CLINTON - A state-wide effort in moving past fossil fuels toward a brighter future and healthier planet will start next weekend in Clinton.

On Saturday, Sept. 24, civic organizations, non-profits, businesses, and faith communities from all over the state will gather in New Haven around 4 p.m. for a rally, mass bike ride, and talk with political leaders in the Moving Connecticut effort, part of the global Moving Planet Day.

According to the group's website www.moving-planet.org, the goal is to get moving beyond fossil fuels-both symbolically by pouring into the streets by the thousands on foot, bicycle, and other sustainable transportation and politically by demanding government leaders move beyond fossil fuels.

For shoreline participants, the Bike & Pedestrian Alliance of Clinton (BPAC) is planning two separate bike rides into New Haven. The first begins at noon from the Liberty Green in Clinton and will be a 30-mile ride to the New Haven Green. The second ride will leave Clinton at 1:30 p.m. and is a 12-mile ride to the Guilford Train Station. Bikers will catch the 3:13 p.m. train into New Haven.

"Because we will be riding single-file on the side of the road with traffic and without police escorts, the rides are limited to experienced bicyclists," said BPAC Chair Debbie Lundgren.

Shoreline East will provide rides back to town at either 8 or 10 p.m. from the New Haven State Street Station. Participants are responsible for tickets once they are on the train.

If interested in joining in either of the rides, contact Debbie Lundgren at lundgren10@comcast.net or 860-669-1077. For more information on Moving Planet Day or a schedule of events around the area, visit www.moving-planet.org. The website for Moving Connecticut, which contains more information on the event in New Haven, is www.350ct.org/move.