New Online Resource Highlights Abundance of Bike Trails in Virginia
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A new website created by non-profit Bike Virginiadraws attention to the vast selection of bike trails in Virginia. The site features bike trails, routes, and parks in it'sPlaces to Ride database at www.ibikeva.com.
- Lynchburg, VA (1888PressRelease) February 11, 2015 - Virginia has an ever growing selection of bike trails and creating awareness of those sites is beneficial for financial, health, and environmental reasons.
Cycling on trails is enjoyed by many for exercise, recreation, and transportation. Homes located on paths and trails have shown increased property values as more people are seeking out bike trails for active lifestyles.
Virginia's abundance of trails draw tourism and create new business opportunities. "The trails listings on websites can increase awareness, drive up trail use and benefit the communities surrounding the trails in many ways," says Executive Director, Dr. Kim Perry, "trails across the US draw significant tourism spending to towns. Virginia is getting more engaged in this very big resource and now we can offer the Ride Guide Website as a way to help spread the word about all the great places to ride in the state."
Bike trails and paths can be found all across the state, from mountains to coast. Urban areas like Richmond, Tidewater, and Northern Virginia offer a selection, as well as more mid-sized and rural communities to the west like Roanoke, Blacksburg, Pulaski, and Abingdon.
The Ride Guide draws attention to bike trails in Virginia through its searchable database which has a description of trails, links, maps, and sometimes videos. Users can also submit their favorite trails through the online forms on the site.
Virginia's rich history, beautiful scenery, and temperate climate make the state an ideal showcase for bike trails. Visitors and residents alike can enjoy a large variety of riding on the selection of existing trails in the state throughout most of the year.
The state is well poised to see a big impact from cycling. Oregon has recently reported over $440 million in annual economic impact from cycling in that state. Economic boost comes from a travel spending, bike related businesses, events, and other cycling driven spending. "With the right focus on trails, the state of Virginia can bring in more tourism, create new jobs through cycling related businesses, and get our own residents engaged in healthy outdoor activities," said Dr. Perry.
The Bike Virginia Ride Guide about also provides a calendar of cycling related events and activities across the Commonwealth at www.ibikeva.com. Virginia is host to dozens of cycling events that draw thousands of participants of all ages.
The listings for bike trails and events are free and are submitted by community members through simple online formshttp://ibikeva.com/content/share-and-submit. Listing are reviewed by staff before publication.
The Ride Guide website is a new advocacy program of the non-profit Bike Virginia. The Richmond BikeVirginia is state-wide organization using education, events, awareness and grants to improve communities through cycling. Funds for the Ride Guide website are generated by contributions, sponsorship, donations, advertisement sales and event registrations the annual Bike Virginia Tour event.
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