I live just off a portion of this trail (the Racoon River Trail) in Iowa. Judging by the pace of trail construction here, it will take many years to complete,

I live just off a portion of this trail (the Racoon River Trail) in Iowa. Judging by the pace of trail construction here, it will take many years to complete, but I am still excited to see it happen. I have ridden over 1000 miles on the RRVT in the past couple of years and especially in the pandemic it was a great way to relax and recharge. I never get bored of riding the same trail segments. This provides: 1- Moving meditation, just pedal, relax, contemplate. 2- Exercise 3- Motivation - There are Strava segments all over and around this trail, I really like to compete against myself. Friends supply encouraging kudos. 4- Connection - Even at a social distance, it is great to see "trail friends". 5- Nature - Lots of wildlife along the trail. Extra race in heartbeat when you see the back end of a skunk aimed at you. 6- Safety - Other than road crossings, avoiding cars is a big deal. No fear of some texting driver smashing you from behind. There are all kinds of bikes and people on the trail, recumbents, ebikes, families, race teams, etc. The trail is well maintained and affordable at $26/year for a pass. My guess is that >90% of the users don't pay the fee.