Non-traditional hybrid contracting concepts bring equipment and volunteers together.
Presenters: Gerry Wilbour, President, Northwest Trails, Inc.; Willie Bittner, Great Lakes Trailbuilders, LLC
Public demand for trails coupled with competitive pressures in the private marketplace for trail services has dramatically increased labor productivity, reduced cost, and improved skills for trails. The use of mechanized, right-sized equipment is an important trend, as is the use of youth crews and volunteers to accomplish trail work. By merging the enthusiasm and community involvement of volunteers and youth corps with the efficiency, expertise, and heavy lift capability of private industry, the non-traditional hybrid contracting concept brings these trends together to deliver some excellent results, but also some challenging situations.
American Trails is Sharpening Our Focus
Over the last two years American Trails has worked with Active Strategies to find out how we can best serve the trail community. These are the results.
The emergence of electric bicycles, commonly known as e-bikes, is a rapidly growing component of the bicycle market in the US. As a transportation option, they represent an opportunity to reduce vehicle use and emissions, as well as the physical barriers to cycling. For use on trails, they present similar opportunities to reduce barriers to cycling but, as a new use, present new challenges for trail management.
Experiences of electric bicycle users in the Sacramento, California area
The study asked e-bike users in the greater Sacramento area about the reasons why they chose to invest in an e-bike, the ways in which they use their e-bikes, positive and negative aspects of using e-bikes, and reactions from friends and family members.
Strategic Agenda for Pedestrian and Bicycle Transportation
The 2016-2021 Strategic Agenda for Pedestrian and Bicycle Transportation builds on 25 years of progress toward increasing walking and biking safety and activity throughout the United States. The 1994 National Bicycling and Walking Study: Transportation Choices for Changing America set the stage for advancing safe, accessible, comfortable, and well-used pedestrian and bicycle transportation networks, with a focus on increasing trips and reducing injuries and fatalities.
