Going the Distance: Why One Couple Chose a City on the Right Path
- LCTA
- May 28
- 2 min read
Updated: Jun 9
Tiff Cremer and Matt Knight recently moved to the Midwest and selected Cedar Rapids primarily because of TRAILS!
“We are trail people. We’ve lived in the southwest, southeast, northwest, mid-Atlantic, and the Midwest and can rattle off trail names better than old addresses. So, when we compared cities for a move back to the Midwest, we clicked the google map overlay “biking” and let the “trail green” be our guide. Where can I get to via trail? Can I get groceries on the trail? Can I get to parks/nature centers via trail? A trail is a community saying, ‘We’re bike friendly, and we’ve invested in the infrastructure to prove it.’
On our scouting trip we rented Goldfinch bikes and rode up Mt. Trashmore, then up to Marion on the CVNT. We checked out a few other mid-sized cities the same way, and CR had the most pleasant trail access among them. Lots of places to live that were close to trails, and lots of trails that were close to places we go (parks, grocery stores). A trail is an extension of the neighborhood, so any park, store, and person on the trail becomes our neighborhood park, neighborhood store, and neighbor.”
“We commute daily by bike to volunteer at Matthew 25, Chain Reaction Bike Hub, and Indian Creek Nature Center, taking the Ellis Park trail and riverfront trails to get downtown. But we’ll also take longer “mileage” cycling trips on the CVNT down to Solon or up to Sugar Grove Farm. Tiff recently started mountain biking with the Fearless Women of Dirt and is enjoying all the single-track options too! We recently visited Jams Coffee Bar up in Urbana. The scones, the espresso cookie, the cold brew. Delightful. Beautiful farms along the way with high-velocity bird/wildlife spotting.”
“Our scouting trip last September was pretty great. Three libraries visited, biking under the Milwaukee Road bridge sign, getting groceries at New Pioneer, enjoying a cookie at NewBo Market. Then biking along the trail crossing Lion Bridge to eat a kolache, drink a Czech beer, and dance a polka or two at the BrewNost Czech and Slovak festival.”
