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BICYCLE PATHS

Emerald Necklace Greenway
MassBike, a statewide bicycle advocacy group, is working on reconnecting Frederick Law Olmsted's original Emerald Necklace of parks and park ways so bicyclists and pedestrians do not have to take their lives in their hands as they try to cross the heavy traffic of the "parkways" along and across this park system which currently includes closed roads in the Arnold Arboretum and Franklin Park, the Jamaicaway Bikepath and the Muddy River Bikepath.

Jamaicaway Bikepath
This path runs from Route 9 on the northwest bank of Leverett Pond along the Jamaicaway to the southeast bank of Jamaica Pond. Maintained by the Boston Department of Parks and Recreation, it follows the bridle path of Frederick Law Olmsted's 1891 design. Extension of this path across Rt. 9 and along the Riverway to Netherlands St., where it can connect to Brookline's Muddy River path, is part of the Emerald Necklace Greenway Project.

Muddy River Bikepath
This path runs along the north bank of the Muddy River from Park Drive in Boston almost to Brookline Avenue in Brookline. This pleasant alternative to streets, maintained by the town of Brookline and the city of Boston could be extended to Kenmore Square along an unused railroad right-of-way. On the other end, south of Route 9, Riverside Road has been grassed over and a separated bicycle pedestrian path has been paved to Cypress St. Connection of this path across Route 9 is part of the Emerald Necklace Greenway Project.

Pierre Lallement Bikepath
Running through the Southwest Corridor Linear Park along the rapid transit Orange Line are four miles of separate bicycle and pedestrian paths. This path provides an alternative to the congested and otherwise-inhospitable roadways between downtown Boston and its southern neighborhoods. Built by the MBTA, the park is managed by the MDC. It passes within blocks of the house where the inventor of the pedal bicycle, Pierre Lallement, died in the nineteenth century.
Along a corridor that now unites a number of multi-ethnic communities, you find numerous basketball courts, tennis courts, and works of art--not to mention two fountains and two street hockey rinks. With so much packed into five miles, it is no wonder the Southwest Corridor Park has won several awards since its 1988 opening. Plan to spend some time exploring the trail and the many historic sites nearby.
A good way to reach the park's northern endpoint is by mass transit--either a subway ride to the Back Bay/South End station on the orange line of the MBTA, a bus trip, or a commuter rail or Amtrak train ride to the Back Bay stop. You can bring a bike on the T during off-peak hours.

For more information on biking in Boston, check out:

The City of Boston's Official Bicycling in Boston web site: http://www.cityofboston.gov/transportation/bike.asp

MassBike, the Massachusetts Bicycle Coalition, a statewide bicycling advocacy organization: http://www.massbike.org/

MassHighway Bicycle Information: http://www.state.ma.us/mhd/paths/bikep.htm