Register

Combining Transportation Themes: Five Airports Near Major Rail Trails

Taking your bike in the airplane creates opportunities to explore.

Rail trails are an ideal way to travel long distances with minimal traffic. [Shutterstock]
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • Folding bicycles provide pilots with an excellent "last mile" transportation solution from airports, being compact enough to fit in small aircraft and negating the need for rental cars.
  • This combination of flying and cycling offers a convenient way to explore scenic rail trails, which are extensive networks of former railroad rights-of-way ideal for long, flat rides.
  • The article highlights several specific U.S. airports that offer easy access to notable rail trails, encouraging pilots to combine air travel with cycling adventures.
See a mistake? Contact us.

It feels good to fly directly to a destination without having to rent or hire a car to travel the “last mile” to the specific attraction you want to visit. Sometimes you are lucky enough to find an airport that is right in town or just walking distance away. But when you need to go a little farther, a folding bicycle can be a better answer than a car.

Once considered odd and ungainly, these mechanical wonders have come into their own, providing speed, good handling, and light components that will not eat unreasonably into your useful load. Many fit handily into a small aircraft’s baggage compartment.

Jonathan Welsh

Jonathan Welsh is Lead Editor of Aviation Consumer and a private pilot who worked as a reporter, editor and columnist with the Wall Street Journal for 21 years, mostly covering the auto industry. His passion for aviation began in childhood with balsa-wood gliders his aunt would buy for him at the corner store. Follow Jonathan on Twitter @JonathanWelsh4

Ready to Sell Your Aircraft?

List your airplane on AircraftForSale.com and reach qualified buyers.

List Your Aircraft
AircraftForSale Logo | FLYING Logo
Pilot in aircraft
Sign-up for newsletters & special offers!

Get the latest stories & special offers delivered directly to your inbox.

SUBSCRIBE