Cycling Community

Traverse Area Recreation and Transportation (TART) Trails

Bob Otwell, Executive Director, TART Trails, Inc.

Hello Iceman participants,
TART Trails is a non-profit organization whose mission reads: “Enriching the Traverse area by providing an interconnected network of trails, bikeways and pedestrian ways; and encouraging their use.” The current network includes 55 miles of trails utilized by thousands of people who walk, bike, run, in-line skate, cross-country ski and commute. Our mission emphasizes the importance of a fine grid of facilities in developed areas where people can walk and bike, so that more trips for more reasons can originate from work, school or home.

We believe that the Iceman Cometh event raises significant awareness of the TART trail system due to the portion of the race that takes place on the Vasa Pathway. Trails provide many tangible community benefits including: increased tourism, economic activity, more recreational activities, greater appreciation and protection of the local environment, increased opportunities for family-oriented activities, and an increase in community health. TART Trails has been working diligently to improve the trails and greenways network in the Grand Traverse Area.

In the past year, progress has been made on several fronts, including the construction of a new section of the Boardman Lake Trail which includes a bridge across the Boardman River, and the extension of Bike Route signage in the City of Traverse City. In addition, TART organizes several events that promote physical activity and trail use. Our annual Smart Commute Week event encourages alternative transportation options such as walking, biking, taking the bus or carpooling. TART also hosts the Tour de TART event which is a bike ride from Traverse City to Suttons Bay, and the Turkey TART 5K Fun Run event on Thanksgiving morning. TART also plays a big role in the Leelanau Harvest Tour, a road cycling event, as well as the North American Vasa, a cross-country skiing event.

Enjoy your ride in the northern Michigan woods!

Best regards,

Bob Otwell, Executive Director
Traverse Area Recreation and Transportation
(TART) Trails

For more information about TART, please visit www.traversetrails.org the Leelanau Harvest Tour, a road biking event, as well as the North American Vasa, a cross-country skiing event.

We hope you enjoy the work that we do. Enjoy your ride in the northern Michigan woods!

Iceman Donates to Volunteer Groups

Over twelve different groups helped pitch in with all kinds of functions within the Iceman events. Approximately 20 people from each group helped out to ensure that each aspect of the events went smoothly and kept us on our time schedule. Beneficiaries of the 2007 Iceman included:

TART Trails, Inc .............................................	Meijer Sno-Cone
Sci-ma-tech ....................................................	Finish Line Timing
Trojan Nordic Ski Team ...............................	Finish Line Food Station
Kalkaska Football Team ..............................	Kalkaska Parking & Tear Down
Northstars '90 Girls Soccer Team ..............	Kalkaska Packet Pick-up
Trojan Soccor Boosters ...............................	Williamsburg Road Food Station
Bay Area Reps Hockey Team ....................	Timber Ridge Tear Down
Trojan Hockey Team ....................................	Awards
TC Central Student Senate .........................	Road Crossings
Kalkaska Softball Team ...............................	Packet Stuffing
Trojan Alpine Ski Team ...............................	Construction
Trojan Softball Team ....................................	Bike Corral
Boy Scout Troop 28 ......................................	Road Crossings
Boy Scout Troop 27 ......................................	Trail Cleanup
GTACS Alpine Ski TEam..............................	Timber Ridge Cleanup

Thank You Volunteers!