My Circuit Trails: Miko’s Experience
Authored By: The Circuit Trails
Miko Quisumbing often seeks the feeling of the wind whipping past him on a sunny day while riding his bike on Circuit Trails throughout the region. Sometimes he’s riding 100 miles in one trip, and other times, he’s using his cargo bike on the Manayunk Canal Towpath to take his sons to school.
Trails are for everyone, and they allow you to do almost anything–ride, relax, commute, gather, fish and so much more. Miko and his family use the trails to create memories.
WATCH NOW: Miko Quisumbing shares his personal connection to the trails on the Circuit
“I love using the trail with my family. We go on walks all the time. Here on the towpath, we can look at the ducks, look at the turtles. We can be by the water when it’s a little bit hot. And I also love going on bike rides with my kids,” Miko said.
With his cargo bike, Miko can take his three sons on adventures in a way that is safe and fun.
Cycling is a passion of Miko’s. He is a squad member with the Philadelphia Bike Expo, an annual weekend-long event featuring exhibitors, seminars, presentations and events representing the spectrum of cycling. He describes his role as a squad member as “spreading bike joy,” which includes hosting and attending events and promoting all the exciting things you can do by bike outdoors.
In April, Miko helped organize a Celebrate Trails Day event for adaptive trail users on the Chester Valley Trail. Rails to Trails Conservancy, IM ABLE Foundation, PA Center for Adapted Sports, Philadelphia Bike Expo and Varlo Sports hosted adaptive cycling equipment demos and an expo with regional organizations supporting adaptive recreation.
With more than 411 miles of Circuit Trails to explore in the Greater Philadelphia and southern New Jersey region, Miko sees great value in the trails as connectors of people and places.
“The beautiful thing about the Manayunk Canal Towpath is [that] it’s one of the greatest connectors between the city and bigger trails out there–the Schuylkill River Trail, Chester Valley Trail, the Perkiomen Trail–it’s a great way for you to be able to get out of the city and escape and almost ride a hundred miles car-free. Every time I’m walking, riding, running [on the trails], I can always see somebody, give them a high-five, give them a thumbs-up. You’re always going to see a friendly face on the trail.”
Right now, you can make a difference in the region’s trail development–so that more people can access outdoor spaces to safely bike, spend time with loved ones, enjoy being in nature, make their own special memories, and get around and experience trail joy where they live.
The Delaware Valley Regional Planning Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) released the draft FY2025 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for Pennsylvania, proposing landmark funding for the Circuit Trails. Regional trail projects championed by the Circuit Trails Coalition in four major corridors–Spring Garden Street Greenway, Cross County Trail, Chester Valley Trail and Route 291 Trail/East Coast Greenway–are included in the proposed TIP, making them eligible to receive nearly $90 million in funding from a mix of federal sources, with the majority coming from the Carbon Reduction Program established by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. If these projects are included in the TIP and receive funding, it will help move us closer to reaching our goal of completing 500 miles of Circuit Trails in the region by 2025.
Take action now to demonstrate support for this investment to ensure all proposed Circuit Trails projects are included in the final TIP. DVRPC’s public comment period is open until 5 p.m. on June 24. Click here to learn more about the TIP and to leave a comment.
