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Emergencies on paved rail-trails??

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CMajernik:
Has anyone had an emergency on a paved rail-trail where you had to get an ambulance to come pick up the injured person? Can ambulances or other vehicles drive on rail-trails? We had this question from someone and I'm curious to find out if anyone has dealt with this issue.

John Nelson:
I have not personally been involved, but I have seen it. During Ride The Rockies one year, on the paved rail-trail from Aspen to Glenwood Springs, a rider crashed requiring an ambulance. The ambulance came right down the trail (we all had to move out of the way) and picked up the injured rider.

adventurepdx:
This thread over at Bikeforums talks about emergency vehicles on the Sammammish River Trail in the Seattle metro area:
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/846761-Sad-day-on-the-Sammamish-River-trail-today

JayH:
I've been on some newer railtrails here in the northeast that have barriers to prevent cars from going down the path (which is wide enough for a car) but the barriers obviously can be lowered so it is certainly feasibly for an ambulance to get through in an emergency.  Some rail trails though have permanent structures so there would be no way for a car to get through.

Jay

RussSeaton:
The rail trails in the Des Moines area have had the ambulance on them to get me.  Another time it did not come down the trail and I had to walk a few hundred yards to get to the ambulance.  So it must depend on a variety of things.  But the ambulance can get onto the trail and will if needed.

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