Thanks largely to two volunteer organizations, Bath Trails and the City of Bath Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee, our City of Ships is a particularly good place to get healthy with its network of trails and fifty miles of uncrowded streets.

Bath has more bike parking spaces per capita than any municipality in the state, and 15 bike racks were installed in the last year alone. And recently due to the work of these two organizations in conjunction with city officials, Bath has been certified as the very first Active Communities Environment Team (ACE Team) in Maine.

To celebrate this designation and to recognize May as National Bicycle Month, the committee also promotes Bike-to-Work Week, Bike to School Day, and intends to promote Bike-to-Shop week as ways to incorporate “active living” as a form of preventive care. “Active living” means not only going to exercise class or going for a recreational walk or bike ride, but integrating physical activity into the daily routine.

So it is never too late to start a routine. Join the festivities and instead of driving a car for an errand within a mile of your house, walk or take a bike. Commute to work or to public transportation by bike or by foot if the distances are manageable (i.e. one mile for walking; two miles for biking). Let’s use our community’s walking and biking environments that can help people live longer, happier and healthier lives being active.

Rep. Jennifer DeChant
Bath