Examples of Rails to Trails
August 25, 2011 by admin
Filed under Recreation, Stories, Transport
A reader shares these examples of former railways converted into multi-purpose trails for cycling and walking, and at the same time serving as a wildlife corridor.
Australia:
http://www.railtrails.org.au/
http://www.visitmelbourne.com/Activities-and-attractions/Outdoor-activities/Cycling/Cycling-trails.aspx
New Zealand:
http://www.otagocentralrailtrail.co.nz/nz_first.html
http://www.aktnz.co.nz/2011/05/15/thames-line-handed-to-cycleway/
Germany:
http://www.germany.travel/en/erholung/radfahren/deep_content_datenbank_1293.html
http://www.germany.travel/en/erholung/radfahren/deep_content_datenbank_1343.html
Spain:
http://www.viasverdes.com/GreenWays
http://www.asturias.es/portal/site/infoAsturias/menuitem.a5a945390f5ca67e4c58ec1088414ea0/?vgnextoid=d108d8f10f2bd110VgnVCM100000dc14e40aRCRD
UK:
http://www.sustrans.org.uk/what-we-do/national-cycle-network/biodiversity-conservation
http://www.bristolbathrailwaypath.org.uk/home.shtml
Canada:
http://www.ontariotrails.on.ca/trails-a-z/the-old-railway-bike-trail-algonquin-park/
USA:
http://www.railstotrails.org/index.html
Japan:
Shiroishi, Sapporo, Hokkaido – http://www.city.sapporo.jp/shiroishi/shisetsu/doboku/cycling/index.html (in Japanese only)
Hida, Gifu – http://rail-mtb.com (in Japanese only)
Photos of the Hida system in use here: http://blog.cycleroad.com/archives/50663614.html
A system similar to that of the Hida one in Hokkaido – http://torokko.co.uk/syaryo.php
South Korea:
http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_1_2_4.jsp?gotoPage=&category=&areaCode=&recommCid=257323&cid=626405
Taiwan:
http://www.taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=54109&CtNode=427
http://www.welcome2taiwan.net/en/tourism17.html
There is also a similar initiative in Paris. While it’s not completely “green”, La Coulée Verte (also known as the Promenade Plantée) is a 5km long trail, made up of elevated gardens and tree lined cycling paths.
http://www.timeout.fr/paris/en/outdoor/la-coulee-verte-promenade-plantee
Another great and seemingly more famous example is the High Line in New York City. Back then, an elevated train line was built to transport meat from the meatpacking district to the storages in Chelsea, another neighbourhood. Around the 70s or 80s, the track was abandoned as shipments decreased. And so plants such weed started growing in the area. In the new millennium, part of the High Line was preserved and converted into a park, where one can walk from one end to the other. The tracks have long been dismantled with a few remaining as decorations, however the platform where the trains once ran on is still preserved.
Another example is Staré spojenà (Old connection) cycle path in Prague.
There was an old but important railway track in Žižkov district of Prague, capital of Czech republic. Between 2004-2008 new capacity link (called Nové spojenà – New connection) consisting of two tunnels and several bridges was built. Old track (including old tunnel) was converted into cycle path and became popular destination for bikers.
See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nov%C3%A9_Spojen%C3%AD for more info.