Beyond the Neponset River Greenway Bike Ride
10:00 am, Saturday, April 26, 2008

We'll ride the opposite direction from last month's ride to see where we can go once we've gotten out of the city on the Neponset Trail. We'll follow the Burma Road Trail across Fowl Meadow, cross Route 128 on the "Bridge to Nowhere" (which we will find actually does go somewhere), ride a section of old MA 128, which is now a Scenic Byway, head south on stone wall-lined Elm St., and end up at Signal Hill Reservation, with great views of the Blue Hills and the Boston skyline. Then we'll return via the same route, for a total of about 12 miles. If the trail is too wet, we'll either walk it or ride around it on Route 138.

This ride is cosponsored by the MassBike MetroBoston chapter. the Boston Natural Areas Network and its community-based Neponset River Greenway Council, which have been working with the DCR to connect parklands along the river since 1990, and the Neponset River Watershed Association.

See photos of the ride.


Signal Hill is owned by The Trustees of Reservations

Details

  • Where: Meet at the parking lot at Paul's Bridge and Brush Hill Road at the edge of the Blue Hills just off the Neponset Valley Parkway.
  • When: Departing at 10:00 am, Saturday, April 26, 2008
  • Distance: about 12 miles.
  • Pace: Relaxed, probably 6-10 MPH.
  • Terrain: Mostly flat.
  • Route: Mixture of on-road (60%) and unpaved path (40%).
  • Leader: Doug Mink

Maps and Cue sheet

 route map

Getting There

Bicycle

Ride south from Forest Hills on Hyde Park Ave. to Readville, then turn left on the Neponset Valley Parkway to Brush Hill Rd. just after crossing the Neponset River. From the eastern part of Boston, get to Mattapan Square and follow Brush Hill Rd south.

MBTA

You can take your bike on T rapid transit lines and some bus lines, (none of which go near today's ride), 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.

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 station to most of the ride is Ashmont on the Red Line, but it is a hike.