Neponset River Greenway Summer Bike Ride
10:00 am, Sunday, August 1, 2021

Every year, the Neponset River Greenway Council sponsors a bike ride on the Saturday closest to the first day of Spring to check out how the Neponset Trail has fared through the Winter, look at the next trail extensions, and explore the neighborhoods and sites just off the trail. Sometimes the weather or a pandemic is too bad and we postpone until later in the year, as we did this year. Starting at Martini Shell in Hyde Park, we'll ride 18 miles, starting south on the Neponset Trail to the Neponset Valley Parkway and uphill on Rt. 138's bike lanes to Brush Hill Rd. which we will follow up and down another hill across Milton almost to Mattapan Square, from which we'll take the Neponset Trail to Tenean Beach, turn around and ride back to the Martini Shell, entirely on the Trail except for a loop on Fairmount and Walnut Streets in Hyde Park to take the new Grimke Sisters bridge on Dana Ave. back to the Trail, ending at the Martini Shell.

There are two good-sized hills beyond the trail in Milton near the start of the ride, but after that, it's fairly flat. Bring a mask. Wear a helmet. Hard rain will postpone the ride.

[photos]

Photos from past Neponset Trail Bike Rides:
2019:[Ride] [photos] 2018:[Ride] [photos] 2017:[photos] [New section photos] 2016:[Ride] [Photos] 2015:[Ride] [Photos] 2014:[Ride] [Photos] 2013:[Ride] [Photos] 2012:[Ride] [Photos] 2011:[Ride] [Photos] 2010:[Ride] [Photos] 2009:[Ride] [Photos] 2008:[Ride] [Photos] 2007:[Ride] [Photos] 2003:[Photos2]


Trolleys and bikes along the High-Speed Line

Details

  • Where: Meet in front of the Martini Shell off Truman Parkway in Hyde Park.
  • When: Departing at 10:00 am, Sunday, August 1, 2021
  • Distance: about 18 miles.
  • Pace: Relaxed, probably 6-10 MPH.
  • Terrain: Flat except for two hills in the first 4 miles
  • Route: Mixture of on-road (60%) and shared-use path (40%).
  • Leader: Jessica Mink

Maps and Cue sheet

 route map
Click to see full-page map

Getting There

Bicycle

Ride south from Forest Hills on Hyde Park Ave. to Martini Shell, on your right just before the Stop&Shop.

MBTA

You can take your bike on T rapid transit lines and bus lines, (Orange Line to Forest Hills, then #32 bus to Walcott Square), for no extra charge. Details are on the MBTA website.

From Forest Hills (Orange Line):
Take Hyde Park Ave. to Readville and turn left on the Neponset Valley Parkway to Paul's Bridge. Or take the #32 bus.

Car

Take the Route 138 exit from Route 128/93N, and go north to Brush Hill Rd. Turn left using a right turn through a jug handle.
Click for Google Maps

Bailout points

You can turn around at Mattapan Square or Dorchester Lower Mills. The closest T stations to most of the ride are UMass/JFK, Ashmont and Savin Hill on the Red Line, but it can be a hike. There are also hourly Fairmount Branch trains at Mattapan Square, Fairmount Ave., and Readville.