Letter: Trail bond shouldn’t support motorized uses

Letters submitted by BDN readers are verified by BDN Opinion Page staff. Send your letters to [email protected]
Mainers will be voting to decide whether the state will borrow 30 million dollars “… to invest in the design, development and maintenance for non motorized, motorized and multi-use trails statewide.
The bond would fund LD 1156, the title of which reads: “… for Outdoor Recreation and Active Transportation.”
I think the language of both the bill title and the bond question are misleading.
Active transportation is human powered mobility that involves exercise such as walking, running, biking, cross country skiing and snowshoeing. That much is clear.
But “multi-use trails” (not defined in the bill), generally refers to trails that allow both motorized and non-motorized use, including ATVs up to 5 feet in width. Such a trail is essentially motorized, with provision for the daring pedestrian, bicycler, or skier to put up with the speed, noise, fumes and dust in order to get some exercise or try to enjoy some fresh air and peaceful time in nature.
The bond thus in reality provides for only 25 percent of the funds to be dedicated for non-motorized and active transportation and as much as 75 percent of the funds for motorized trails (when including multi-use trails). At a time when we need to be moving away from further air and noise pollution, reducing our fossil fuel consumption and getting more exercise, we should not be investing such large amounts of borrowed money on recreational infrastructure that promotes the opposite. I support investing in infrastructure for non-motorized trails, but cannot vote for this bill as it is structured.
Connie PotvinHampden