Well-patrolled trails see more use

In the past two years, my use of the trails in Cedar Rapids has escalated. I use them during my lunch time for exercise, usually with my husband. We even ride from home on the weekends and catch a trail out by 76th Street or Airport Road or come from the Northwest and catch the one by Ellis Park and connect to the one downtown. We bike, run and walk them as often as possible.

I meet and pass many people on the trail on a regular basis. There are areas I do not like going through alone, where you are more secluded from people and traffic, but that is changing.

Thank you to the police department for increasing its patrol of these trails. I often meet officers on bikes and Segways but as of late, near the railroad tracks, they were on a quad. It is impossible to be everywhere or even in the right spot at the right time. I am hoping the increased police presence prevents crimes.

Though I feel better knowing they are there, I still need to be smart about where/when I go alone.

Use the trails! They are there for us to enjoy. My enjoyment is higher knowing they are well patrolled!

Pamela J. Edkin

Cedar Rapids