Volunteer 'Trailblazers' keep the B&A Trail safe and fun

Pedaling down the Baltimore & Annapolis Trail on these crisp autumn afternoons is definitely fun. But cyclists Neal Smith, Tom Caraker and Mary and Bob Ruck are riding with greater purpose these days. They are members of the Anne Arundel County Trailblazer Volunteers, a group formed in 1990 to promote safe and proper use of the B&A Trail Park.

Seasoned riders, each joined the organization as a way of "giving back" for the enjoyment they've experienced on the county's excellent trails. Chatting together at Earleigh Heights Ranger Station, they recalled how they became Trailblazers.

The Rucks, who live...