656Z Fall 2026 From Rails to Trails: The W&OD Trail and a Whole Lot More

Part transportation corridor, part park, the rail/trail has revolutionized the way America creates high-quality, car-free pathways for bicyclists, runners, walkers, equestrians, and more. We will watch an hour-long documentary on the rise and decline of the railroad network and its replacement by more than 25,000 miles of rural and urban trails, including the ground-breaking W&OD Trail in Northern Virginia. We will then have a discussion and Q&A with the instructor who is the executive producer of the film and the co-founder of the Rails to Trails Conservancy.

Peter Harnik is co-founder of the Rails to Trails Conservancy, author of the book From Rails to Trails (University of Nebraska Press, 2021) and executive producer of the movie From Rails to Trails (American Public Television, 2025). A bicyclist and environmentalist, he lives in Arlington, Va.