Dr. Bob Carlson passes away

By Cameron Rasmusson
Reader Staff

Anyone who has enjoyed Bonner County’s many excellent bike and pedestrian trials over the years owes a debt of gratitude to Dr. Bob Carlson, who passed away last week after battling a sustained illness.

Instrumental in organizing and motivating North Idaho Bikeways, Carlson’s influence is felt on 11 completed bike trails totaling 10.3 miles. These include well trafficked trails like the Dover-Sandpoint Trail, Popsicle Bridge, the bike/pedestrian bridge over Sand Creek toward City Beach and many more. Other projects are on the books but still unfunded or in planning stages. Learn more about North Idaho Bikways and its projects at www.northidahobikeways.com.

Carlson was also a key player in turning the Pend d’Oreille Bay Trail, a pristine stretch of waterfront trial property along Lake Pend Oreille, into a publicly owned treasure for the community.

Carlson’s friends and family intend to honor his memory at a ceremony Sunday, Sept. 13. The plan is to meet at the City Beach parking lot, then leave at 9:30 a.m. to walk along the Pend d’Oreille Bay Trail. Once attendees reach the bench at the point, about a one-mile walk from the parking lot, they will honor Carlson with a brief ceremony and a collection of personal messages. The messages will be placed at a memorial rock along the trail, which will be installed later this year.