City of Fort Wayne news release:
Trail Use Breaks Records in January
Six infrared cameras added to monitor trail usage
Fort Wayne, Indiana (February 9, 2021) – Residents continued to utilize our trail system more in January than in any previous years. Trail counts reached an all-time high for the month at 29,318. The previous high count for January was in 2017 with 19,024.
The much higher number is partly due to the six infrared trail counters that were added to the network beginning in 2021. Even so, when data from the new cameras was removed from the total, trail usage was still up by over 3,400 with 22,484 for January. The City now has a total of 20 trail use counters.
The growth of the trail system is one of Mayor Tom Henry’s top priorities in an effort to help Fort Wayne be the healthiest city possible and position the community for new jobs and talent attraction and retention.
As our area continues to experience more snow and ice, trail users are reminded to be careful, especially on bridges and boardwalks. If snow depths reach three inches or more, the City of Fort Wayne will remove snow on heavily travelled sections of the trail network, especially near schools, parks and popular destinations.
Additional guidelines for trail users:
- Obey all traffic signals and signage.
- Keep to the right and pass on the left.
- Stay on the trails and do not enter private property or yards.
- Stop for cross traffic.
- Pick up after your pet.
- Don’t litter.
- Bicyclists need to call out or use a bell before passing.
- Bicyclists should pull just off the trail if they have to stop.
The City of Fort Wayne’s Greenways began as part of the Parks and Recreation Department. From 1975 to 2005, the Parks Department built the Rivergreenway. In 2005, as interest grew and more residents began using the trails, the current City Greenways and Trails Department moved to the Public Works Division, a fitting move as the community’s view of trails shifted from recreation to active transportation.
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