Outside Looking in on the Auburn Trail Extension Project

As of late most of our postings have been substantive, relating to what we've done in the area and how the projects are progressing, however today we'll depart from that to weigh in on a larger scale local project just outside our sphere of direct influence. The Auburn Trail Extension http://www.auburntrail.com/index.html
project is determining how to best use the $885k grant to extend the Auburn Trail from the Fishers Fire Hall to Powder Mills Park. Many trail advocacy groups are already on board and steering the ship in the right direction but lately they have come across a stumbling block. Rightly they are seeking public input for the project, but unfortunately our comments did not come in under their quota for character so we are taking advantage of this venue to voice opinions and concerns......well, that and post some pics of new singletrack in the area.

The Auburn Trail Extension project offers a great opportunity to promote healthy lifestyles, attitudes and most importantly, it can be the vehicle of change to motivate people to re-examine their habits. Yes, we all love the illusion of solitude that narrow singletrack can provide, but certainly The Auburn project isn’t the venue to pursue that end. As someone correctly pointed out, don’t let the process get bogged down by arguing over the minutiae of trail width. That debate can be avoided by setting a clear scope and goal for the project. Having a 3 ft wide path will not viably accommodate joggers, cyclists, in-line skaters, strollers and wheelchairs without users feeling cramped, infringed upon or injured. We have the opportunity to “design out” these problems from the beginning, doing otherwise would be reckless. On the other hand, a path 6 or 8 ft wide can more easily manage two-way traffic and makes the idea of commuting via bicycle or by foot to work, the grocery store, the coffee shop or the gym more appealing to a larger audience. Getting people involved in a non-sedentary activity should be the impetus. As active cyclists we need to understand that fostering a healthy community and culture benefits us all in the end.