In addition to the thoughtful comments about the potentially devastating environmental impact of this project and the serious concerns about the safety of riders who have not been on bikes in many years and are unfamiliar with the route and the surrounding roads, I’d like to raise another concern: Does Glen Arbor (and the precious, beautiful area that surrounds it) want to be overrun with casual cyclists and is it prepared for the changes that will result? I am all for people being active, reducing their carbon footprint, spending time with their families, and so on. But we cannot ignore the changes that will result from thousands of people coming out to – or traveling into town to – use this trail. I also appreciate that those who know about such a special place do not want it to change – myself included – but the combination of the GMAA press, the incredible publicity around the trail, and the local businesses who are pushing it has resulted in a town that barely resembles the area we have come to know and love.
↧