What do you do when you have old railroad spurs that the train doesn’t use anymore? You jump on a railbike and have a grand adventure! The railbiking trend isn’t new, but it’s gaining traction, and most Americans are probably within a few hours’ drive of doing this activity. It’s not only great for cardiovascular exercise, but it’s also a chance to see parts of the landscape you can’t otherwise access—the high point is to go through a tunnel on your railbike! This eco-friendly activity has zero emissions and requires no new construction—in fact, it’s an excellent example of creative reuse. The recreational use of these defunct rails supports their preservation and may even mean that someday they will again provide green ways of transporting people and freight.
Is railbiking near me?
Most likely. There are several companies that have multiple outlets, such as Revolution Rail Co. that offers railbiking in New York, New Jersey, Maine and Colorado or Rail Explorers USA with venues in Rhode island, New York, Nevada and Iowa. Just search online for “railbiking” and your state’s name.
Is it strenuous?
It can be. The Freedom Rail Bike experience in Blue Ridge, Georgia cautions on its website that, ‘Pedaling is part of the experience and riders should be prepared to do light exercise. Riders should be capable of bicycling recumbently for 70–90 minutes at low exertion.’
What distance will I have to bike?
There’s great variety in how far these excursions go (and sometimes you can choose a shorter or longer ride through the same outlet, depending). For instance, the Adirondack Railroad in Thendara, NY offers six-mile railbike adventures, while the Milford Track in Cooperstown, NY is a 12 mile excursion.
Am I seriously making this thing move?
Some railbikes, like at the V&T Railway in Carson Canyon, Nevada, are motor-assisted. In fact, at the River Fox Railbikes in Sacramento, CA, the dirty secret is you don’t even have to pedal.
Am I alone on this desolate track?
No, silly. Usually you’re in a two or four-person railbike. Nearly all railbike experiences include a guide leading you, and you’ll usually depart as a fleet with other riders.
What if I realize midway that I can’t handle it?
Yikes! Hopefully you can push through. The Twins Ranch Rail Riders in Tillamook, Oregon, says on its website, “We are not permitted to disembark the railcars while on the track unless we are at the turn-around point or if there is an emergency.”
Should I wear a helmet?
Some places require it and can provide you with one or you can bring your own bike helmet. Some places also have a safety vest for you to wear.
What about my purse/bag?
Don’t bring one. Usually, there is only a very small amount of storage behind the seats, but you can get away with a small (shudder) fanny pack.
Can kids do it?
Check ahead of time for your particular railbike experience’s protocol. We’ve seen a lot of varying regulations, from requiring a kid to be over the age of 1, to requiring them to be 4, and even to be 16! Height matters too: some won’t allow anyone under the height of 4’6”.
How does it stop?
Hand brake.
It’s expensive, right?
Not necessarily. We’ve seen everything from $30/person for a two-hour ride with the Twins Ranch Rail Riders to $64.50/person for a one-hour weekend ride on the River Fox Railbikes. Often weekdays are cheaper; check your particular railbiking experience for its prices.
Can I do this year round?
In certain locations, yes. In snowbound states, the trips are seasonal.
Anything fun to add?
Just that some places have fun add-ons, like the ‘Rails to River’ trip that combines railbiking and tubing in North Creek, NY (starting at $100 for a 4-hour experience) or the ‘Red Dog Run on Stony Creek’ that includes happy hour at a saloon (starting at $90 for a 2.5-hour experience), both through the Revolution Rail Co., or the Lantern Ride tour in the dark in the Catskills Mountains of New York.