The Farmington Valley Trails Council, Farmington Canal Rail to Trail Association and the East Coast Greenway Alliance are teaming up to host Ride the State: Connecticut, a 56-mile bicycle ride to highlight the need to close the remaining gaps in the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail segment of the East Coast Greenway on Saturday, June 22.
The ride will be capped at 150 participants and is expected to sell out as it did in 2023.
Proceeds from the event will help go toward completion of the marquee Connecticut portion of the East Coast Greenway. Riders wishing to help advance the East Coast Greenway in Connecticut are invited to register as a fundraiser for Ride the State. You'll receive $20 off registration, plus an East Coast Greenway T-shirt. Raise more than $250 and earn a Greenway-branded jersey. Fundraising information and access to an online platform will be provided.
Ride the State: Connecticut begins at the New Haven Green and passes through 11 Connecticut towns before it reaches Southwick, Massachusetts. Most of the trail features off-road travel providing a safe system of linear parks that can be accessed at multiple points. The trails serve multiple positive purposes for their communities and the surrounding region. Only two gaps remain – in New Haven and the Plainville area.
On-site registration will start at 7:30 a.m., and the ride will begin at 8 a.m. at the southwest corner of New Haven Green at the corner of Chapel and College Streets at the Pierre Lallement Memorial Stone. The ride is scheduled to end at 3 p.m. in Southwick, Massachusetts. If you signed up for a bus ticket, you will be transported back to the ride start location. Bicycles will be transported back via a truck.
The ride is 56-miles on paved greenways and/or roadways, with some elevation gain. Participants should be physically able to bicycle 50-plus miles. The ride will be supported by several sweeps going at different speeds, as well as a SAG vehicle.
Paid parking is available at several garages near New Haven Green. Helmets are required. The ride will happen rain or shine. Snacks and water and lunch are provided, and there will be several restroom stops along the way.
Your registration fee goes to the nonprofit East Coast Greenway Alliance to cover event expenses. We will consider refund requests made prior to June 8. We are not able to issue refunds for no-shows or in case of event cancellation due to inclement weather. Thank you for understanding.
Please contact Debra West at debbie@greenway.org if you have questions or need assistance with your registration
Ride the State event partners:
Thank you to our Ride the State sponsors!
Receive East Coast Greenway news directly in your inbox.
Recent record-setting funding for design and construction goes directly to building the East Coast Greenway - as it should. The East Coast Greenway Alliance needs your support to continue our advocacy work that is fueling completion of the Greenway. The Alliance has a sustained track record of turning every dollar donated to our nonprofit into $100 in public infrastructure investment. Invest today and support the growth of the East Coast Greenway from Maine to Florida.