September 6, 2004
By DAN SHERIDAN
Guest Columnist
Several weeks ago, my 2-year-old son and I joined several hundred bicyclists, including three others from Marion (David and Marsha Carr and Lucy Lehner), on the Greene Trails Cycling Classic. This was a delightful bicycle tour of the Xenia and Dayton area in southwestern Ohio. We camped at a county park in Xenia, and spent our days exploring the rail trails (abandoned railroad beds that have been converted to trails) and villages of the area.
It was inspiring to see the economic and health benefits that the trails bring to the area. Each town has at least one business that caters to trail users. For example, Corwin has a homey trailside restaurant called the Corwin Peddler. Cedarville has a beautiful inn, the Hearthstone Inn, located just a few feet from the trail. In the town of Alpha we found Cristabells Bike Path Café, a delightful establishment which featured sandwiches made to order, a soup of the day, and delicious ice cream. Cyclists who wish to stay overnight have many choices, including hotels, bed and breakfast facilities, and campgrounds. The hub for the trails in southwest Ohio is Xenia Station, a beautiful restored train station and museum.
On the first day of our adventure, we cycled northeast on the Ohio to Erie trail for a 44-mile round trip. As we rode along, my son Ryan contentedly played in his buggy, pointing out the animals, streams, and trucks to me. After stopping to explore Cedarville and enjoy an ice cream cone, we ventured on to South Charleston. Lulled by the motion, Ryan napped as I pedaled. When we reached South Charleston, we explored an old train station before enjoying a delicious lunch at a trailside café. Returning to camp on this hot day, we jumped in the pool for a refreshing swim.
On day two, which was Ryan's second birthday, we left the trails to cycle on quiet country roads to Clifton Mill for breakfast. In the February, 2004, issue of Bon Appetit, the Millrace Restaurant at Clifton Mill was named one of the five best places for breakfast in the United States. After eating, even though we were quite full, we decided that the ice cream at Young's Jersey Dairy was too good to pass up. We enjoyed the ice cream and visited with the animals in the petting zoo, before following a nearby bicycle path to the quaint town of Yellow Springs. We explored Yellow Springs, enjoying the imaginative art and clothing shops and performing artists. A special bonus was the free chair massage offered to each rider, leaving us feeling very mellow for the trip back to camp.
My wife and three older children came to Xenia that evening to celebrate Ryan's birthday with us. As we dined in a local restaurant, some of the other cyclists surprised Ryan with a birthday cake, candles, and a rendition of "Happy Birthday."
On the third day, we rode south on the Little Miami State Scenic Trail. Cyclists could ride any distance up to 100 miles, as the trail continued south to the Cincinnati area. This delightful trail, which is an Ohio state park, follows the Little Miami River as it meanders south through wooded valleys. Ryan, tired from his birthday festivities, soon fell asleep. As we rolled along, we passed elderly couples walking hand in hand, teens roller-blading, young children with training wheels, and families canoeing. So many people were enjoying the trail that most of the parking lots were full. Turning around after 26 miles, we stopped for lunch and ice cream at the Corwin Peddler. We paused on a small bridge, so that Ryan could indulge in his favorite pastime of throwing pebbles into water.
On the final day, we rode the Creekside Trail into Dayton with Lucy, David, and Marsha. In downtown Dayton, Ryan splashed through the dancing waters of the Fountain of Light. On the return leg we stopped at a playground, a trailside café, and a museum. Back at camp, we were treated to a final foot massage and chair massage before heading home.
This trip highlighted the many benefits that bicycle trails bring to an area. According to research conducted by the Rails to Trails Conservancy, 85 million people used bicycle trails in 1994. According to a 1992 study of three trails by the National Park Service, the average trail user spent $3.97 to $11.02 per day in the communities along the trail. Multiplied by the number of trail users, the total economic benefit for each of the three trails ranged from $1.2 million to $1.8 million per year.
Trails also provide health benefits to communities. The Center for Disease Control recently announced that obesity, caused by poor diet and physical inactivity, is closing in on smoking as a leading cause of death in the United States. Another recent study showed that the number of American adults with high blood pressure has increased 30 percent in the last decade, an increase that one expert attributed in large part to obesity and lack of exercise. According to the National Institute of Health, the number of children who are overweight has doubled in the last two to three decades, and almost half of children aged 8 to 16 watch three to five hours of television a day. Clearly, our community needs safe, enjoyable, and convenient ways to exercise, and bicycle trails are an ideal solution. Trails also provide mental relaxation, a slower pace in our hectic times. As President John F Kennedy said, "Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of a bike ride."
We have a golden opportunity to develop two rail trails in the Marion area. The Marion County Park District, led by director Jack Telfer, and the Friends of Prairie Parks have been working for years to develop these trails. The Phoebe Snow trail would go west from Marion along the old Erie-Lackawanna railroad, while the CD&M trail would follow the old interurban right of way along Ohio 4. These efforts appear to be making encouraging progress.
I encourage the Marion County Commissioners to show vision and leadership by supporting parks in Marion County, and especially by supporting this exciting opportunity to improve the economic and physical health of Marion County and its residents.
Dan Sheridan is a Marion resident, pharmacist, cyclist, and member of the Heart of Ohio Tailwinds Bicycle Club.
