Obviously bikers need to use caution when using the painted lane or the paved trail through the park. Just because people are using a paved trail through the forest, does not mean it is free of hazards. Many serious accidents are bike on bike or bike vs. pedestrian accidents on such trails.
The new trail crosses the main roads in several places which is also a very real safety concern.
I still don’t like using $10 million dollars + ongoing maintenance costs to build a trail through the park. Progress is fine but not at the cost of our most precious resources. This area has always been a destination for serious bikers and doubt this new “Disney” trail will add to the tourism numbers greatly. Tourists can bike in their suburban neighborhoods but coming to run up the Dunes, hike natural trails and experience pristine beaches is unique to this area of the Midwest. I believe that is the main attraction. Why would a suburban family pay $!00 per family of 4 to rent bikes in Glen Arbor when you can go to a glorious beach for free??? If I was watching my pennies on a family vacation I would not! We’ll see if this major trail investment and the tearing up of the park pays off for local business owners. If the financials seem to pay off for them,…I wonder what the cost is to the environment…and if that environment will continue to attract visitors 25-50 years in the future. Seems like the business owners of Glen Arbor who will profit from this trail are doing just fine…doubt they have to line their pockets any further.
Thankful for this forum but wish the Glen Arbor Sun would share another perspective of this story vs. just the pro-Heritage trail/ pro-business perspective 