One of the things perhaps overshadowed in Thursday’s State of the State address was an interactive map of trails and amenities for mountain biking.

Gov. John Hickenlooper told the joint session of the General Assembly the state should continue to work on the project to map our physically fit, postcard state. The governor’s speech kicked off the four-month legislative session, during which priorities are acted upon, or not.

State Sen. Mike Merrified – a Democrat from Colorado Springs, an avid mountain biker and career music teacher – was attuned like a violin.

“That’s a big passion of mine,” he said. “The governor is shining a huge spotlight on this great advantage Colorado has. This new system of trail-mapping, for attracting mountain bikers, it’s a huge advantage for Colorado.”

Hickenlooper said:

“We have improved access to the outdoors, partnered with local government and communities to improve and ultimately complete and connect 16 priority trails across the state.

“Outdoor recreation generates 313,000 jobs in our state and over $34 billion in economic output, much of it in rural Colorado. It is also one of the top reasons businesses and talented workers choose to come here.

“As part of our Colorado the Beautiful initiative, this summer we’ll be launching an interactive statewide trails map that will – for the first time ever – pull together over 20,000 miles of Colorado trails managed by over 100 local, state, and federal agencies.

“Anyone hiking or biking will be able to see where they are and where they’re going on a map, take photos along the way and share those photos with others on the same trail.

“This is one piece of our vision to get kids outside and exercising.”

And tourists, too, Merrifield said over coffee and a pastry at a small shop near the Capitol.

“This new concept he’s got, if you’re a mountain biker from Georgia, if you can pull up on the website every map, every trail we’ve got and every description and where to stay and where to eat, that’s terrific,” he said.

Merrifield would use the tool, and he thinks he’s typical of most mountain bikers when they plan their vacations and training.

“Say I wanted to go biking to Washington state,” Merrifield said. “If I knew they had this, that would be the first place I’d look. That would be a huge attraction.”

The wheels of government turn slowly, however. Hickenlooper talked of this project in last year’s State of the State too. He said the mountain-biking map would be done last summer. The governor has two years left in office before he’s term-limited.

“Our Colorado the Beautiful initiative is underway, building a future where, within one generation, every Coloradan will live within a 10-minute walk of a park, trail or vibrant green space.

“As part of that effort, our 16 x 16 Trails Project is identifying the 16 most important trail gaps, missing segments and unbuilt trails across the state; enhancing and connecting them to provide better access to the outdoors for everyone.

“I might not get to all of these trails this year, but I’m going to try.

“And this summer we’re rolling out Colorado’s first-ever interactive trails map to make it easier for people to plan and experience an outdoor adventure.”