County Executive Links Livable Communities with Recreation and Health; Will Join Bicycle Group for Ride at Lake Artemisia

County Executive Jack Johnson joined members of the College Park Bicycle Coalition for a morning ride on the trails of Lake Artemisia.

UPPER MARLBORO, MD – Prince George's County Executive Jack Johnson joined more than 25 members of the College Park Bicycle Coalition and rode nearly nine miles on the trails around Lake Artemisia today. Johnson met briefly with members of the coalition prior to the ride. "Residents and citizens should be able to ride their bikes, get some exercise be safe all at the same time," said Johnson. "Use of trails throughout the county promotes healthy living and Livable Communities."

He said that he and his wife Leslie spend a large portion of a recent vacation riding bikes in South Carolina. "It's great exercise and certainly brings down stress levels," said Johnson.

Johnson pledged to look into funding for additional trail thruways around the county to connect bike trails with Metro stops. He talked to a variety of coalition members who use bicycling as a primary form of transportation to and from their jobs in the College Park area. The group also discussed the need for bike lanes on particular county roads.

The coalition, which has approximately 125 members, has helped secure more than $5 million in federal funding to build and connect current trails throughout the county. More than 26 miles of off-road trails exist in the College Park and Berwyn Heights area of the county.