Not all trails are created equal. Here’s how to tell the gold standard from the imitators

By Bryan Barnett-Woods, Greater Greater Washington

[B' Spokes: Just headlines (and my comments.)]

Be separate from automobiles
Be wide [B' Spokes: Too many local trails are 8' wide and not the 10' wide as recommended here.]
Have paved or hard surfaces
Connect to other trails or destinations
Accommodate both transportation and recreation
Be a project that’s realistic to build now or sometime soon
Follow uniform design standards [B' Spokes: And I'll add getting on or off a trail should not require that you pull out into traffic and make two sharp 90° turns. i.e. Falls Road to Jones Falls Trail going south.]

https://ggwash.org/view/63011/not-all-trails-are-created-equal.-heres-how-to-tell-the-gold-standard-from-