On Saturday, 300 participants will depart Jersey City’s Liberty State Park on the second-annual New York City-to-Philadelphia Greenway Ride, a 2-day, 125-mile cycling event in support of East Coast Greenway development in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Following an overnight stop in Princeton, New Jersey, the journey will conclude Sunday at Great Plaza at Penn’s Landing in Philadelphia.
Each participant also committed to raise funds in support of the East Coast Greenway Alliance’s work to further develop the 3,000-mile Maine-to-Florida bicycle and pedestrian route, including a number of impactful projects in the region.
The route brings the group of cyclist directly through Trenton, stopping at the Trent House, where they will be able to stop for snacks and drinks on their way to Philadelphia.
Approximately $200,000 has been raised via this year’s ride to aid in this important work, pushing the two-ride total past the $500,000 mark. The two editions of the NYC-to-PHL Ride rank as the largest fundraising events in the 30-year history of the nonprofit East Coast Greenway Alliance.
“We are grateful for the support of our dedicated riders, volunteers and local partners to again bring the New York City-to-Philadelphia Greenway Ride to life,” said East Coast Greenway Alliance Executive Director Dennis Markatos-Soriano. “This event is truly making a difference for the East Coast Greenway and our goal of a healthy, equitable and sustainable future for all to enjoy in the region and beyond.”
In 2020, the East Coast Greenway became the most visited park in the country, hosting 50 million bike rides, runs and walks in the corridor from Maine to Florida. More than 1,000 miles – over 35 percent – of the route is housed on traffic-free trails with more being added annually.
“I’m a big biker, and I’m also an advocate for sustainability and green spaces,” two-time ride participant Sophie Penkrat told Princeton’s Town Topics newspaper recently. “The extension of this greenway that will eventually go from Florida to Maine is absolutely incredible. It’s a wonderful initiative, giving people back the land that we deserve and we should be using, and supporting our Earth.”
The two-day, fully supported event is produced by Global Impact Productions.
Riders will have access to food and drink at rest stop oases throughout both days of the event, as well as breakfast and lunch on day one and breakfast and a finish celebration on day two. All participants will receive a custom NYC-to-PHL Ride T-shirt and finisher medal.