Trails
Arlington has an extensive trail network. More than 36 miles of paved trails connect Arlington's neighborhoods to parks, schools and commercial areas.
All of these trails are considered "shared use" trails, meaning they are used by not only pedestrians, but also cyclists, runners, dog walkers and skaters.
The minimum width for new shared-use trails is ten feet. On busy trails, widths of 12 or 14 feet have been used. All of Arlington's shared use trails have a paved hard surface, predominately asphalt, to accommodate the different types of users, reduce maintenance and allow use of trails in bad weather.
Proper maintenance of the trail network is a key component in assuring that the network is a viable option to people wanting to use the trails for both transportation and recreation. The Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Resources has a dedicated maintenance crew for trails, and trail maintenance issues can be reported online by sending a message to trails@co.arlington.va.us.
Pedestrian Safety on Shared-Use Trails
The same safety practices used by pedestrians walking on sidewalks in or near vehicular traffice apply to trails: cross with traffic signals, use crosswalks when available, watch for vehicles before entering a roadway. When crossing at locations where push-button traffic signals are provided, always push the button to give yourself longer crossing time.
