Monday, April 13, 2009

Complete the Schuylkill River Trail Campaign Deadline

There is still time for you to help complete the Schuylkill River Trail and have your contribution matched -- if you give before April 15. Join me and over 240 other bicyclists who have given to our campaign so far!

You pay every time you drive on the Pennsylvania Turnpike or cross the Ben Franklin Bridge. You pay every time you board a SEPTA train or bus. If you paid a $2.50 toll every time you rode on the Schuylkill River Trail, how much would that add up to?

Are you willing to make a "trail toll" gift of $35, $50 or $120 to help us complete the trail? Make your gift before April 15 and it will be matched by Fuji Bicycles -- one dollar for every two you give!

It is time for Philadelphia to fill the gaps in the Schuylkill River Trail. It is time that the premiere trail in our region not require you to know secret map coordinates in order to get in and out of the city. It is time to fix what's broken in Manayunk and extend the trail down to Bartram's Garden and beyond. It is time that federal transportation funds be used to complete the region's first green transportation corridor.

Under the leadership of the Bicycle Coalition's trail advocate Sarah Clark Stuart, the Bicycle Coalition has been instrumental in gathering a coalition of trail and community groups who want to complete the Schuylkill River Trail. We have met with a dozen city and state officials and other community partners.

In February, 320 people came out to a forum to learn about nine trail projects that, when completed, will connect and extend the trail.

We have begun the advocacy that will complete the trail. Last month in DC we took another important step towards securing the $22 million needed to complete construction of the Schuylkill River Trail. But it is going to take many more months of work, many more meetings with officials and partners, and more research to find local funds to supply the required match of federal dollars.

For Sarah to continue her work to complete the Schuylkill River Trail, to build the needed coalition of community groups and individual supporters like you, we need to raise $25,000 before April 15. We have a foundation grant to pay many of the campaign expenses but we need support from you to put us over the top.

Please make a "trail toll" gift today
!

Alex Doty
Executive Director,
Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia

Matching Your Gift
Make your gift before April 15 and your gift will be matched.

Last month, a generous donor offered to match the first $5,000 given to the campaign. With over 200 donations, we have gone over that $5,000 match.

Inspired by our members' zeal, Advanced Sports, Inc. (parent of Fuji and Breezer) has offered to match your donation with $1 for every $2 you give. Fuji understands the importance of completing the Delaware Valley's first green transportation corridor and is challenging you to make as generous a gift as you can.

If you make a $120 gift, Fuji will add $60 (up to a total of $5,000). But you must make your gift before April 15.

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