It’s no secret that traveling in the state of Georgia is primarily done via highways and by car. In 2019, founder and local cyclist Mary Charles Howard wanted to change that with the Georgia Hi-Lo Trail Initiative.
Howard highlighted the success of the Firefly Trail in Athens, which stretches 39 miles through Athens-Clarke County and takes trail users from downtown Athens southeast to Winterville. The Hi-Lo Trail will connect to the Firefly Trail and continue another 211 miles to Savannah, Georgia, and eventually Tybee Island.
After gathering support and donations, the organization will now begin the construction process, which is expected to be completed in 2050.
The overall mission of the trail is to physically and socially empower Georgia’s population by bridging existing disparities between rural neighborhoods and creating space for healthier and more inclusive cities.
The first section of the trail will be built from the north to the south end of the Forest Grove Preserve and will include the first 2.2 miles of the Hi-Lo Trail.
Howard described the impact the trail will have on people without cars in Athens-Clarke County, such as students at the University of Georgia.
“Driving through a small town is one thing, but walking and meeting people is a very human way of getting to know your state,” Howard said.
Mac Walker, a senior majoring in entertainment and media studies and an avid cyclist, has been biking to and from class every day for years. He said improving cycling opportunities in Athens “will lead to a huge improvement in safety and community” and that the current cycling infrastructure needs improvement.
“The bike lanes are pretty small and broken in different places,” Walker said. “It could definitely be better.”
The Hi-Lo Trail is designed to provide safer alternatives for cyclists and walkers while opening the door to possible future economic development, such as that seen around Atlanta’s BeltLine Trail, which is 35 kilometers long and connects 45 neighborhoods.
The Hi-Lo Trail partners with the PATH Foundation, which helped design the BeltLine.
“They bring a lot of their knowledge into the design of the Hi-Lo trail,” Howard said.
The ATHSAV is an event made possible by the Trail, where cyclists come together for a three-day bike ride from Athens to Savannah. The route passes through lesser-known cities and gives cyclists the opportunity to see places they might never otherwise visit.
Additionally, the Hi-Lo Trail will host the Kids Bike League as well as community rides for areas in Georgia such as Effingham, Sandersville and more.
Howard hopes that this major regional project will have a lasting impact on future generations.
“The students who are in college now could potentially ride this trail with their children and grandchildren,” Howard said. “(The HiLo Trail) opens the minds and hearts of these students today, but then makes them think, ‘Where do I want to be in 26 years? What kind of parent do I want to be?'”
When completed, the trail will be the longest paved walking trail in America. Athens will lead Georgia by example and pave the way for a healthy and connected region.
