Federal Money for Trails Comes With Red Tape Attached

There really is no such thing as a free lunch, or a free hiking trail

Government red tape can be expensive, and Kansas has just bought itself about $700,000 worth.

Kansas has more than 2,100 miles of recreational trails in the state, and residents who use the bikeways and pathways will decide whether a recent move amounts to a bargain or a boondoggle.

Transportation, wildlife and parks officials have found a way to squeeze the extra $700,000 from federal fuel tax revenue, but the tradeoff for building a simple bike path will mean following rules and regulations akin to building a four-lane highway.