Cyclists, walkers celebrate opening of Seacoast Greenway-PORTSMOUTH HERALD

PORTSMOUTH — Bicyclists from around the Seacoast converged at Strawbery Banke Museum Saturday afternoon to celebrate the opening of New Hampshire's segment of the East Coast Greenway.

The Seacoast Greenway trail is the first border-to-border marked cycle route on the entire East Coast.

Some participants noted the occasion by riding a 21.5-mile stretch from Hampton Beach State Park through Wallis Sands State Park in Rye and into Portsmouth.

"It's nice to have a pathway that's marked and official for bicycles," said Danna Truslow, a Rye resident, who cycled with friends from Wallis Sands. "Hopefully it will help cars become more aware of cyclists."

Truslow said she applauds the efforts of facilitators and community members backing the Greenway project.

In addition to the cyclists there were walkers who followed a 1.5-mile circuit around the city, ending up back at the museum.

Scott Bogle, senior transportation planner for the Rockingham Planning Commission, said the three main goals of the East Coast Greenway are to encourage outdoor recreation and healthy living, to support greener transportation and alternative ways to travel, and to encourage bicycle tourism.

"We see this as the first step in the long-term trail that will run the entire East Coast from Maine to Florida," said Bogle during the ceremony.

Bogle, who addressed the crowd via a cycle-powered microphone, was accompanied by Mayor Tom Ferrini, Department of Transportation Commissioner George Campbell, New Hampshire Commissioner of Health and Human Services Nick Toumpas and U.S. Rep. Carol Shea-Porter, to name a few.

At the ceremony, cyclists and community members alike had the chance to learn more about cycling opportunities in the Seacoast and to listen to some live music.

Stephen Luber, a Kittery, Maine, resident, who cycled to Portsmouth just for fun Saturday, said he was glad to see that the East Coast Greenway trail would raise awareness of cyclists.

"I think anything to get citizens of the Seacoast area out and enjoying the area in a carbon footprint-free way is wonderful," said Luber.