Most rail-trails start out small, and the Coal & Coke trail is no exception.

But, as its name implies, what a historical trail it is.

The 5 1/2 mile-long trail, a work in progress since 1999, links the Westmoreland County communities of Mount Pleasant and Scottdale.

The latter, formerly known as Fountain Mills, was named for Thomas Scott, a Civil War hero who became president of the Pennsylvania Railroad. The trail runs along the Pennsy's old right-of-way.

Although most of the trail is bordered by woods, it crosses two roads and includes a share-the-road stretch about 1/4 mile long. It parallels Jacobs Creek for much of its length and crosses bridges over two of its tributaries -- Sherrick Run and Shupe Run.

"It is probably the most innovative and important recreational addition down here in the last 30 to 50 years," said Bob Ferguson, secretary of the Coal & Coke Trail Chapter. "There were a lot of hurdles to clear, but they were, thanks to a lot of people."

He cited the cooperation and assistance of officials in Scottdale, Mount Pleasant borough and township, East Huntingdon in Westmoreland County and Upper Tyrone, the only section of the trail that is in Fayette County.

The trail, already in use, will have its grand opening at 10 a.m. July 7 at Willows Park in Mount Pleasant. It will include a ceremonial ride along its entire length to Kendi Park in Scottdale.

Volunteers have been vital to the successful development of the trail. On one day alone -- April 3, 2004 -- 146 men, women and children, assisted by heavy equipment operators, removed 24 tons of trash, 8 tons of recyclable scrap metal and 4,850 tires from a former junk yard at Iron Bridge.

Ferguson said Scottdale was a hub of activity in the early 1900s, when hundreds of coal mining companies in the area fed 30,000 coke ovens. The railroad shipped coal and coke to markets throughout the country. Industrialist Henry Clay Frick was born nearby in a spring house on the site of the West Overton Museum.

"We have a great story to tell about the history of our area, and the bike trail will help us tell it," said Ferguson, whose family has lived in the Scottdale area since the mid-1800s. His funeral home, the oldest business in Scottdale, marked its 125th anniversary last year.

For more information, e-mail him at fergfh@verizon.net or call 724-887-5300.

Greenway Sojourn

The Greenway Sojourn, a week-long, fully-supported ride for 500 bicyclists from Washington, D.C., to Pittsburgh via the C&O Tow Path and the Great Allegheny Passage, will arrive in Pittsburgh on June 30.

Bike rodeo

Recreational Equipment Inc., better known as REI, will hold its second annual bike rodeo for children and anyone interested in learning about bike safety from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 30 at its store at 412 S. 27th Street, South Side.

REI-trained bike technicians will perform free safety inspections on all participants' bikes.

Bike Pittsburgh, the city's bike advocacy organization, will teach bike-handling skills and conduct its second annual Bike Swap.

For more information, call 412-523-9864.

A reminder

The second annual Allegheny County Parks Mountain Bike festival, designed to introduce bicyclists of all abilities to one another and to increase their knowledge of county parks, will take place Wednesday through Sunday at Boyce Park, Deer Lakes, Hartwood Acres, South Park and North Park.

For more information, go to www.post-gazette.com

The bare essentials

"Biking reduces life to its bare essentials: you, your bike and your Mastercard" -- Dale Crummie of Nottingham Township, Washington County. Crummie and his wife, Joy, have been biking for more than 30 years.