued the first “Trail Townz” Zine last year, I put it on the cover and included a story. I’ve pasted the story below... The post Gushing Over the High Trestle Trail appeared first on Cycle Forward.| Cycle Forward
Cycle Forward is celebrating 10 years in business! It’s been a heck of a ride that continues to become more thrilling. Founder Amy Camp has built connections and shared ideas in communities far and wide and is eager to keep going. In the meantime, this is a milestone worth celebrating! The post Cycle Forward Celebrating 10 Years in Business appeared first on Cycle Forward.| Cycle Forward
It’s been a few long years since the trails community has gathered for the International Trails Summit (ITS). This year’s ITS is being held in Reno, Nevada from April 17-20. If you’re attending ITS, please stop by exhibit booth 217 to see me. I’ll have all sorts of info about Cycle Forward, free stickers, and […] The post Cycle Forward at the International Trails Summit appeared first on Cycle Forward.| Cycle Forward
Enjoy a 60-mile GAP ride without ever getting into your car. This route is made possible by catching an early morning train from Pittsburgh to Connellsville and then biking back to your starting point. The post Start a Connellsville-Pittsburgh GAP ride with AMTRAK appeared first on Cycle Forward.| Cycle Forward
Not all states have a statewide trail advocacy organization. West Virginia was among those without a statewide body until 2020, when a working group of trail leaders gathered to discuss common challenges. Their intent was (and remains) “to build a West Virginia trails movement.” Within a two year period, they achieved nonprofit status and raised […] The post WV TRAIL: Building a West Virginia Trails Movement appeared first on Cycle Forward.| Cycle Forward
Trail town initiatives are typically led by trail and tourism organizations. When a Metropolitan Planning Organization comes along with the idea of developing a program, it approaches trail towns a bit differently. In 2021, the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission hired Cycle Forward to develop a program that places as much value on local quality of […] The post Central Ohio Greenways: Bringing Trail Towns to Central Ohio appeared first on Cycle Forward.| Cycle Forward
Fayette County, Pennsylvania, and Fayette County, West Virginia…both are experiencing growth spurred by the outdoor economy. I participated in two unrelated tours last month, but quickly realized there were overlapping themes. The post Two Fayettes Finding their Way – Exploring the outdoor economy in two Fayette counties appeared first on Cycle Forward.| Cycle Forward
Every so often, a person gets to work on a project that can make a significant difference for a community and also feels deeply personal. This was the case for Amy when she was invited to assist in creating the Hazelwood Riverfront Master Plan. Developing a plan to reconnect Greater Hazelwood to the Monongahela River had been a long time coming. The post Hazelwood Riverfront Master Plan: Reconnecting Residents with the Monongahela River appeared first on Cycle Forward.| Cycle Forward
I’m passionate about the Trail Town model and have devoted the last 18 years of my life to the topic. Wow, just writing that is really kind of staggering to me! It’s more than just work for me. I feel deeply devoted to helping communities, trail managers, and entire regions figure out how to create […]| Cycle Forward
Amy Camp's book, Deciding On Trails: 7 Practices of Healthy Trail Towns, is for advocates who wish to cultivate a trail culture and spur economic development.| Cycle Forward
