The Rails to Trails Conservancy (RTC) – a trails, walking and biking advocacy organization – is hosting a VIP tour to promote the transformative power, potential and progress of the Great American Rail-Trail in Nebraska, neighboring regions and beyond.
The Great American Rail-Trail is an RTC project that extends the nation’s first multi-use trail across the country, creating an entirely walkable and bikeable route that is separate from vehicle traffic across 3,700 miles, spanning from Washington, D.C. to Washington State. The trail will serve 50 million people within 50 miles of the route, and countless more who travel to it from across the country and world.
Nebraska’s portion of the Great American Rail-Trail is built on the legacy of the Cowboy Recreation and Nature Trail, which offers a rustic experience through the West and one of the longest rail-trails in the country. It provides an example of the trail’s potential to create economic opportunity and safe walking and biking routes that link rural, suburban and urban communities. In Nebraska, the Great American is expected to generate $1.3 million in new tax revenue and over $14.5 million in visitor spending, annually, adding 170 new jobs and $6.1 million in labor income to the state. During the tour, participants will connect with local leaders, business owners and advocates who are tapping into this possibility to accelerate the completion of the trail in the state.
The 100-mile VIP bike tour departs Lincoln, Nebraska, on September 23 and ends in Norfolk, Nebraska on September 27. The event is designed for bicyclists of all skill levels. Media who are unable to attend the full week can join key events or single days of the tour. For more information about these opportunities and to RSVP, contact Patricia Brooks at patricia@matchmapmedia.com.
