Navigating New Hampshire’s Urban Paths
“Ride as much or as little, as long or as short as you feel. But ride.”
—Eddy Merckx
It is so great to be back in New Hampshire! I was away for a week and arrived back home to find dogwoods in bloom and tons more greenery around my yard than when I left. Then today I leaned about a planned ride this Friday. How can I not smile?
Bike to Work Day Evening Ride
Queen City Bicycle Collective in Manchester will celebrate Bike to Work Day this Friday with a group bike ride, starting at 35 Elm St. at 5:30 p.m., to be followed by a gathering at Republic Brewing Company around 6:45 p.m. All are welcome!
As I write this my phone tells me that rain will stop that day by 5 p.m. Let’s hope for the best!
Remember, all of May is National Bike Month, when many of us celebrate the benefits of cycling, like health, sustainability, and joy.
Editorials re: Rep. Walsh’s Abhorrent Comments
On April 23rd the chair of the House Transportation Committee (Rep. Thomas Walsh) said on the House floor, “It’s against the law to run bicycles off the road even though it’s sometimes very tempting.”
In response many individuals and organizations published editorials excoriating Walsh for his inflammatory remarks inciting violence against bicycle riders. Here are a few:
- BWANH: RUN OFF THE ROAD: NEW HAMPSHIRE LEGISLATORS ARE STEERING US IN THE WRONG DIRECTION ON WALKING AND BIKING SAFETY
- Valley News: On walking, bicycling, and the duties we entrust to public officials
- Manchester Union Leader: Letter: Comment about cyclists a cause for concern
- Manchester InkLink: Soapbox: Dangerous rhetoric against bicyclists on the House floor
Upcoming Manchester Senior Walks
The Manchester Police Community Affairs Division hosts Spring Senior Walks each year to give seniors a chance to exercise, socialize, and explore the city with police officers. Walks are Monday mornings at 9 a.m. (unless otherwise noted), are about 2–3 miles, and take roughly one hour to complete.
Remaining walks:
- May 18, 2026 Rock Rimmon
- Meet behind Northwest Elementary School on Youville St, in the parking lot next to the baseball fields
- May 27, 2026 South Manchester Trail
- Meet in parking lot in the Manchester Commons Shopping Center near the UPS Store off of S Willow St
- June 1, 2026 Massabesic Lake Trail
- Meet in the paved parking lot off Londonderry Turnpike just south of the Massabesic Traffic Circle
- June 8, 2026 Manchester Cedar Swamp Preserve
- Directions: Countryside Boulevard is off of Hackett Hill Rd in Manchester. The trail head is about a half a mile up on the left. There is adequate parking in the parking lot or along the street.
Rails-to-Trails Conversions Boost Property Values
Many of you will not be surprised to learn that researchers continue to discover perks to living in or near natural areas. Regular access to nature can help reduce stress, improve mental health and limit cardiovascular events.
Additionally, parks and green spaces bring people together, cementing social connections and lowering crime rates. Neighborhoods with access to natural amenities are more highly sought by buyers and renters, which hikes property values, boosts pride in community and encourages commercial growth.
Recently, a study by 2025 Meyer Fellow Michelle Xiyue Li at the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University narrowed its focus to zoom in on the impact of rails-to-trails conversions across the U.S. on neighborhood home values.
Li’s finding: Housing markets where rails-to-trails conversions took place from the 1970 to 2020 enjoyed a near-immediate and enduring positive impact, compared with similar markets which lacked such conversions.
So come on, Manchester! Let’s keep those conversions going!
Call for Input
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Stay safe and have fun out there!
Note: The author is a member of the board of the Bike Walk Alliance of New Hampshire, but the views expressed in this article are his own.