Our coalition believes that any vision for future growth in Prince George's County should include a trail system that ties together the county's residential neighborhoods, parks, recreation areas, and employment centers. Such a trail system would consist of dedicated hiker-biker-equestrian trails along stream valleys and other parkland, as well as bicycle accommodations along existing roadways. We believe that an interconnected system of trails should be considered a vital element of the county's future infrastructure.

Briefly, here are some of the benefits that a well-designed trails system would provide:

Enhanced Recreational Opportunities. Trails could provide safe access to every neighborhood in the County for bicycling, running, or hiking through parkland and other scenic areas. County residents should not have to travel to Montgomery County or Virginia to enjoy scenic recreational trails.

Practical Bicycle Commuting. Increasing the number of county residents who bike to work would reduce traffic congestion and air pollution, and provide an enjoyable and healthful alternative to driving.

Increasing a Countywide Sense of Community. Most areas of Prince George's County, like suburbs everywhere, are designed around the automobile. Anyone who wants to walk or bike faces an uninviting, even hostile, environment. But overreliance on the automobile is one of the major causes of the perceived "sterility" of many traditional suburban neighborhoods. We believe that our proposed trail system would go a long way toward recreating a friendly, small-town atmosphere throughout Prince George's County.

Prince George's County has made a good start toward this goal, with more than 30 miles of dedicated trails already in use and more in the planning stages. We hope that further expansion of the trail system will become an integral element of the County's vision for the 21^st Century. This would involve not only the dedicated trails, but all aspects of County transportation planning. For example, all new intersections and roadways should be designed with bicycle and pedestrian access in mind.

I hope these comments will prove helpful to the Commission as it helps decide how Prince George's County should grow.

March 29, 1999