As I walked to a store from the parking lot, an in-line skater with a backpack whizzed past me, jumped a small curb and curved onto the Monon Trail headed north. I wanted to see where they were going in such a hurry, so I peered down the trail. Soon they were a distant miniature image skating onward and they blended into the trees and foliage and other trail users there. I got the information I wanted from the store and sat down outside on a bench for a minute to read their brochure as it was such a nice day. That position also afforded me a view of the Trail. It was a popular place to be at that moment. Joggers, walkers, cyclists and skaters all sharing the trail.
Automobiles have been given top priority in the planning of our cities. Just about everything revolves around and caters to the driving and parking of them. Let’s face it…we are hooked on our cars. So it’s refreshing to see at least something set aside for the non-use of automobiles with the Monon Trail. People are using it for recreation, yes, but are also using it to go from Point A to Point B. To go to work, to run errands, to get things done. They can actually go more than 16 miles on the trail and link to thousands of destinations. To me it’s a great success that civic planners should take notice of. We need more trails like this in all areas of the city. There are intangible positive benefits too. It links the community together in ways that automobile traffic cannot. Our automobiles insulate us from each other, while the Trail bonds it’s users together in a common and friendly way.
The view down the trail made me wish I had had my jogging shoes with me at that moment. I had an appointment soon and didn’t have time today but I promised myself to come back again later.
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