This new ten mile trail connecting northern communities to the Parkway will eventually reach to Chico; a wonderful example of the future connections that will allow people to traverse the region by bike and walking.
The one sad note, and it is important, is that the equestrian trail was not kept and the reasons for that need to be re-examined as allowing people from the equestrian community to access trails is crucial not only from the recreational aspect but also from that of public safety as they bring additional eyes and ears, riding high, to focus on trails that can become trouble spots.
An excerpt.
A bikeway blooms in Rio Linda, where freight trains once rolled
By Deepa Ranganathan - Bee Staff WriterPublished 12:00 am PST Sunday, October 29, 2006
When the Sacramento Northern Bikeway crosses M Street in Rio Linda, its appearance changes.
The narrow strip of asphalt grows darker and smoother as it meanders north. The yellow center line brightens. And the mature trees that line the path farther south disappear, replaced by tiny shrubs and spindly oak saplings.
The northernmost 1.8 miles of the bikeway are brand new, giving residents as far north as Elverta Road a traffic-free connection to the American River Parkway bike trail 10 miles south.
The extension, a project of the Sacramento County Department of Transportation, cost $2.1 million and was paid for with a mix of federal and state funds. It begins right where the old path leaves off -- at Front and M streets -- and ends at Elverta Road and Rio Linda Boulevard.
The extension includes benches, water fountains and about 750 recently planted young trees. At the end of the path, tired walkers, bicyclists and horse riders can rest in a new gazebo.
