Conference noted::bicycle

    Re: .0
    
    The Minuteperson bikepath is a reasonable choice.  Just beware that it
    can get very crowded at times, particularly on weekend afternoons.  So,
    for example, there are likely to be other, faster cyclists (and
    possibly also in-line skaters) passing you by at times, in addition to
    varied traffic going by in the other direction.  It is a good place to
    learn to keep to the right side of the trail.
    
    The Bedford end of the trail is off of South Street near the
    intersection with Loomis Street and Railroad Avenue.  From Maynard,
    take Route 62 through Concord into Bedford, and turn right on McMahon
    Avenue.  McMahon Avenue passes various schools and turns into Railroad
    Avenue.  Turn right at South Street and you'll see the beginning of the
    trail, right next to the bakery.
    
Lew Lasher

Not near Maynard but.....

On a tip from a friend, we drove to Amherst and rode the rail-trail between
South Haley and North Hampton, starting in Amherst. The trail is
a former railroad bed (as the name implies) which has been paved
and seeded on the sides. Its 8.5 miles one way and runs through beautiful
country side with a couple of minor road crossings. The one major road
crossing has a bikers underpass.

We started in Amherst; just look for the bike trail signs. One end was on the
other side of the Connecticut river (where the is an ice cream stand!).

This was a beautiful trail, very gentle incline and some nice break stops
along the way. Although the weekend, bike traffic was light. There are
also roller-bladers there (thats how nice the surface is).

My kids are 9, 13 an 15. We all had a great time.

Dan

With regard to specific directions to this place, well,
like I said, it was a tip from a friend that there was this neat place.
Being somewhat of an explorer, we just drove to Amherst (its not a big town, 
one major road crossing) and looked for the bike trail signs.

For me from the Fitchburg area, we took Rt 2 West, Rt 202 South, Rt 9 West
and there is was. There was a short cut from Rt202 to Rt9.

Amherst is 1/3 the distance from the S Hadley end and of course 2/3
from North Hampton. At the  North Hampton end, there is a state park
with rangers and they have maps (they were out when we were there).
That end of the trail is right on the West side of the Connecticut River
and has a parking lot. I'm pretty sure it was on Rt 9.

Amherst is liturally the high point, although the slop is so gentle
you don't even know it. We did the round trip.

There's a health food store in reach ("this isn't soda", says my kids), 
a back yard bike service along the trail and many Kodak shoots.

Enjoy
Dan

    
    RE: .0 & .1
    
    I recently rode the Bedford end of the bike path as the finishing leg
    of a Mass Lung Asso fund raiser and I was shocked at the riding/skating
    etiquette of most of the crowd.  It was very crowded on a late Sunday 
    morning.  Very few riders wearing helmets.  In fact, we saw a couple
    of folks with their helmet hanging from their belt.  Kinda wearing a
    "I'm stupid" sign.  The in-line skaters were just as bad.  Passing and
    crossing the center line with little regard for beginners or on-coming
    traffic.  If that is your chosen place to practice, I would suggest
    off-peak hours if possible.
    
    Good Riding,
    Jim

    
    I rode to Bedford->Arlington rail trail for the 1st time 2 weeks ago and 
    was very impressed about how quick and easy it was to get to the city.
    I was on a mountain bike, but I really look forward to using a street 
    bike on that.....I'd better get a bell or something.
    
    Question:
    What is the best way to get into town from Alewife?
    
    Is there another trail that does this? 
    
    Comment:
    At the Alewife parking garage there's a closed off spiral exit ramp...
    It's a total blast to ride up to the top of the garage, climb under the
    chain and blast down the loops....it must circle around about 5 times
    and it's easy to get going fast.  Be careful at the bottom though,
    there is chain there!!!    

    Buried somewhere in this notes file are the directions from Alewife
    down to Memorial (you're right, it isn't obvious)... try a
    search *.* "Alewife"

>   Question:
>   What is the best way to get into town from Alewife?

	
	If you mean downtown Boston by "into town", I can help.  I asked
	this same question in here two years or so back and got some really
	interesting answers (like one said "don't do it").  This ride is
	definitely NOT for everyone, but I find it fun.

	Here's how I go...

	As you are approaching the end of the Minuteman Bikeway, turn to
	the LEFT just before the Alewife T station.  At the end of the building
	(and before the overpass) turn RIGHT.  Proceed 20 yards and take the 
	next LEFT under the overpass (both overpasses are Fresh Pond Parkway). 
	Once through the overpass take an immediate RIGHT.  This is the
	SIDEWALK side of Fresh Pond Parkway.  Stay on the sidewalk across
	Ringe Ave (I think) and up and over the RR bridge (this was under
	construction last fall, it may have changed!!).  As you cross
	the RR bridge, note the Movie Theatre to your left "in back" of
	the shopping center..this is where you want to go as it cuts out
	both of the rotaries if you stay on back streets long enough.
	Bear right as you pass the theater with the park on your left. 
	If you need a rest room, there is one in the back of the park -
	an easy ride. After a short distance past the park, you will see 
	the Sozio circle in front of you. Turn LEFT before you get to the 
	circle and proceed two or three blocks (it doesn't really matter) 
	and hang a RIGHT which will bring you out to Concord Street in 
	Cambridge.  Turn left on Concord Street and proceed up to 
	Fayerweather St or one or two beyond and hang a RIGHT (you should
	really check a map of this area first!)   ...that should 
	bring you out on Memorial Drive where you can catch the Memorial Drive
 	bikeway all the way to the Science Museum and catch the Storrow Drive 
	bikeway all the way back by crossing the Charles over the Elliot 
	Bridge and backtrack through Cambridge to Alewife as before (although
	one way streets are prevalent in this neighborhood)

	There are three side trips to this route that I have done.

	First:

	After going under the Fresh Pond overpass at the Alewife station,
	go STRAIGHT (instead of turning RIGHT as previously mentioned).
	When you get to the ball field, turn LEFT and follow the "track"
	around the field.  This will lead you to a bikeway that goes to
	 Sullivan Square in Somerville if you keep on it long enough and 
	cross one, not so obvious intersection.

	Second:
	
	After crossing the Charles River dam at the Science Museum, head
	out the Storrow Bikeway and take the footbridge across Storrow
	Drive (it is NOT the one at Leverett Circle).  This will enable 
	you to wind your way through back streets to Causeway Street, then 
	to Atlantic Ave and on to Northern Av in Southie for tour of the
	waterfront.

	Third:

	When you have gotten all the way back to Elliot Bridge on the 
	Storrow Drive bikepath, you can bear RIGHT just before the bridge 
	and GO UNDER the roadway (an effective left turn!) and follow the bikepath
	along the upper Charles all the way to Watertown (and beyond).

	Obviously, each of these has MANY intersections to cross and other 
	dangers, but I find it all quite exhilarating.  Looking over these
	possibilities with a street map first is highly recommended. 

	Good luck.

    FYI, the bridge at Fresh Pond is still under construction.  There's no
    sidewalk next to the road, but there's a walk-way off a bit on the
    movie-theater side (as opposed to the T-stop side.)
    
    I tried to follow the directions backwards, but I couldn't.  If I were
    standing at Rindge Avenue and Rt. 2, how would I get to the start of
    the path?  Or, say I was at Joyce Chen's?
    
    Thanks,
    
    Rachael

  
    I tried to follow the directions backwards, but I couldn't.  If I were
    standing at Rindge Avenue and Rt. 2, how would I get to the start of
    the path?  Or, say I was at Joyce Chen's?
 

	As you come down the hill on route 2 from the RR bridge you cross 
	Rindge Avenue.  On the other side of Rindge Avenue you jog a bit
	to the right and then left and follow a sidewalk (parallel to
	route 2) roughly 50 yards to an overpass..go left under the underpass 
	and once through it, immediately go right...when you get to the paved 
	street, cross it and go left on the sidewalk (the road is one way 
	against you).  When you get to the end of the T building, turn right, 
	continuing to follow the sidewalk....now go straight ahead - under 
	another route 2 overpass, past a soccer field on your left and through
	a parking lot and you will run right into the bikeway.

	If this isn't clear, please call me!

    
     How would you get to the Bedford bike path from Dracut?  I could 
     use Rte 3, or 495. 
    
    Mark  

    
    
    		Take route 4 out of Chelmsford into Bedford center.
    
    		Or....from route 3 take Treble Cove Rd or Concord Rd.
    
    		into Bedford center.   Take a RIGHT onto SOUTH st. 
    
    		Look for the BIKE ROUTE signs.   Go about a mile or
    
    		so down south street and you will come to the big
    
    		red "station" building on the right.  Park there. 
    
    		The beginning of the bike path is right across the
    
     		street.

    
    Took a tour on the Bedford Bike path over the weekend.  I think Rte
    4 is a better way to travel to Bedford instead of Rte 3.  My wife
    loved the path.  We went 5 to 6 miles before returning to Bedford.
    
    Thanks for the info
    
    Mark