It was an “absolutely gorgeous” day for a ride, with the sun out and the breeze blowing, as about 160 cyclists made their way through Dartmouth for 35 miles as a part of the South Coast Bikeway Alliance’s sixth annual Pedal for the Path. Please read all about it here.
Press
Ribbon cutting! New Trail Segment Opens!
Phase 1B is now complete and ready to experience on foot or bike.
Mattapoisett Bike Path Plans and Costs Detailed
South Coast Bikeway Alliance gets state Recreational Trail Building Grant
By Aimee Chiavaroli, achiavaroli@s-t.com
Posted Jul 9, 2017 at 7:01 PM Updated Jul 9, 2017 at 7:02 PM
The South Coast Bikeway Alliance was recently awarded a Recreational Trail Building Grant from the Massachusetts Department of Recreation, allowing people in SouthCoast communities to participate in various workshops.
The “Trail Documentation, Stewardship and Skills Training” grant will allow for workshops including GPS trail mapping, sustainable trail development and specialty skills training in stonework, carpentry and chainsaw work.
According to a news release, this is the nonprofit organization’s first step in a long term plan to work with stakeholders throughout the SouthCoast to build a network of on and off road trails connecting communities for recreational and alternative transportation.
Workshops are set to begin in the fall and could run through next spring. The workshops will be general in nature and applicable to any trail project.
An informational meeting is slated for 6:30 p.m. July 17 at Dartmouth Town Hall, room 315. Those interested in learning about trail building workshops are encouraged to attend. The workshops are designed for small groups, so space is limited. To reserve a spot, attend the meeting or contact the Bikeway Alliance on its website (southcoastbikeway.com) or Facebook page (facebook.com/southcoastbikeway).
Erin Amadon from Peter S. Jensen & Associates is scheduled to give a brief presentation to explain what the workshops would involve and who can benefit from them. In addition, she’ll provide examples of workshops that have been done in the past and explain what people can do with their skills acquired through the workshops.
The South Coast Bikeway Alliance is made up of community representatives and groups that work with local leaders and organizations to advocate for and build the networks of bikeways throughout the SouthCoast region. Its’ overall goal is to promote active transportation and recreation.
The South Coast Bikeway is set to be a 50-mile continuous system of bike paths or multi-use paths and bike lanes connecting Rhode Island to Cape Cod. Several segments of the bikeway already exist in Swansea, Fall River, New Bedford, Fairhaven, Mattapoisett and Wareham. The Bikeway is a regional priority as outlined in the Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District’s 2016 Regional Transportation Plan.
Mattapoisett bike path on road to improvements
By Michael J. DeCicco / Contributing writer
Posted Oct 12, 2016 at 12:17 AMUpdated Oct 12, 2016 at 1:21 PM
MATTAPOISETT — The committee charged with improving the safe use of the town’s bike path has presented the selectmen with recommendations that include reducing speed limits and decreasing the number of confusing signs.
Topping the draft executive summary report given to selectmen Tuesday night, the Bike Path Safety Advisory Committee wants to reduce the posted speed limit to 30 mph from Timberledge Lane south to Mattapoisett Neck Road and prior to Town Landing as well as northbound near Marshmere to Timberledge.
To do this, however, said committee chair and Police Chief Mary Lyons, the town needs to request the state Department of Transportation be allowed to lower the speeds there.
“Mattapoisett Neck Road is a ‘speed-zoned’ road, based on previously established speed zone guidelines,” Lyons said. “Therefore, it will not qualify under the new ‘thickly settled/business district’ legislation that was passed.”
The solution, she said, is to send a letter to the MA Dept. of Transportation secretary and chief executive officer requesting the town be allowed limited amendments to this legislation. Selectmen quickly approved sending out the committee’s draft letter with this proposal.
Under signage concerns, to relieve what the committee called “sign congestion” along the bike path route, it recommended removing or relocating the “Share the road” and green bike path signs from Timberledge to Old Mattapoisett Neck Road north and south.
MORE VIDEO:
Bruce Wheeler coached more than 1,500 games baseball and basketball at UMass Dartmouth, earning him the No. 36 spot on Buddy’s Best: Coaching Legends. #scvarsityIt also suggested additional painting markings to better warn motorists of approaching bike path crosswalks and installing electronic speed feedback signs on Mattapoisett Neck Road and Brandt Island Road as well as solar-powered “intersection ahead” signs. It noted the town’s Capital Planning Committee has already approved placing the speed signs on the fall town meeting for voter endorsement.
Under the need for better intersection design, the committee said it needed more research to find the best plan. Lyons said the options here could include narrowing the bike path lanes and add flashing beacons to slow motor vehicle traffic.
The ultimate goal, Lyons said, is approval of the Mattapoisett Bicycle and Pedestrian path that would include a final executive summary report and establishing a Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee to coordinate the plan with public safety officers.
The research is needed to answer the question, “What is the best plan for Mattapoisett?” she said.
South Coast Bikeway Taking shape
Standard Times
WESTPORT — Bicyclists in Southeastern Massachusetts have long envisioned a world where they can pedal pretty much anywhere. Now that vision is getting closer to reality.
“We are here today to build a bike culture,” Bob Espindola said at the SouthCoast Bikeway Alliance’s sixth annual bike summit. “It’s really important to keep people engaged.”
The summit, held at White’s of Westport, attracted cyclists from throughout the region for discussions about organizing safe riding groups and getting children interested in cycling, and an update on the bikeway itself, a growing network of trails spanning coastal communities from Fall River to Wareham. Towns in the alliance collectively have more than 10.25 miles of multi-use path and 14 miles of bike lanes complete. Fall River, Marion, Wareham and Mattapoisett have almost eight miles in construction or planning over the next five years.
The alliance is made up of eight communities, including Dartmouth and Westport. It is a volunteer-run nonprofit supported partly by Narragansett Bay Wheelmen and Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District.
The summit highlighted some nfrastructure updates, including the addition of more “bike lane” and “share the road” signs in Fall River, Dartmouth, New Bedford, Fairhaven and Wareham. Bike racks have been installed at every building on the UMass Dartmouth campus. Alliance members also celebrated the 2015 opening of the Headwaters Conservation Area at 162 Blossom Road in Westport. The site includes hiking and off-road, unpaved biking paths. A grand opening ceremony for the Alfrted J. Lima Rail Trail in nearby Fall River is slated for June of this year.
In Dartmouth, 16 acres of land north of I-195 were recently acquired by the town, furthering efforts to create a proposed northern route, according to the alliance. A UMass Dartmouth transportation plan calls for pedestrian and bike improvements.
The Dartmouth Community Preservation Committee recently received an update on local plans for connecting Dartmouth pathways to the South Coast Bikeway. Greg Barnes, the town’s delegate to the bikeway steering committee, said plans are advancing for an off-road bike path in North Dartmouth from the Fall River pathway to the New Bedford line.
A developer’s donation of 16 acres of land will give the town a continuous bike route through the Southeastern Mass. Bioreserve, the Dartmouth Natural Resources Trust-controlled Ridge Hill Conservation Area off Collins Corner Road, the Dartmouth Parks & Trails complex off Old Fall River Road, and on to New Bedford, Barnes said.
Chronicle Correspondent Robert Barboza contributed to this report.
https://www.southcoasttoday.com/special/20160406/southcoast-bikeway-taking-shape