The snow start falling on Tuesday afternoon and feel through the night. Through Tuesday's evening commute, the paths had so little snow that you could ride through it. By the Wednesday morning commute, there were six inches or more, enough for snow days at local schools which did not get Evacuation Day off. All of the major paths in Boston (except maybe the SW Corridor) were plowed, and most got a second pass after the snow finally stopped Wednesday afternoon. While the original plowing was seldom to bare pavement, warmer temperatures and some sun cleared all of the paths over Thursday and Friday, which wouldn't have happened if they weren't plowed. Congratulations to the City of Boston, the Town of Brookline, and the Mass. Department of Conservation and Recreation who all did a great job.
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 | Wednesday, the roads were plowed to soft icy slush, but by the end of the week, they were mostly bare pavement. The road from the Walter Street entrance stayed icy the longest. |
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 | This path was plowed by Wednesday morning, though I had to use my trusty avalanche shovel to clear it past the bollards at Pine Bank which should be removed!. It was sanded, too, and was pretty clear by Wednesday evening. |
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 | The bike path was plowed by Wednesday morning, the earliest after a storm I've seen it plowed this winter. |
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 to packed powder on Wednesday morning and was pretty clear by evening. |
B.U. Bridge | The sidewalks were plowed by Wednesday morning, except for the stretch over Storrow Drive (which was the first part plowed last storm). Both Cambridge and Boston approaches were plowed, and the bridge, except for the uplowed section was bare pavement by Thursday. |
Charles River Bikepath Narrow, shared bike-ped path with few intersections Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Urban Parks and Recreation | This path was plowed by Wednesday morning, though it was a bit bumpy, especially on the narrow parts upstream from Harvard Square and downstream from the River St. Bridge. The plow missed the path in a few places on those narrow stretches, but the path was ridable from the BU Bridge to Hawthorn St. Thank the DCR for plowing the path at their feedback web page. |
Southwest Corridor Bikepath Separated Bike/Ped path with poorly-designed intersections Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Urban Parks and Recreation | No report. If you want it plowed, let the DCR know at their feedback web page. |
Melnea Cass Bikepath Separated Bike/Ped path Boston Parks or Transportation Deparment | Not checked yet. |
Neponset Trail Mostly paved Bike/Ped path Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Urban Parks and Recreation | This path is not plowed. |
Cambridge Bike Lanes Striped lanes of varying widths on major and connecting streets City of Cambridge | There was enough snow to force cars away from the curb, but the bike lanes were plowed better than the last storm. |
Fresh Pond Bike Path Parallel to Fresh Pond Parkway in Kingsley Park City of Cambridge | Not checked yet. |
Minuteman Bikeway From Cambridge through Arlington and Lexington to Bedford Each town | It may be plowed in Arlington, as far as Varnum Street, but don't count on it. The rest of the path westward is unplowed on purpose. |
Northampton Bikeway East-west across the City of Northampton City of Northampton | No report yet. |
Norwottuck Rail Trail Northampton to Amherst Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of State Parks and Recreation | No report for this storm, but a portion of the Norwottuck Rail Trail from roughly Baker St. to S. Pleasant St. has been plowed after the past few snowstorms. The plowed section allows travel from the UMass Bikeway Connector to S. Pleasant St. |