A foot or so of snow fell on Boston on Monday, and I didn't get back from a Christmas trip to Illinois until Tuesday afternoon, so the paths remained unchecked until Wednesday morning. There was some melting Tuesday and will no doubt be more today, with temperatures above freezing. Congratulations to the City of Boston and the Town of Brookline, who did a great job, and a lump of coal to the Mass. Department of Conservation and Recreation, which did nothing.
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 bare pavement through much of the park, though there was a lot of packed powder near the Bussey St. entrance and at the hairpin turns at both bottoms of Bussey Hill. I shoveled out the north side Arborway crosswalk. |
Arborway "Bike Lanes" Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Urban Parks and Recreation 1 mile of wide paved shoulder which is unmarked but usually clear of parked cars during rush hour Boston Parks and Harvard University | The Arborway was plowed to the curb, so this very useful route, which avoids the dangerous trolley tracks on South St., was quite rideable. |
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 missed my
avalanche shovel because I had to walk my bike around the bollards at
Pine Bank which should be removed!. It was sanded on the hill
between Willow Pond and Perkins St., and the drifting snow was mostly
plowed off the path by Daisy Field.
Thursday(12/30) update: The city plowed between the bollards this morning,
so the path is clear all the way. I shoveled the Eliot St. entrance
to the path.
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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 | I forgot to look as I biked by; I'll check it tonight. |
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 and salted, so it was mostly bare or wet pavement. |
B.U. Bridge | The west sidewalk was plowed by Wednesday morning, but the plowing ended at the Memorial Drive intersection. |
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 unplowed by Wednesday morning, and it look unbicycleable. I road on Memorial Drive from the B.U. Bridge to Harvard Square. Complain to the DCR 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 |
SW Corridor was plowed. Much of it was almost bare, there were a few spots of
1-2" snow, and lots of thin-packed snow and ice. My guess is that it'll
probably clear in a couple of days, but the accumulated stuff on the side will
melt and refreeze.
The main issue with SWC is with the transitions at the street crossings. Many
appear to not have been plowed, or else plowed back in by the street plowers.
Inbound this includes (but I'm probably forgetting a couple) much below Green
Street, the far side of Centre St (at Jackson Sq.) the near side of Heath
Street (plow appears to have just died about 30 feet before the end), and both
sides of Ruggles Street. I guess that's why we should all be doing Cyclocross
-- to improve our mounting/dismounting and carrying skills.
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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 usually not plowed. If you use this path regularly and want the DCR to plow it, let them know at their feedback web page. |
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, and the bike lanes I saw were not always plowed. |
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 |
We've had two plowable storms this year (3" and 2") and in both cases,
the DPW has plowed and will plow for the rest of the winter. Clear and
dry are the watch words today.
-Craig Della Penna |
Norwottuck Rail Trail Northampton to Amherst Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of State Parks and Recreation |
As with last year, a portion of the Norwottuck Rail Trail from roughly
Baker St. to S. Pleasant St. has been plowed since the December 26 snowstorm.
The cleared section allows travel from the UMass Bikeway Connector to
S. Pleasant St.
The entire UMass Bikeway Connector, along University Avenue, is also clear. -Alex von Braun |