Venturing Out on Trails as a New Mom
Living in Washington, D.C., I feel fortunate to be surrounded by many walking and biking options. Whether it’s walking to work or a local restaurant, using the incredible bikeshare system or enjoying a stroll on a nearby trail, my husband and I have always loved venturing out without having to use our car.
When I found out I was pregnant last year, we were excited to eventually take our baby out in our incredibly walkable and bikeable city. In preparation, we diligently researched strollers, carriers and other items we would need to ensure our baby was comfortable. We felt prepared—or at least as prepared as first-time parents can be. Unfortunately, we didn’t anticipated how hard it could be to use a stroller on many trails and sidewalks in our community—but more on that later.
Postpartum Health and Wellness
I have always found walking—whether recreationally or for getting where I need to go—to be both peaceful and grounding. I also knew that walking and exercise postpartum would be incredibly important for my physical recovery and mental health. According to the Mayo Clinic, exercising after pregnancy can help in many ways, including with weight loss, improving abdominal strength, boosting energy, relieving stress, promoting better sleep and reducing symptoms associated with postpartum depression. The Happiest Baby Blog also notes that taking babies on walks outside helps them learn and appreciate nature—and can even improve their immune systems.
For these reasons and more, I was excited to venture out with my husband and new daughter, once I got cleared by my doctor. Unfortunately, upon emerging from our immediate postpartum bubble, we came across many obstacles.
As a staff member of Rails to Trails Conservancy—which advocates for connected trails, walking and bicycling infrastructure across the United States—I am very aware of the accessibility challenges many folks face. Despite this, I was surprised by how difficult it can be to navigate a stroller in my area. Narrow sidewalks, broken surfacing and a lack of access to ramps to cross streets safely have been frequent and sometimes overwhelming challenges.
After years of reading and writing about the importance of widening sidewalks, maintaining trail surfaces and constructing ADA-accessible ramps, I was now coming across these very issues as a new parent. Walking, which was supposed to be soothing for me and my young kiddo, was now often stressful. These experiences have made me feel that much more passionate about the need for safe, accessible trails—not just in my neighborhood, but in all neighborhoods.
Creating More Active-Friendly routes
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) affirms how much physical activity plays into improved health—with only about 1 in 4 adults meeting minimum recommendations—and the need for community design that connects people to active-friendly routes to everyday destinations, thus improving health equity. A central component to active-friendly community design is pedestrian infrastructure like sidewalk networks, trails and protected bikeways.
These changes will require continued and sustained investments in trails, as well as ensuring communities can invest in proper and consistent maintenance to keep these facilities safe for everyone to use. Luckily, there are ways we can help right now.
First, America Walks puts forth the “walk audit” as the first step toward both policy and environmental change, and walk audits can be done informally or as part of a more official activity with local public leaders. They also provide a link to AARP’s Walk Audit Toolkit, which provides step-by-step tips for conducting a walk audit and presenting findings to decision-makers.
Additionally, RTC continues to advocate on Capitol Hill for impactful policies and initiatives like the Active Transportation Infrastructure Investment Program to unlock hundreds of millions of dollars in new funding for trails and connections that would ensure people can safely walk and bike to the places they go routinely—including new parents like me.
These changes will take time, but I feel grateful that RTC and its partners across the country are working to make sure we have a future where all Americans can access trails. To learn how you can get more involved, sign up for our email list.
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Everyone deserves access to safe ways to walk, bike, and be active outdoors.
