South Coast Bikeway

Connecting the Communities of South Coast Massachusetts by bicycle

Sandra

TEAM SCBA NOW FORMING for the WATERSHED RIDE

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Team South Coast Bikeway Alliance (SCBA) is riding in the October 6 Buzzards Bay Watershed Ride. We are looking for more team members. If you have ridden as an individual in the past or are taking on the challenge for the first time, please join the South Coast Bikeway team. The funds you raise for the Coalition will be matched by SCBA sponsors, benefiting two causes.

The SCBA has been given permission to “piggyback” on the Watershed Ride fundraising. Whatever you raise for Buzzards Bay will be matched by (still-to-be determined) donors to the SCBA. Thank you for your support! Donate or join our team here.  Use code PATH for $20 off registration until September 13.

If you don’t ride, please consider a donation to the SCBA team or to the South Coast Bikeway.  Funds raised will be used as matching funds for design, engineering and build grants to complete the South Coast Bikeway, a planned cycling route from Rhode Island to Cape Cod Canal. The Goal for team SCBA is $30,000. This is sufficient to meet the required match for a MassTrails grant of $120,000. We have projects in Westport and Dartmouth in mind but more coordination with those communities is needed to determine the exact needs.

SCBA is an 501c3 organization whose mission is to assist our member communities in completing their portion of the South Coast Bikeway. Last year our team raised over $21,000 for a total of over $46,000 for the Buzzards Bay Coalition over the last 8 years. Let’s make this our best year yet by supporting our two causes.

TAKE THE SURVEY!

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SRPEDD is a regional planning agency helping 27 cities and towns in Southeastern Massachusetts plan for transportation, environmental, housing, economic development, homeland security, and quality of life improvements. SRPEDD staff are updating the Southeastern Massachusetts Regional Pedestrian Plan this year. Your responses to this survey will help:  

  • Establish a collective vision for walkability in Southeastern Massachusetts, 
  • Identify the current challenges pedestrians experience using the region’s roadway, sidewalk, crosswalk, path, and trail networks, and 
  • Determine which walkability improvements are most important to residents in the region. 

Your survey responses are completely confidential and will not be connected to you personally. This survey should take no longer than 5 minutes to complete depending on the detail of your responses. Take the Survey!

Tour de Creme Ride!

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JOIN “TEAM SOUTH COAST BIKEWAY” to support both the completion of the Mattapoisett Rail Trail and the creation and maintenance of Mattapoisett Land Trust trails and ride in the Tour de Creme!

The Mattapoisett Land Trust and the Friends of the Mattapoisett Rail Trail are sponsoring  the 6th Annual Tour de Crème on May 19th, 2024, a fundraising event combining SouthCoast’s fabulous cycling with some of its best ice cream spots. With scenic routes of 9, 22 and 45 miles, there’s a creamery tour for everyone. Eight participating creameries will be scooping up ice cream to fuel your ride. Your participation will help create and maintain hiking and biking trails in Mattapoisett.

The creamery tours start from Mattapoisett Town Beach between 10 am and 12 noon, rain or shine. They end at the Land Trust’s Munro Waterfront Preserve at the head of Mattapoisett Harbor. There participants will enjoy lobster rolls and hot food, beer and cold beverages, more ice cream, and live music at the post-ride party!

This is not just a social event; it is an important charity fundraiser for both organizations. This is their largest annual public fundraiser in support of building and maintaining biking and hiking trails in Mattapoisett. Donations can be made through the PledgeReg site or by sending a checks to the Mattapoisett Land Trust. Encourage your family and friends to contribute in support of their local trail work.

Participation is limited and advance registration is required. Visit their website http://www.tourdecreme.org/ for complete details including participating creameries and volunteer signup.

Bikes & Beers Farm Coast Ride!

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Dear cyclist – JOIN “TEAM SOUTH COAST BIKEWAY” to support both CLEAN WATER 💧in Buzzards Bay, and also, SAFE CYCLING🚲 in the South Coast!

The South Coast Bikeway Alliance, along with our friends at the Buzzards Bay Coalition, are the official charity partners for the inaugural Bikes & Beers Farm Coast, a scenic and fun ride through Westport. Join team SOUTH COAST BIKEWAY and Use code CHARITYBENEFIT15 for 15% off registration. Register today and support better bicycling facilities in the south coast and the protection of Buzzards Bay all while cycling then celebrating at Buzzards Bay Brewing! https://runsignup.com/bikesandbeers-westport

BIKES & BEERS Cycling Event Series 2024 is coming to BUZZARDS BAY BREWING for an Inaugural Bike Ride & Beer Event! Ride a 15, 30, or 45-mile route through the beautiful area of Westport, Massachusetts followed by a post-ride Beer Festival! The Bikes & Beers FARM COAST MASSACHUSETTS cycling event departs from BUZZARDS BAY BREWING and travels the beautiful area of South Coast, MA. All rides feature morning fuel stations, marked routes, GPS turn-by-turn instruction, rest stops, refreshments, ride marshals, and SAG support. Finish back at BUZZARDS BAY BREWING for a beer festival atmosphere of rewarding craft beers, live music, a charity raffle & much more!

This is a ride for everyone – All riding levels are welcome! Volunteers are needed and tickets are available for the post ride celebration, too!

SCBA Annual Meeting

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Greetings South Coast Bikeway Alliance followers. Have you provided your contact information to our organization at one of our past meetings, at an event such as our annual Bike Summit or Pedal for the Path fundraiser, etc?

Anyone who has done so is considered a “member” of the alliance and, therefore, eligible to vote for the Steering Committee Members and officers at the Annual Meeting of the South Coast Bikeway Alliance. Won’t you please consider volunteering your time and talent to help us complete the South Coast Bikeway? Not a cyclist? No worries! Pathways are for all who walk, run, ride and roll.

The 2024 Annual Meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 9, at 6:00 pm at the James Arnold Mansion (formerly known as the Wamsutta Club) at 427 County St. in New Bedford. Access via zoom will be provided.

Nominations will be accepted for the following officer positions, in writing, up until Thursday, April 4, at 6:00 pm. by completing this form https://forms.gle/Rg46hLMutiP2Kc1E7
or sending them to thesouthcoastbikeway@gmail.com.

Officers
President
Vice President
Secretary
Treasurer
Steering Committee Member – Wareham, Marion, Mattapoisett, Fairhaven, New Bedford, Dartmouth, Westport, Fall River, Somerset and Swansea

For more detail on the role and responsibility of each position, please refer to the SCBA bylaws which may be found at https://southcoastbikeway.com/resources/bylaws/.

If you have any questions, please send them to thesouthcoastbikeway@gmail.com.

Marion Shared Use Path Construction (Phase 1) Open House Public Meeting

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Shared Use Path Construction (Phase 1)

Open House Public Meeting

Event Date: Wednesday, January 31, 2024 – 6:00pm

Marion Music Hall

164 Front Street, Marion, MA 02738 See map: Google Maps

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation and Town of Marion are announcing that an Open House Public Meeting about the Shared Use Path (Phase I) project’s Expanded Environmental Notification Form (EENF) will take place on Wednesday, January 31 at 6 pm at the Marion Music Hall.

The open house will be hosted to provide the public with additional details about the project and answer questions about the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) Office review process for the Shared Use Path (SUP). At the Open House, project managers, town officials, and consultants will share details regarding the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act process for project review and information about the upcoming submittal of the project’s Expanded Environmental Notification Form (EENF).

The Marion SUP project consists of the construction of a shared use path in the Town of Marion from the Mattapoisett/Marion Town line to Point Road, including a path crossing and intersection improvements at the Route 105/Spring Street intersection and a paved recreational path through Washburn Lane. The proposed shared use path extends from the Marion/Mattapoisett town line near Industrial Road and ends at Point Road in Marion, adjacent to Interstate 195. The Massachusetts Department of Transportation – Highway Division (MassDOT) is proposing construction on behalf of the Town, which includes intersection improvements proposed at the Route 105/Spring Street crossing to accommodate pedestrian, bicycle, and vehicular traffic. The total length of the project is approximately 3.8 miles. The project is located entirely within Marion’s borders.

The SUP will continue the development of the South Coast Bikeway, a 50-mile continuous system of SUPs connecting Rhode Island to Cape Cod, giving the Marion community increased connectedness to open space and recreation while simultaneously reducing the need for vehicle use. The SUP will provide an overall benefit to the town of Marion with a readily available resource for exercise and enjoyment that can be enjoyed by both local Environmental Justice and non-Environmental justice communities.

The project is currently at 100% design as of December and has provided advanced notice in January about the pending submission of its EENF form to MEPA.