The following article will appear in the Santa Cruz County Cycling Club newsletter:
Long time member, Scott Campbell will be riding his bicycle from Boston, MA to San Francisco, CA starting on April 28, 2006. The trip will take 90 days and pass through the middle of the country. Scott will be traveling mostly by himself making his own route. He will be riding his fully-loaded touring bike and staying in campgrounds along the way. The purpose of the ride is to promote the National Bicycle Greenway, a local organization dedicated to creating a nationwide network of interconnected bike friendly roads and pathways for the use of human-powered transportation. As he passes through supporting NBG Day cities, he'll receive proclamations from the mayors that demonstrate their commitment to the mission of corridors for safe travel by cyclists. In the past these ceremonies have ranged from fifteen-minute certificate presentations to media extravaganzas that included police escorts, newspaper, TV and radio interviews. Some have also seen displays and public speaking that celebrate advancements in the local two-wheel way of life.
Scott has taken an early retirement and is using money saved to be able to afford this journey. He says, "I've wanted to ride my bike across the U.S. for the past 18 years and now I can do it while promoting a worthy cause. I figure if I don't do it now I will probably never get another opportunity to do it in my lifetime". Scott has been working with Martin Krieg, the director and former resident of Santa Cruz, on this project for the past 8 years. Martin over came a near life ending automobile accident to eventually ride his bike across the country twice as part of his rehabilitation. It was during his first trip that he came up with the idea of creating a bicycle greenway that stretched across the country like a spider web.
Martin has dedicated his life to the dream of someday being able ride from one major city to another along beautiful park-like green belts with other people walking, riding, or sitting on benches enjoying the nature around them. His vision includes places of business setting up kiosks and the like for the purpose of providing food, drink and even repair stations for those in need of such services. The idea is to provide a place for people to travel to their jobs or perform errands while getting some good exercise in a safe environment.
Scott said, "I would like to see everyone riding a bike. But in order to do that people have to feel safe and it has to be fairly easy. If they knew they could get from their home to work or school or the store without having to fear being injured I believe more people would ride a bike. People's health would improve and the environment would be healthier too. My hope is that by promoting a greenway I can see this dream come true".
For more information about the National Bicycle Greenway Mayors' Ride visit the website: http://www.bikeroute.com/NationalMayorsRide2006.