Phillip Barron The Herald Sun December 22nd, 2005 DURHAM — One reason Lars Trost took his current job is that he knew he could bike to work from home. His office is about six miles south Forest Hills West, and it was important to him to find a route he could ride safely at night, since he often leaves work in the dark. After months of riding, he feels that the American Tobacco Trail is the safest and most direct route. Ever since Daylight Savings Time ended in October, Trost, like most bike commuters in Durham, finds himself riding home […]
The Outspokin’ Cyclist: To pave or gravel part of biking trail under debate
Phillip Barron The Herald Sun November 10th, 2005 DURHAM — Chris Sevick would love to be able to ride the entire 23 miles of the American Tobacco Trail. Three things stand in his way right now, but he hopes that riding it will be a real possibility one day soon. The first obstacle is a 1,000-foot gap between where the trail currently ends at N.C. 54 and where it will pick up at The Streets at Southpoint. A pedestrian and cyclist bridge over Interstate 40 is in the works and funding has been set aside by the federal government (and […]
Column: Bike Against Bad Air to back tougher clean air rule
Phillip Barron The Herald Sun September 8th, 2005 DURHAM — As if North Carolina didn’t already have a hard enough time combating air pollution, a new federal ruling may allow neighboring, upwind states to off-load soot and other particulate pollutants on the Tar Heel State. In July, Attorney General Roy Cooper filed a lawsuit in federal court and a petition with the Environmental Protection Agency to reconsider portions of the agency’s Clean Air Interstate Rule. “While we generally support EPA’s new standards to clean our air,” Cooper explained, “we fear that loopholes in this Rule will give power plants in […]
Column: Solstice night ride brings together diverse group
Phillip Barron The Herald Sun July 14, 2005 DURHAM — Back in the winter, Curt and Judy Eshelman had an idea. They though it would be fun to celebrate the summer solstice with an organized cycling event. At night. A night ride in honor of the longest day of the year. “They made one fatal error,” says friend and fellow cyclist Peter Anlyan. “They put it out to the cycling community for opinions.” It seems no one could agree on anything — the time, the route, whether to make it a benefit ride. But Curt Eshelman is quick to point […]
Column: Have no fear, cyclists, Officer BMX is on the job
The Herald-Sun April 27, 2005 DURHAM — Riding along the American Tobacco Trail on my way home from work, I come up behind another bicyclist. I slow down to say hello, as I always do. My fellow biker assertively tells me to slow down, to pull over and that he is a cop. “Of course, Officer,” I say, unlocking my shoe from the pedal and squeezing the brakes a little harder. When we both stop conveniently at an intersection, I look more closely at the arresting officer: a young boy, no more than 9 years old. “I read in the […]
Column: Bike tour promotes national greenway
The Herald-Sun October 7, 2004 DURHAM — Gene Mayhall of Durham writes in to say that he and his wife have ridden their bicycles on greenways — linear parks — all over the United States and even Canada. “Durham’s American Tobacco Trail (ATT), while not the longest, is one of the very best,” says Mayhall. “We’re lucky to have it.” If the East Coast Greenway (ECG) is successful with its plans, the ATT along with the South Ellerbee Creek Trail in northern Durham will become part of the longest greenway project in the country. The East Coast Greenway is an […]