Mark your calendars! Tri-State Trails is hosting its annual Tour de CROWN on Saturday, August 23rd, and it’s more than just a bike ride—it’s a journey through our region's transportation history. Here at All Aboard Ohio, we're excited to be riding along with them for this event because much of the route follows corridors that were once bustling with the very thing we advocate for: trains. It's a perfect example of how the past can pave the way for a better-connected future.

A Shared Vision for a Car-Free Future

Tri-State Trails and All Aboard Ohio are pedaling and pushing in the same direction. We both believe in building a region where you don't need a car to get where you're going. As Caitlin Sparks, Communication & Events Manager at Tri-State Trails, puts it, "We want people to feel comfortable commuting without a car."

Whether it's by trail or by rail, the goal is the same: to create a network of safe, efficient, and enjoyable transportation options. When we connect our communities, we open up new opportunities for recreation, tourism, and economic growth. The popular Ohio to Erie Trail is a perfect example, generating significant tourism dollars for the towns along its route. Expanding passenger rail and building out trail networks like the CROWN are two sides of the same coin, working together to create a more accessible and sustainable Ohio.

Uncovering History Beneath the Bike Path

Many of the trails you'll ride during the Tour de CROWN are built on the ghosts of old rail lines, giving us a tangible link to our industrial heritage. As you bike, you are literally tracing history.

A fantastic example is the river front trails which are becoming the Oasis Trail, and part of the CROWN network. Along this route, you can still see remnants of the old Pennsylvania Railroad and just a little bit out of the way are event the remanents of the former Torrence Road station. You can read more about these forgotten gems in this fantastic piece by Ronny Salerno.

The history continues across the river. The riverfront trails follow some active rail lines, where the Cincinnati Dinner Train runs, as well as passes the iconic Purple People Bridge which was originally a railroad bridge, a vital artery for the Louisville & Nashville Railroad. Today, Tri-State Trails is advocating for changes on Saratoga Street in Newport, where the street's median covers the old tracks that once led to the bridge. The plan is to create a modern, two-way bike lane, "once again rethinking how the street can be used," as Caitlin notes. These projects show how we can repurpose historic infrastructure to meet today's needs.

Join the Ride! Tour de CROWN Event Details

The Tour de CROWN isn't a race; it's a ride for everyone, from seasoned cyclists to families with kids. With volunteers all along the route, the goal is to make you say "aha!" as you discover new ways to get from point A to point B. It's a "great feeling to help people learn to navigate," Caitlin says, and the hope is that the ride creates hundreds of new advocates for a more connected community.

• What: The Tour de CROWN bike ride and a free public Expo.

• When: Saturday, August 23, 2025. The Expo runs from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM.

• Where: The ride has multiple starting points, and the Expo is at Fifty West Brewing Company.

• How to Join: You can register for the ride right up until the day of the event! Get all the details and sign up at tourdecrown.org.

All Aboard Ohio will have a table at the Expo, and we'd love for you to stop by and say hello! It's a great opportunity to learn more about our work, the exciting future of passenger rail in Ohio, and how it connects with the amazing trail network Tri-State Trails is building. We hope to see you there!