Northeast Missouri to create a cycling trail connecting Moberly, Macon, Kirksville, Hannibal | Hannibal.net

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Corey Mehaffy, executive director of the Hannibal Regional Economic Development Council, is working with the Northeast Trails Committee and state partners in an effort to one day connect bike and walking trails across Northeast Missouri.

The trail would connect Moberly, Macon, Kirksville and Hannibal.

Providing safer paths for cyclists who are often riding on highways and promoting healthy lifestyle and social connections, the trails will have multiple benefits for area residents.

However, Mehaffy said that the connective trails are a powerful, and often untapped, source of revenue for the communities that have them.

An avid cyclist himself, Mehaffy became a believer in the economic growth that comes with connective trails as he frequently rides the Racoon River Valley Trail and the High Trestle Trail around West Des Moines, Iowa.

Areas that were once struggling are now seeing new life with wineries, distilleries and various eateries that visitors can stop at along the trail.

“A lot of these smaller communities are starting to see housing again,” he said. “They’ve got new businesses popping up and people who desire to build their houses with their property backing up to the trail so that they can walk or ride it everyday.”

Link: 

Northeast Missouri to create a cycling trail connecting Moberly, Macon, Kirksville, Hannibal | Hannibal.net

MoBikeFed comment: One asset already in this area is the beautiful Way of American Genius Bicycle Route, paralleling Hwy 36 from Hannibal to St Joseph:

https://mobikefed.org/2012/11/highway-36-bicycle-route-unveiled-st-josep...

But this region of the state is clearly underserved with respect to trails. Kudos to local leaders for having this kind of regional vision.