who pays?
The RR generates some tax revenue for NH and maintains the rail bed. Hikers and bikers want you and me to pay for their recreation facility, same as kayakers and canoes or rowboats want power boaters to pay for keeping the lakes healthy and launch ramps that they can use for free. Hiking trails require maintenance--it's great that the dues paying members of the Appalachian Mountain Club and similar organizations foot the bill so everybody else can hike for free. (NH does collect $$ at the parking areas, and $5 for the shuttle bus on I-93 in Franconia)
Snowmobile Clubs do a great job maintaining trails where folks hike for free in the summer. All you snowmobilers: when was the last time you got a thank you note from a hiker?
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