East Coast Greenway

East Coast Greenway
The American Tobacco Trail, which forms 17.5 miles (28.2 km) of the East Coast Greenway in North Carolina
Length	3,000 miles (4,800 km)
Trailheads	Maine/Canada–US border-Florida
Use	Multi-use, non-motorized
Elevation
Highest point	West Boylston, Massachusetts, 680 ft (210 m)
Lowest point	Many locations within 10 feet (3.0 m) or less of sea level
Hiking details
Season	Variable, depending on latitude
Hazards	Weather, tick-borne diseases, poison ivy

The East Coast Greenway (ECG) is a project to create a nearly 3,000-mile (4,800 km) urban greenway/rail trail linking the major cities of the Atlantic coast of the United States, from Calais, Maine, to Key West, Florida, for non-motorized human transportation. The "spine route" and branching "complementary routes" are meant to be safe avenues for long bike rides, or even quick trips to the store.

The ECG is similar in length and conception to the 12 routes of the EuroVelo project throughout Europe and the Trans Canada Trail project in Canada.

Work began in 1991. The entire route has been marked, although as of 2016, just 30 percent of the trail is off-road. The vision is for the entire trail to be off-road.

In 1991, a group of cyclists and long-distance trail enthusiasts met in New York City and formed a national non-profit organization, the East Coast Greenway Alliance (ECGA), to plan and promote a greenway linking existing and planned trails into a contiguous "spine route" between Atlantic coast cities.

In summer 1992, the ECGA sent nine cyclists from Boston, New York City, Vermont, and Washington, D.C., on a 30-day "exploratory" cycle tour.

In 1993, tours went along the route to explore options and promote the idea of the greenway. In 1994, the first promotional tour took place from Maine to Washington, D.C. "East Coast Greenway" became a trademark in 1995.

The first five trail segments were designated in 1996. These segments were the Baltimore & Annapolis Trail in Maryland, the Charter Oak Greenway in Connecticut, the Coventry Greenway in Rhode Island, the Farmington Canal Greenway in Connecticut, and the Delaware & Raritan Canal Trail in New Jersey. These trails make up 56 miles (90 km) of the greenway.