From Rails to Trails: The Making of America's Active Transportation Network

by Peter Harnik

If, as Wallace Stegner said, the national park is “the best idea we ever had,” the rail-trail is certainly a close runner-up. Part transportation corridor, part park, the rail-trail has revolutionized the way America creates high-quality, car-free pathways for bicyclists, runners, walkers, equestrians, and more.

It was only a few decades after railroad barons had run roughshod over America’s economy and politics that they began to shed nearly one hundred thousand miles of unneeded railroad corridor. At the same time, bicyclists were being so thoroughly pushed off ever-more-intimidating roadways they came close to extinction. Through political organizing and lawyerly grit, an unlikely, formerly marginalized advocacy arose, seized on seemingly worthless strips of land, and created a resource that is treasured by millions of Americans today for recreation, purposeful travel, tourism, conservation, and historical interpretation.

From Rails to Trails is the fascinating tale of the rails-to-trails movement as well as a consideration of what the continued creation of rail-trails means for the future of Americans’ health, nonmotorized transportation networks, and communities across the country.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Cycling

288 pages, Paperback

Published May 1, 2021

Reviews

[Mitchell Friedman]

A bit uneven. But fascinating. And what's not to love. You got history of trains in the United States. And history of bicycles. And a little bit on roads. And the railroads get abandoned and the story is all new. Cool and geeky. Sure it dragged in spots. And sometimes devolved into lists. But even the politics were interesting. 3.5 of 5.

[Wayne Clark]

Some personal history first ...

I have had a strong affinity with the Rails to Trails Conservancy ever since they were founded in 1986. I was living in far-away Silicon Valley at the time (at least far away from Washington DC) but I immediately saw the value of what the Conservancy was trying to accomplish and joined as a member in 1987.

During the birthing of cisco (1990) and our daughter (1991), my membership lapsed. I rejoined in 1997 and have been a member ever since. I am honored to know and work with several of the members of RTC since I now live in Washington DC.

Now, about the book ...

This book fills in all of the details of the struggle of taking the rapidly abandoned railroad rights-of-way and giving them a new purpose for use as trails for bicycling and walking. I have ridden thousands of miles on rail-trails over the past 35 years and look forward to many more truly enjoyable travels. Now that I am in my 70s, I see a greater percentage of my future bicycling miles to be, not on roads, but on rail-trails.

[Richard Munson]

The idea seems simple and brilliant – convert abandoned railroad lines to trails available for bicyclists, walkers, equestrians, birders, and nature-lovers. This being a democracy, however, realizing the actual conversion often requires a story, usually a political one, that Peter Harnik tells engagingly. He offers a fascinating history of trains and bicycles, as well as inspiring tales of local efforts to build coalitions and obtain funding for rail-trails that he describes as “a collaboration of nineteenth-century physical brown and late twentieth-century political skills.” Harnik portrays the visionaries and organizers who devised, to date, some 18,000 miles of such byways, as well as suggests how this “quirky, surprising” movement can expand to meet our future needs for transportation and parklands.

[M.]

As a frequent rider on the WO&D and Capital Crescent trail, I had been vaguely aware of their histories, but reading this book entirely changed how I see them now. Since the author was directly involved with the Rails to Trails Conservancy since its infancy, the reader truly feels like they are there with the early advocates for the Rails to Trails movement. 
The range of readers who would be interested in this book includes cyclists (for obvious reasons), environmental activists (due to the close interweaving of preservation and land use involved in Rails to Trails as well as the general concept of moving away from cars as a main form of transport), local politics activists (due to the in depth discussion of grassroots advocacy), and history and preservation enthusiasts (due to the information about the history of the Rails to Trails movement as well as how these trails preserve the history of the rail that was once there.) I would even argue that train enthusiasts should read the book - the understandable ire at the concept of a trail replacing a rail if you are a train enthusiast is addressed, and frequently mentioned when it comes to the transition of a piece of rail to become a trail. 
Written with great insight into the nuances and hard work that it takes to piece through the legalese of old documents, wrangling citizen support, and harnessing the power of varying levels of government agencies, I truly got a lot out of this book and encourage anyone even vaguely interested in any of the aforementioned topics to check it out. 
(This review has been posted to other review sites as well.)

[Anson Cassel Mills]

Fortunately, PBS has made an excellent documentary based on this book, written by a co-founder of the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. Harnik is a natural storyteller, and the many rails-to-trails projects of the past half-century provide him with a plethora of instructive and amusing anecdotes about the ways in which these recreational trails were put together. Though the book includes chapters on the development of rail corridors in the 19th century and on the rise, fall, and rise again of bicycling, the most important lesson of Harnik's book is the necessity for grassroots activists to build coalitions around partially shared goals. For rail-trails, bicyclists and walkers were an obvious match, but in certain circumstances, proponents of rail-trails also found allies in hunters, snowmobilers, cable layers, and even railroads. So, this book would make an excellent study for state and local political candidates and office holders interested in far different objectives than “active transportation networks.”

[Squeak]

I went into this read being reminded that it was a history of the rail-to-trail journey not a guide book and while it tells a great tale it also sparks an interest to go seek out all these trails the author mentions. He interviews some key people in the movement and includes some interesting, odd tidbits that helps move the story along. He also makes it clear that the trek has been powered by passion...decades long...and still has a long way to go. Rails-to-Trails offer a great deal of positive and possible, but we need to get behind them and lift them up to keep the momentum going. If you walk, ride, ski, skate, or live by a trail, you should check out the book!

[Christine]

🩷 loved this book. Learned a lot. I’m a big fan and user of rail-trails so it was really interesting to read about their history and how the entire rail to trail movement evolved (and is still doing so). I’ve seen the tv production of this book but of course the book is much more detailed. I like that the author presented opponents’ positions which is part of the history of the movement - a comprehensive accounting. So much work and dedication has gone into creating so many rail-trails around the country - I’m so appreciative. Thank you to Peter Harnik and the countless people involved whose diligence and hard work has (and continues to) pay off for all of us.

[Charles Bookman]

A life-long friend co-founded a Washington organization dedicated to converting disused railroad lines into linear parks for cyclists, walkers, and equestrians. I’ve ridden rail trails in the east and the west, from the Capital Crescent trail in Washington, DC to the Burke-Gilman Trail in the other Washington. I am grateful to the unsung organizers, public servants and even rail industry professionals who labored for years on these projects. This book tells the story of the movement. It’s important environmental history for those who pedal behind us. Read more at bookmanreader.blogspot.com .

[Kevin]

Covers the fascinating story of how hundreds of abandoned railroad lines got repurposed as recreational trails. In addition to being comprehensive, this book is entertaining to read. Harnik's writing is top notch and he includes lots of anecdotes, many of which, only he has firsthand knowledge of (as co-founder of Rails to Trails Conservancy). After reading this book, I can't wait to go travel the country on rail trails!

[Phil]

This was great. Made me want to go explore the states by bike. Or buy a house along a bike trail. This book is dense. We have to talk about railroads in America. The development of bikes. The decline of rail travel and then what to do with all those miles of linear track sitting idle and unloved. Politics played a heavy role and still does in many places.

[Donna Perry]

great history lesson

Very informative history of the rail trail development. I’ve been enjoying many rail trail expansions in my state of MA and wanted to understand how such an incredible idea materializes.

[Daniel K Jensen]

An engaging and informative read for someone looking to understand the history of the rail-trail movement in the United States.

[Katherine Roberts]

3.5 stars

[Trace]

Very thorough timeline of how the rails to trails came to be.