The past few years have brought about a swarm of “Green” fever. Movies such as “An Inconvenient Truth,” the hype over saving the polar bears, and the world oil crisis has forced us all to re-evaluate our everyday lives and the natural resources we consume. With gas prices hovering at and above $4.00 a gallon, commuting and polluting just got a whole lot more expensive. The good news? A step towards a cleaner, in-expensive, and healthy commute has already begun.
The East Coast Greenway is the first long-distance urban trail for cyclists, hikers, roller-bladers, skate-boarders, scooter-ers, and anything else without a motor. The 3,000 mile urban alternative to the Appalachian Trail hopes to accomplish many objectives:
- increase transportation options
- improve air quality
- reduce roadway congestion
- encourage ecotourism and adventure travel
- initiate local economic development
- improve mental and physical health via recreation and exercise
- connect people and communities
- create new public space
The trail will begin at the Canadian border in Calais, Maine and slink down the coast though skyscrapers, suburbs, seashores, and more until its finish line in Key West, Florida. The sights along the journey will be varied, beautiful, and hopefully 100% off-road! Check to see the progress being made in your state! (scroll down, until you see the map).
There are many ways you can support the East Coast Greenway initiative, but the easiest means is in the form of a donation to the East Coast Greenway Alliance’s (ECGA) Firstgiving page! Once the page has raised $25,000, a Southeast sponsor has agreed to match the donation.
The East Coast Greenway is exciting not only in the new opportunities it will open up for fundraising events, fun “road” trips, and transportation, but it is comforting to know that plans to improve the environment we’ve been destroying are not all futuristic thoughts and plans. This project is happening now and its positive effects can be almost immediate! So, take an example from the ECGA and take action this moment: stop using plastic grocery bags, keep the faucet off while brushing your teeth, and start getting in shape for your new “green” commute to work.
