Trail: Richland B&O Trail in Ohio
Start: Trailhead in Butler Ohio.
Route: Ride northwest to Mansfield Ohio and back.
Distance 38 miles round trip.
Weather: Mostly Sunny. Temp: 65-75 degrees.
Low Elev 1060, Hi Elev 1280. Feet Ascended: 500
Trail Material: Smooth Asphalt.
Rating: Thumbs Up.
I chose to ride this short 18 mile trail in the afternoon after riding the Amish trail in the morning. Why not ride two trails in one day? Had no idea what to expect on this short ride. The first 16 miles from Butler is mostly uphill until just outside of Mansfield when the trail goes downhill for 3 miles to the end. The hills are all easy railroad grades.
The only thing I expected was to see some trailside businesses in the city of Mansfield. Sadly there was nothing to see on the trail in Mansfield. I could not even find a bathroom at the end of the trail. What a shame that Mansfield does not take advantage of the bicycle traffic from visitors looking for food and drink. Had to piss in the woods because the previous trailhead had no bathroom or porta-potty either.
The interesting thing about Richland B&O trail is unlike most rails-to-trails or other off road bicycle trails, this trail no longer had bollards (posts) put in the center of the trail to keep motor vehicles from using the trail. Putting up posts to prevent motor vehicles from accessing off road bicycle trails in theory was suppose to make the trail safer for bicyclists.
But, putting steel poles in the middle of a paved bicycle trail proved to be stupid just like common sense dictates. Sure enough, bicycles crash into steel poles put in the middle of bicycle trails for the mere reason they are there in the middle of the trail. The reason there were no center posts on the Richland B&O trail anymore is two of several bicycle crashes into the center posts resulted in fatalities.
The first time I rode Mobile's Bayfront Trail by Brookley I was appalled at the wisdom of putting TWO steel posts in the paved trail. Someone is going to get hurt if not killed on the short Mobile bicycle trail.
Highlights of this trip: The trail crosses the Clear Fork Mohican River several times. The trailside wildflower displays were impressive. Trail canopy was fairly dense in places but there was adequate openings to see farmlands and lakes and rivers and open fields. It was a nice variety of scenery hence the thumbs up.