The prospect of turning abandoned Centre County railway lines into bike paths was discussed at the Centre Region Bike Coalition's meeting last night.

Pennsylvania has 140,000 miles of unused rail throughout the state that could be put to good use by bicyclists, said Palmer Brown, project manager for Rails-to-Trails of Central Pennsylvania.

"We lose about 2,000 miles more a year, miles we could be riding on," Brown said.

Bellefonte Central rails running just a few miles off campus were considered for the Rails-to-Trails project.

State grants are currently available to tackle the costs of building bike paths, but two decades ago it wasn't that easy, Brown said.

"PennDOT (Pennsylvania Department of Transportation) is 1,000 percent better now," he added. "It used to be 'get out of my face, we just build highways.' "

Bikers travel from miles around to use trails that run through the scenic areas in central Pennsylvania, said Brian Dempsey, a member of the CRBC executive committee.

Dempsey is an associate professor of environmental engineering who commutes to campus by bike.

"People come here just to ride, or if they come for an event they'll stay an extra day for the trails," Dempsey said.

Trails would provide an example of the important role biking plays in the region, he added.

"It would really show the community biking is a part of business, but also a part of life," Dempsey said.

One of the most important roles of trails is strengthening community bonds, Brown said.

"People get up, get in their car alone and go to work without even talking to their neighbor," Brown said. "You put those people on a trail together, they'll become the best of friends."

CRBC also discussed employing "share the road" signs at busy streets and intersections throughout the region and the using of adopt-a-trail maintenance programs.

Bicycling is an excellent transportation alternative for more than just exercise, Dempsey said.

"When I'm riding my bike, I feel like I'm doing something good for the environment," he said.

For State College resident Jeff Martin, one of 20 bikers who attended the meeting, the joy of biking comes from the rush.

"I just like to go fast — I like the wind in my face," Martin said. "There's nothing like a good downhill."