Many of the city's 100 parks are connected to the route, as are some hiking and running trails. Locals love the system. A city survey showed 77 percent of locals use the city park system, and 83 percent say the bike system is top-notch. The system also hooks up to one in nearby Springfield, which would be similar to Everett linking with Snohomish or Marysville. Thousands of tourists use the system, and the city and other organizations sponsor races throughout the year, which contributes to the local economy.
Bicycle rentals are also popular.
Wash. The city trail runs through parks and private property. Mark Negless, president of the Columbia Way neighborhood association in Vancouver, said on nice days as many as 200 people an hour share the trail lining the waterfront. Negless, one of the first people in 1994 to move into the new condos being built on the shores of the river, said that trail was a turning point for the city. This pathway is so popular, I would say it's the most popular thing in the whole city. Now, restaurants, hotels, condos, parks and the trail system on the riverfront have taken the place of a concrete batch plant, a hydrogen peroxide manufacturer and other heavy industry.