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The Border To Border (B2B) Trail, of which major segments have been completed, will span across Washtenaw County, roughly following the Huron River and also extending towards the northwest corner of the County. The pathway will connect communities, parks, and educational facilities, and be approximately 70 miles in length. In addition, other facilities, such as bike lanes, will connect into the Border To Border trail, helping create a larger non-motorized network in the County. 

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The Border To Border Trail is also a part of the Michigan Iron Belle Trail. The Iron Belle Trail is a project of the State of Michigan to establish both a hiking/walking and bicycling path going from Belle Isle in Detroit to Ironwood in the western Upper Peninsula (the B2B Trail is on the Iron Belle hiking/walking segment).

And while the Border To Border trail was originally thought of as a recreational pathway, in times of rising energy costs, the facility is being used more and more for non-motorized transportation. Segments already completed allow users to go from Ypsilanti to Ann Arbor completely off street, and in doing so passing immediately next to Eastern Michigan University, the University of Michigan hospital, Washtenaw Community College and St. Joseph’s hospital.

About the Friends Of The Border To Border Trail 

Started in 2008, the Friends of the Border To Border Trail are a group of individuals working to see that the Border To Border Trail is completed, maintained, enhanced and most of all, used. While completely independent of government bodies and other organizations, the Friends of the Border To Border plans to work closely and positively with entities that are involved with the path. In April 2016 the organization was granted 501c3 non-profit status by the Internal Revenue Service.

 

Short-term plans for the Friends of the Border To Border include… 

 

  • Sponsoring and/or promoting bicycle rides and walks along sections of the Trail. 

  • Sponsoring cleanups of Trail segments. 

  • Lobbying governmental units to complete, or enhance, segments of the Trail. 

  • Expanding distribution of Border To Border trail maps. 

  • Maintain an active webpage and email discussion group.

Quick Border To Border Trail Map Links

Ann Arbor to Ypsilanti

Entire B2B Trail (shown on 2016 County Bicycle Map) including New extensions from Dexter to Chelsea and M-52

 News & Events

Help Build The Border To Border Trail! - Volunteers Needed - Oberun Run Benefit For The B2B Trail - Friday, June 21st

For the third year in a row, the Friends of the Border To Border Trail, as a registered Michigan non-profit organization, will be running the beer garden at the Oberun Run on Friday, June 21st at Wiard’s Orchard on Merritt Road in Ypsilanti Township.

100% of the proceeds from the beer garden will be donated to the Karen’s Trail Border To Border Trail Fund (www.karenstrail.org - administered by our partner, the Huron Waterloo Pathways Initiative - http://huron-waterloo-pathways.org)  to complete the B2B Trail in Washtenaw County. But to raise funds for the B2B Trail, we need your help by volunteering for the Oberun at https://tinyurl.com/Oberun2019.

Karen's Trail honors the life and legacy of Karen McKeachie - world class triathlete, athletic pioneer and community leader, who was fatally struck on her bicycle near Chelsea. Karen's Trail celebrates what Karen loved most by expanding recreational opportunities for everyone in the region. Your support will enable construction of the entire 70 mile Border-to-Border trail system within the next 4-5 years. This will be a paved, non-motorized trail that would start northwest of Chelsea, go to Dexter and then follow the Huron River to Wayne County at Rawsonville Road.

Again, Oberon volunteers can sign up now at https://tinyurl.com/Oberun2019. Volunteer duties will include bartender (hand out beer), ticket sales, security, restocking beer and trash pickup. If you have a preferred volunteer job, please indicate this in the “Comment” box in the second step of the volunteer sign up. All volunteers will receive a volunteer information sheet by email that should answer any questions about helping out at the event.

 

Thanks in advance for helping raise funds for the Border To Border Trail by volunteering at the Oberun!

Friends of the B2B Outreach & Education Events

The Friends of the Border To Border Trail each year conducts information and outreach efforts to answer questions about the Trail, update the public about Trail construction and educate the public on safe bicycling and walking. Already in April the Friends has had an information table at the Washtenaw Community College (4/11) and Ypsilanti (4/14) Earth Day Festivals and is planning on also being at the following events…

 

If attending any of these events, please stop by the Friends table for maps, informational handouts and have your questions answered. Also, we are always in need of additional volunteers to help with informational displays. New helpers are always paired with more experienced volunteers and will also receive more detailed emails about current B2B projects. If interested in helping out, contact Bob at wolverbob@gmail.com or call 734-487-9058.

Spring 2019 Friends Of The Border To Border Trail Newsletter

The Spring 2019 Friends Newsletter is available by clicking below...

PDF format newsletter   or   Word/Open Office format newsletter 

Next Friends of the B2B Trail Board Meeting

The next Friends Board of Directors meeting will be held in July with a time, date and location to be announced. Board meeting s are held at rotating locations along the B2B Trail (Ypsilanti, Ann Arbor, Dexter, Chelsea) through the course of the year. Anyone interested in the B2B Trail is welcome to attend!

New Michigan Bicycle Passing Law - Three Feet Required!

Last year, legislation was passed into law that require motorists to give three feet of space as they pass bicyclists on the roadways. For more information, visit the League of Michigan Bicyclists web page at www.lmb.org/2018/07/michigans-safe-passing-law-faq

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