the twin cities have gotten a lot of recognition of late for being a bike-friendly place. whole lanes of major thoroughfares have been converted to bike lanes, several old railroad tracks have been converted to bike trails, all in addition to our extensive existing network of hiking/biking trails. with each passing year, i see more and more people commuting to work on bicycles. there seems to be only one downside. and that is the minor genocide that occurs each autumn as the deconstructed grasshoppers, flattened woolly bear caterpillars, exploded toads, and bisected snakes begin to litter my previously peaceful asphalt trails. i understand it. but i wish it didn’t have to be so.

northern redbelly snake

rice creek regional trail, saint paul, minnesota