"Why Do You Hate Bikes?" (OR: The (non)Sustainable Trail of Tears)

Let me start this out by saying that biking and walking are terrific, healthy activities. The phenomenal part about them is that you can do them virtually anywhere! But does it really have to be on a bike path designed to run from Gladwin to Beaverton?

Over time, we've heard people ask, "Why do you hate bikes? Why do you hate healthy? Why do you hate paths? Why do you hate safety?"

Well, I suppose it's time to address those questions.

When we say "Sustainable Trail of Tears (STOT)," we are referring to the plans floating around about a bike path that will extend from Gladwin to Beaverton for people who would like to walk or bike between the two cities. It will be paid for initially with a portion of a 1.7 million dollar grant that the Central Michigan District Health Department received called a "Community Transformation Grant", administered through the Center for Disease Control. The goal of the grant is to get people to eat more vegetables and fruits, stop smoking, and be more physically active.

They have allegedly created vegetable gardens at some elementary schools, and paid for advertising and billboards throughout the area (because THAT makes people healthier for sure).

Could a bike trail help people get healthier? Sure....if they use it. But it may not be healthy for our fiscal future; and it might not be a happy thing for the people whose property will be part of the acquisition for the trail and easements.....

We've not heard of a definite "path" that the STOT would follow, but if it goes along with the current flow of path traffic, it may follow - as we've heard it might - the Cedar River.

OK, so initially the CMDHD grant might fund the building of the path... But who will pay to maintain it? Who will pay someone to come out and move fallen limbs?

And while we're at it - will it end up being somewhere where criminals like to go hide out in the cut? And if so, will we need extra police presence? And if we don't - because there aren't enough - will we have to put surveillance cameras out? How about lighting?

And can we sustain that long term? Who will be responsible? The county and cities? The Health Department? The State? A Regional Entity? And when they can't afford it anymore, will it simply be leased to an entity who wants to care for it?

And about the land taking - how much exactly would be needed for a trail and an easement? According to sample agreements, the average appears to be around 66 feet. And who would that affect? Well, we went to the GIS Map Viewer and took some screen shots of property along the Cedar River to show that REAL PEOPLE may be affected by this project.

<kinda takes on a different feel when you can put names and faces on it, huh?>

First off, here's a look at the Cedar River from Gladwin to Beaverton.

Now, here's a closer look:

There are some plots that belong to the state.

But then....If the trail follows the river, there are some plots that might coincide with the trail (depending on what side of the river will be followed)  that belong to private owners. These are the ones that may be asked to sacrifice a portion of their own property for "the greater good." We're not saying they are for sure; we're just saying, consider the possibility. Because someone WILL be asked to sacrifice property. In fact, many might be asked.

Like we said - kinda puts a different slant on it, when you can imagine someone asking you to give up some of your property for a bike path, doesn't it?

When asked about the Bike Path by Kelly Miller, Commissioner Don Birgel said, "It's a grant! What do you want us to do, tell them to take the $1.7 million back down to Mt. Pleasant?"

 Why, yes.... Yes, Don, that's EXACTLY what we want you to tell them.