HARLEM — Harlem residents will have an opportunity to think about how the nation's energy policies affect them on Sunday, when several pedicabs will give out free rides along Frederick Douglass Boulevard from 110th to 125th streets in celebration of Earth Day.
The cabs, which will run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., are being sponsored by Safe, Healthy, Affordable and Reliable Energy, a non-profit coalition of groups seeking to insure affordable electricity via solar, wind, nuclear and hydro power more commonly known as SHARE.
"We are trying to get people interested in a conversation about energy. Most of us take it for granted, and it's not a sexy conversation," said Frank Fraley, president of SHARE.
"We are trying to let people see there are some things we can do to provide free energy," Fraley added. "The people pedaling the pedicabs only have to get up and eat breakfast and have the energy to pedal."
In a community like Harlem, which suffers from higher rates of asthma, it's even more important that residents understand how energy sources can affect health, said Fraley.
"We thought Harlem was a good fit because the issues of energy and health disproportionately affect black and brown communities," said Fraley.
SHARE isn't the only group celebrating Earth Day in Harlem on Sunday.
Harlem Park to Park, a neighborhood business alliance, has also organized several family-friendly events throughout the day, such as kids yoga at Land's Yoga, live music at Marcus Garvey Park and a fish and release event at Central Park.
Nikoa Evans-Hendricks, a founder of Harlem Park to Park, said the celebration of Earth Day is good for the neighborhood.
"We want kids to understand how important it is to live healthy and that how you live affects the environment," said Evans-Hendricks.
"This is a neighborhood people want to preserve and taking care of the environment is a big part of that," she added.
The pedicabs will be stationed at First Corinthian Baptist Church at 1912 Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard, Harlem Tavern at 2153 Frederick Douglass Boulevard, Bier International at 2099 Frederick Douglass Boulevard and Chocolat at 2217-23 Frederick Douglass Boulevard. Harlem Park to Park's events run from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
