Latah Trail Update:
Remember back in May of 1869 when the first transcontinental rail line joined the East Coast with the West Coast? All that celebration, revelry and general merrymaking that took place the day the golden spike was driven to connect the both sides of the country by train. We’re about to recreate some of that east/west connectivity excitement here on the Palouse this month with the completion of the Latah Trail between Moscow and Troy. If all goes according to the plan, by the time you read this it will be possible for cyclists, runners, walkers, skaters, skiers and any other non-combustified traveler to make the journey safely and comfortably from Moscow to Troy and back. The missing link — the bridge over Wallen Road — should be finished with a beautiful hunk of pre-fab concrete from Minnesota and the final two miles of trail paved with a layer of sweet, silky asphalt. Commuters and recreators rejoice! And thank all those volunteers, donors and organizations who have worked long and hard to make this incredible resource a reality. Cheers to all.
Also, if you haven’t heard, a great way to celebrate the trail and help provide funding for this final phase of construction would be to attend the Latah Trail Foundation’s “East Meets West” Dinner and Auction. For those who have attended these fundraising dinners in the past, you know it is a guaranteed good time; and if you haven’t, the food and drinks never disappoint and the fun rolls on and on — kind of like our newly finished trail.
Human Powered Hero:
In honor of the completion of the Latah Trail this month, we spoke with Latah Trail Foundation Executive Director, Nora Locken, who, not coincidentally, is dedicated to the Low-Car Lifestyle.
How far is your daily commute? I’d say about 6 miles. From my house to the downtown area a couple times each day. For a short time I lived in the country, but living in town makes bike commuting so much more practical.
Do you ride or walk more? I ride about 90 percent of the time. That’s 5.4 miles of riding each day! Which means I walk about .6 miles, not much.
How long have you been a committed bike commuter? Quite a while, I started riding to school at age 7 and haven’t really stopped since.
Age seven! My brother Emmett didn’t learn to walk until then. I think all 7-year-olds should be riding to school, especially in Moscow. It’s a friendly town to ride in!
Tell us about your bike. Bikes actually. I have a road bike, a hybrid and a mountain bike. The road bike is my favorite commuter; it has fenders, a rack and lights. Its name is Silver Bullet.
We know where it got the name, we’ve seen you whizzing around town. Yeah, it’s a really fast bike. I use my mountain bike if there’s going to be gravel on my trip. I also have Old Yell’er, my hybrid, which isn’t my favorite to ride. And then there’s the love of my life, Dirty Old Green Gabby, a beautiful green 3-speed cruiser. Such a cool bike, sadly I had to leave it with a friend when I moved from Vermont. It was too heavy to bring all the way to Moscow.
Any bike commuter tips to share? Make sure your bike is comfortable and get into a routine of riding it. Once you’re in the routine it’s as convenient as driving a car. Also, make sure to wear a helmet!
Most essential bike commuter gear? Panniers! You have to be able to carry the things you need. My husband and I share one nice new waterproof set and an old beat up set. We both have one from each.
True compromise!
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