For the first time in 13 years, we're going to have a white Thanksgiving after Boston got an official 6 inches of snow. It didn't seem like that much on the paths, as the first snow melted when it hit and much of the later snow was blown off in fairly high winds. Today, Brookline wins for best plowing, with Boston a close second and the MDC out of the running.
Please send updates and reports on the conditions of other paths in Massachusetts to Doug Mink dmink@massbike.org.
Arnold Arboretum 1.5 miles of park roads which are mostly closed to automobile traffic with no intersections Boston Parks and Harvard University | The park roads were the only "paths" plowed in the morning, though even then they were a bit icy. |
Jamaicaway Bikepath 1.5 miles of mostly bike/ped-separated paths paralleling a busy 4-lane parkway; two intersections with traffic lights Boston Parks Deparment | Plowed and maybe sanded a bit, though somewhat icy by evening. It was unplowed at 10 in the morning, though the snow was soft enough to get through. The bollards at Pinebank still create an extra hazard. |
Olmsted Park Paths 3/4-mile of mostly bike/ped-separated paths built over Riverdale Road, across Leverett Pond from the Jamaicaway. Brookline Park Department | Plowed by evening, with a surface which looked better than that of the Jamaicaway path. |
Muddy River Path 12-foot-wide 0.6 mile shared bike/ped path with no intersections Brookline Park Department and DPW | This path was plowed, but a bit icy by evening. |
B.U. Bridge | The approaches have bare pavement, but the bridge is rough ice. |
Charles River Bikepath Narrow, shared bike-ped path with few intersections Metropolitan District Commission | Short stretches seemed to have been plowed, but from the B.U. Bridge to River St., it was rough ice. Upstream to Hawthorn St., there was enough bare pavement that the path should be clear after a sunny day. |
Southwest Corridor Bikepath Separated Bike/Ped path with poorly-designed intersections Metropolitan District Commission | Not checked yet. |
Melnea Cass Bikepath Separated Bike/Ped path Boston Parks or Transportation Deparment | Not checked yet. |
Neponset Trail Mostly paved Bike/Ped path Metropolitan District Commission | This path is not plowed. |
Cambridge Bike Lanes Striped lanes of varying widths on major and connecting streets City of Cambridge | Between slush and icy by evening. |
Fresh Pond Bike Path Parallel to Fresh Pond Parkway in Kingsley Park City of Cambridge | Not checked yet. |