The Jones Falls Trail expanded a bit further on Saturday, when another 2.75 miles of the hiking/biking pathway opened to the public.

The new portion of the trail circles through the woods of Druid Hill Park, completing the section that extends from Penn Station to the Woodberry Light Rail station. When the rest of the sections are finished — at a date to be determined — the Jones Falls Trail will be 12 miles long, starting at the Mount Washington Light Rail station and extending to the Visitor Center in Inner Harbor.

Mayor Dixon was on hand for the inaugural bike ride on the newest section — one of several “green” appearances that she’s made lately. Said Dixon: “I like riding a bike, not only for exercise, but for the opportunity to get a chance to experience the city from a different perspective.”

The Jones Falls Trail is definitely a step in the right direction for bicyclists and may even breathe new life into Druid Hill Park. But some people in Baltimore bike not for exercise or for a “different perspective” — they ride as a primary means of transportation or to commute to work. I’m sure they would welcome some bike lanes that don’t parallel already-existing public transportation routes — or at least the timely completion of this trail. Let’s hope the city’s focus stays green.

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