The Cross Town Trail

When it comes to trails, Fredericton punches above its weight. Even so, the Cross Town Trail in my neighbourhood took years of advocacy to get built. Is this the final iteration of that trail? I doubt it. But it's good enough that if you compare the routes people took before and after, the difference is obvious — people use the trail.

Friends with kids tell me it's been a game-changer for getting around safely. I believe them, because the summer a friend and I were both recovering from injuries — she had a broken ankle, I had a broken collarbone — we discovered just how challenging it is to get across town when you're not the most confident version of yourself on wheels.

Active transportation infrastructure isn't about cycling enthusiasts. It's about whether everyone — kids, seniors, people on wheels of all kinds — can get where they're going safely.