About the East Coast Greenway...

Since the weather has been chilly, rainy, and even snowy we haven't been biking too much (well, alright, Joel has but Holly has been going to the gym instead!) so I thought I would educate you all on the ECG and why we have chosen to ride in support and awareness of their efforts. The Greenway Alliance is a not for profit organization that was founded in 1991 with the intention of creating an urban path for non motorized human transportation linking major cities along the Atlantic Coast from Maine all the way down to Florida. As of late 2009, 24% of the nearly 3,000 miles has been completed off road. The rest of the Greenway is a network of roads that connect cities to cities, cities to suburbs, and suburbs to rural areas. In essence the Greenway is much like an urbanized Appalachian Trail.

The Greenway relies a lot on volunteers to maintain trails, report any condition changes to Greenway users, monitor signage, and update cue sheets. This is where Joel and I come in. As we make our way south on the roads and trails we will take notes on any problems we encounter and suggestions we may have to improve the Greenway for future cyclists. In addition we can heighten awareness of the Greenway by sharing our story with people we meet along the way so they can begin to take advantage of the trails in their communities. You all can help as well by checking out the Greenway website at www.greenway.org and possibly become a member, donor, or volunteer! The benefits of the Greenway are especially significant these days because it reduces roadway congestion and provides a safe transportation option for cyclists, walkers, and the wheelchair bound. It also enhances local economic development and curbs the demand for fossil fuel while improving the air quality!