Here's a note from Nik Coates at the Program for Alternative Transportation and Health about Green Commute Week. If you haven't yet taken part in the action this week, here are several ways for you to get involved, and get fit:

Green Commute Week in Concord is in full swing and there’s been building momentum for the big event with Governor and Dr. Lynch on Friday.

Here’s a brief recap for Concord’s events for the rest of the week:

• Thursday, 11-1 p.m., at Eagle Square
NH Department of Transportation’s Jack Ferns will be leading a lunchtime walk from the NHDOT building to downtown Concord. There will be a rally at Eagle Square with the group that he leads along with others gathered at the plaza. Boloco is providing 250 free mini-burritos and NH Distributors will be providing free beverages. So, come on down and get some free food and meet some cool people!

• Friday, 7-9 a.m. at the State House (Main Street sidewalk)
Governor John Lynch and Dr. Susan Lynch will be riding their bicycles in from Hopkinton to the State House to headline NH’s Bike-Walk to Work Day. Gov. Lynch will arrive at the State House at 8 a.m. with a group of riders and he will then present the annual Bike-Walk to Work Day proclamation. Please note this ride is not open to the public.

However, there are riding groups that will be meeting in and around the city who will be arriving at the State House throughout the morning to converge for one big event! (Map is located here: http://www.path-nh.org/documents/Green%20Commute%20Week/20090505Concord_...) The bluegrass band GrassDawgs will be headlining the event beginning at 7 a.m. and there will be free food and beverages provided by Works Bakery Café, Café Indigo and NH Distributors.

Anyone who bikes, walks, carpools or uses public transportation on either day in Concord can be entered into giveaways that include 4 tickets to the Manchester Wolves, a gift pack from Badger, Boloco gift cards, etc. The Bike-Walk Alliance of New Hampshire and the NHDOT are also rewarding people with prizes an overnight stay at the Mount Washington Hotel and roundtrip tickets on the Amtrak Downeaster train.

For more info about the Concord events on Thursday and Friday, please go to the Program for Alternative Transportation and Health website at www.path-nh.org/greencommuteweek.html. For more information about the events statewide, please go to the Bike-Walk Alliance of New Hampshire website at www.bwanh.org.

Nicholas J. Coates
Public Outreach Coordinator/Assistant Planner