WEST CHESTER TOWNSHIP — One of Jack Schaefer's favorite things is riding his bicycle about 50 miles a week along the Little Miami River.

        Mr. Schaefer thinks there should be bike and walking paths linking the Little Miami and Great Miami rivers, and that's what leaders in Butler and Warren counties want, too. The Miami 2 Miami Coalition is conducting a feasibility study of linking the rivers via a series of trails.

        The first step was this week's public meeting at the West Chester Township trustees chambers. Other meetings are planned for July and September, and Liberty Township Trustee Christine Matacic said the final draft is to be completed by October.

        Ms. Matacic said there weren't cost estimates or construction dates, but that didn't matter to Mr. Schaefer, who attended this week's meeting.

        “The Little Miami trail is just wonderful,” said Mr. Schaefer, 49, of Monroe. “The same thing should be happening along the Great Miami. As people move to this area, paths and trails are what they expect.”

        A coalition document identified two funding possibilities: local, state and federal money (including the state departments of transportation and natural resources); and paths included as part of future subdivision developments.

        Linking the rivers is ambitious. It's about a 20-mile trip by car from the Great Miami River Trail in Hamilton to the start of the Little Miami Scenic Trail near Kings Mills, but there are 67 miles being considered for the new bike/hiking paths.

        Three types of paths are being considered: bike lanes, which would run beside vehicle lanes; sign-shared, a single lane with a sign that warns drivers the road is also being used by cyclists; and separate paths, which would involve 10-foot-wide bicycle/hiking lanes with no vehicles.

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