Urban bike trails aren’t just for recreation

For many years, one of the main points of debate over the Purple Line route between Bethesda and Connecticut Avenue in Montgomery County has the interim Capital Crescent Trail, an unpaved section along the old railroad right-of-way that the light rail Purple Line would also use. Washington Post columnist Marc Fisher, after largely staying out of the debate, weighed in on the matter through two columns last month. Fisher took a common, but incomplete, approach that framed the debate as “Trail Lovers” against transit advocates. Other articles in the Post have framed this issue similarly. This approach shortchanges the potential of paved off-road trails in urban places.

Currently, bicyclists make up many of the patrons on the interim trail. While many cyclists ride for recreation, many people use bicycles as practical transportation, especially on the completed section of the Capital Crescent Trail between Bethesda and Georgetown. That’s feasible on the completed part of the trail because it connects centers of activity. It is not feasible on the incomplete part of the trail because the eastern terminus does not connect to anything. Today, the trail ends almost two miles short of downtown Silver Spring.

According to a 2006 survey by the Coalition for the Capital Crescent Trail, the interim portion of the trail east of Bethesda gets much less usage than the completed portion between Bethesda and Georgetown. If Maryland builds the light rail Purple Line, they will also build the final portion and pave the segment between Bethesda and Silver Spring.

Fisher’s framing of the debate assumes that paved trails in urban areas are only for recreation. I’m not trying to lambaste Mr. Fisher. In fact, I found his coverage of the Purple Line to be a good read. However, his view of the role of trails shortchanges their full potential. When a trail connects places that people want to go, enhances mobility within a region. Many bicycle owners would use a completed Capital Crescent Trail, running alongside the Purple Line, for practical uses like commuting to work, visiting a friend, or shopping (after attaching a basket or trunk to their bicycle). Over the long term, more people will use the trail for practical transportation because of its convenience. Just as shiny new highways induce more traffic because they make discretionary automobile trips seem more convenient, a completed Capital Crescent Trail between Bethesda and Silver Spring will induce more bicycle trips. Many of those induced bicycle trips will replace automobile trips.

Bicycles are non-polluting, inexpensive, and are urban-friendly because they don’t require huge parking structures. Practical bicycle transportation infrastructure also makes nice recreational hiker/biker trails. That’s why bicycle advocates like WABA have endorsed the light rail Purple Line option to also complete the trail. Building the Purple Line isn’t about the trail versus transit. It’s about having a useful trail and transit at the same time.