I was very fortunate to meet the young lady pictured in this article in 2022 when meeting with Charles Hines from Trust for Public Land to do a video on the Legacy Trail in Sarasota.     She told Charles and I her story about how the opening of the Legacy Trail extension had changed her life for the better.   Prior to the trail opening she was essentially shut-in her home given her disability and lack of transportation.   Once the trail opened, she described how she now had a completely new sense of freedom to move up and down the trail at her leisure including going to the grocery store on her own where she previously had to make arrangements well in advance to do her shopping.   I often think about her fondly when describing to others how the trail can have a positive impact on people’s lives.   For many, it’s much more than simply getting a daily workout walking or riding a bike on the trail.   For thousands of individuals, BERT will have a transformational impact on their lives whether providing the freedom to no longer be shut-in, making available a safe route for kids to commute to school, or an avenue for improved health.   We would like to hear from you directly about how BERT will improve the quality of your life.   Please email us a friendsofbert@bonitaesterorailtrail.com and tell us your story!