Biking and walking to less pain at the pump
By Dennis Markatos-Soriano, Executive Director
As gas prices jump and diesel prices hit uncharted territory above $6 per gallon, these higher costs burden our inflation-strained wallets. Rather than racking up credit card debt or pulling too much from our savings, there are ways we can lower fuel purchases to offset higher costs caused by war.
While we can’t all afford to buy a new EV right away and we don’t all have access to a transit station, now is an important time for us to explore more biking and walking. Since half of all trips in the United States are less than four miles, we can often use two wheels instead of four.
At the East Coast Greenway Alliance, we are making bike rides and walks to school, work or the store safe and convenient alternatives to expensive driving.
Over the past 34 years, we have worked with hundreds of communities in our corridor to build out and map 1,100 miles of safe and connected greenways. While we still have 1,000-plus miles to develop to complete our linear park, the East Coast Greenway already hosts 50 million bike rides, runs and walks every year. Our goal is to double that number to 100 million by 2030. Will you join us to save money and connect more with community and nature? If you have been averaging three walks or bike rides per week, perhaps you can go for six as cooler temperatures arrive this fall. If you are already walking and biking everywhere, perhaps you can take the time to help neighbors and friends plan to enjoy a less expensive and more fun way to get around, too.
On a trip to Europe last year, I saw the many benefits of higher rates of biking and walking. Countries like The Netherlands and Denmark rank among the happiest in the world with commutes marked less by road rage and more like joyrides. For people living Maine to Florida and beyond, our nonprofit is here to help you lower costs and improve your health through increased biking and walking.
“We are making bike rides and walks to school, work or the store safe and convenient alternatives to expensive driving.”
Bikes Are Trending
A new study by John Pucher et. al. shows that biking has grown consistently in cities across Europe and the U.S., from New York and London to Paris and Berlin. In New York, biking has tripled since 1990. And in Paris, biking is up 20-fold! Despite growth in the U.S., we still lag European peers who often relish quadruple our rate of biking. It shows great opportunity for further growth here that could lower our household costs by hundreds if not thousands of dollars per year.
A School Bike Bus Runs on Cereal and Burritos, Not Less Reliable Fossil Fuels
In Durham, North Carolina, we launched a Greenway Bike Bus to Southwest Elementary School that grew to welcome 100 students, parents and supporters to a celebration of National Bike & Roll to School Day. Not only are these rides making our kids stronger and more independent, but they are lowering the cost of daily trips. The energy comes from cereal, burritos and everything we eat, instead of relying on fuels that are vulnerable to major price spikes like the last several months. It’s been inspiring to be part of the Bike Bus and to see the connection and community that comes from our rides full of kids, parents and even grandparents.
No Gas Required Vacations
Commutes to school and work aren’t the only opportunities to switch to biking. Vacations don’t have to be full of expensive flights and car trips. My family and I recently enjoyed a train ride to a neighboring city where we walked, biked and took transit to visit cousins and friends. Many cities like Boston, New York and Washington, D.C. have bike share that can be used for short trips, and local bike shops provide longer bike rentals as well. I also invite you to consider a staycation along the East Coast Greenway exploring the most complete metro area of the entire Greenway — 75 miles in the Triangle of North Carolina — or southern New England through Connecticut and Rhode Island.
At the polls in November, let’s make our voices heard for more rides, more walks, more joy and more Greenways, making it possible for more of us to lower costs by increasing biking and walking. Together, we can replace pain at the pump with the benefits of the bicycle. The joy we get just might transform the anxious generation into a community-building force that restores our nation’s social fabric and fosters peace and understanding beyond our borders.
Let’s go for it, shall we?
Dennis Markatos-Soriano has been executive director of the East Coast Greenway Alliance since 2009, leading the nonprofit to strong growth and impact as the East Coast Greenway has become the most visited park in the country. He received his Economics degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Master’s in Public Affairs from Princeton University’s School of Public & International Affairs.
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