South Coast Bikeway

Connecting the Communities of South Coast Massachusetts by bicycle

News Archive

Fort to Fort Ride – 2022

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Celebrate Bay State Bike Month with a ride along the South Coast Bikeway.  Ride from Fort Phoenix in Fairhaven to Fort Taber in New Bedford. On Saturday, May 21 cyclists will follow a mostly protected route from Fort Phoenix in Fairhaven, MA to Fort Taber in New Bedford, MA and experience breathtaking views, the top seaport in the USA, and loads of history. This is a casual, unsupported ride with an out and back route. Several opportunities to stop for ice cream or other treats if you desire. Helmets required.

Where: Fort Phoenix 100 Green ST, Fairhaven, MA
When: Saturday, May 21 @ 1 pm.  (rain date Sunday, May 21 @ 1 pm)
​Route: Fort to Fort
Distance: 20 miles round trip (may be shortened or lengthened as desired)

Let us know you will be joining us. Register today.

SRPEDD and SCBA work to confirm routing of the South Coast Bikeway

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SRPEDD is currently working with the Towns of Marion, Mattapoisett and Wareham to coordinate South Coast Bikeway routing across town boarders. Historically, the path has been proposed to connect Marion and Wareham via County Road. However, there is now an opportunity to connect these towns sooner than anticipated, and more efficiently, through projects already in development through MassDOT by means of Route 6. For more details view the SRPEDD Connecting Marion and Wareham presentation.

Funding for next phase of Quequechan River Rail Trail

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Funding for next phase of Rail Trail 

According to the Fall River Herald …the latest list of new ARPA projects reviewed by Coogan’s ARPA Task Force includes $4 million to complete phase 4 of the Quequechan Rail Trail project. 

According to a website by the trail’s landscape architects, phase 4 will connect the existing rail trail to the recently renovated Father Travassos Park. The design for phase 4 is complete and the project has been awaiting funding to move ahead. 

Read more at the Herald

Pedal for the Path 2020

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If you couldn’t join us on Sunday the 13th,  ride the route (details below) any time during Bike Month (September). Be sure to send a photo to thesouthcoastbikeway@gmail.com or Facebook. We will share the photos on Facebook. There is still time to Cycle and Celebrate September!

On Sunday, September 13, 2020 from 9 am to 3 pm​
South Coast Bikeway Alliance members will be celebrating Bay State Bike Month and the South Coast Bikeway with our third annual Pedal for the Path ride by bicycling from Horseneck Beach State Reservation in Westport, through Dartmouth, New Bedford, Fairhaven and Mattapoisett before returning back to the start. Please join us!  Ride the whole route or select a portion. The choice is yours. Just join us to show your support. Alliance representatives will be located along the route in each community to welcome you and share the news of the bikeway in their city or town. 
We have a lot to celebrate!
We were recently awarded grants from MassTrails and BayCoast Bank to complete Phase 2 of a Feasibility Study to determine the best way to connect Fall River and New Bedford with pathways through Westport and Dartmouth.
Your input is needed!
Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District (SRPEDD) has been implementing Phase 1 of the Feasibility Study. SRPEDD staff will be on hand during the ride to share preliminary findings and seek your feedback. You can also participate online. Visit: https://scba-feasibility-study-srpedd.hub.arcgis.com/ and share your thoughts and comments.
The ride details!
This will be a socially distanced casual ride with no registration fee. 

  • Masks are required when we gather at stops and can’t maintain six feet of separation.
  • Helmets are mandatory. 
  • Bring water and snacks. 

We will NOT be able to offer ride support, traffic controls, or pre- and post-gatherings. 
Instead, we encourage people to ride on their own, with the opportunity to meet SCBA representatives at key intersections. We have lots of news to share! 
Please register, at https://www.facebook.com/events/846773802519550/ so we know how many to look for. 
As always, you can donate here: https://www.facebook.com/southcoastbikeway/ or mail a check to South Coast Bikeway Alliance ℅ SRPEDD, 88 Broadway, Taunton, MA 02870. 
All donations will be used as matching funds in our efforts toward designing and building the SouthCoast Bikeway. We have been successful getting grants, but funders expect us to provide matching funds. Your support is greatly appreciated. 
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If you can’t join us on Sunday the 13th,  ride the route any time during Bike Month (September). Be sure to send a photo to thesouthcoastbikeway@gmail.com or Facebook. We will share the photos on Facebook.

The route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/33707375 
PICK YOUR STARTING POINT, DISTANCE, ONE-WAY OR ROUND-TRIP – YOUR CHOICE.
Distances are noted: One-way (Round-Trip)
Westport Horseneck Beach Reservation to Mattapoisett : 26.8 (53.6 RT) miles

  • Starting at 9 am. 
  • Westport and Swansea Representatives, Fall River Mass in Motion will be on site from 8 am.

Additional starting points and distances:
Dartmouth YMCA to Mattapoisett: 16.8 (33.6 RT) miles

  • Starting at 10:30 am 
  • SRPEDD and Dartmouth Representatives will be on site from 9:30 am.

New Bedford Pier 3 to Mattapoisett: 6.8 (13.4 RT) miles

  • Starting at 12:00 pm 
  • New Bedford Representatives will be on site from 11:00 am

Fairhaven Phoenix Rail Trail to Mattapoisett: 4 (8 RT) miles

  • Starting at 12:30 pm Phoenix Rail Trail at Main ST.
  • Fairhaven Representatives will be on site from 11:30 am. Look for them on the Phoenix Rail Trail at Main ST and South ST.

Mattapoisett – At (current) end of Mattapoisett Rail Trail at Mattapoisett Neck RD.

  • Mattapoisett Representatives will be on site from 11:30 am to share the latest news of the progress of the Shining Tide portion of the Mattapoisett Rail Trail. Marion and Wareham Representatives will be on site from 11:30 am on the Mattapoisett Rail Trail at Mattapoisett Neck RD.

Return: Route in reverse – Mattapoisett to Westport or your original starting point.

  • Starting at approximately 1:30 pm to return

Start times are approximate. SCBA reps will be on hand one hour prior to the start times.
Have Fun, Be Safe, and Thank You for your support!

South Coast Bikeway receives MassTrails grant

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Press Release

Principal Transportation Planner SRPEDD
88 Broadway, Taunton, MA 02780
jjones@srpedd.org
508-844-3661

SCBA AND SRPEDD RECEIVES 2020 MASSTRAILS GRANT FOR FEASIBILITY STUDY

Southeastern Massachusetts, July 31, 2020 – ​The South Coast Bikeway Alliance (SCBA) and the Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District (SRPEDD) are pleased to announce that they have been awarded a 2020 MassTrails Grant. The grant, totaling $40,000 will fund Phase II of a feasibility study examining routing of the South Coast Bikeway between Fall River and New Bedford, through Westport and Dartmouth.

The South Coast Bikeway, once realized, will be a 50-mile continuous system of paths and bike lanes that will connect Rhode Island to Cape Cod. Cities and towns included in this plan are Swansea, Somerset, Fall River, Westport, Dartmouth, New Bedford, Fairhaven, Mattapoisett, Marion and Wareham. The Feasibility Study will help determine the best route to close a gap that has long existed in the East Coast and MA trail networks between the Gateway Cities of Fall River and New Bedford. It will also examine critical links within Dartmouth and Westport and with the anticipated South Coast Rail Commuter Rail Project.

This project will continue to build on the work being completed by SRPEDD under Phase I, which was funded by SCBA and the individual municipalities of Westport, Dartmouth and New Bedford through Community Preservation Act (CPA) funds. The SCBA has also received a generous donation from Bay Coast Bank in the amount of $10,000 towards the study.

“We are very excited and grateful to the MassTrails Program and everyone involved for this opportunity to continue to work towards closing this very critical gap in the South Coast Bikeway network,” said Jackie Jones, Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator at SRPEDD.

The SCBA is a non-profit organization 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 South Coast region. The SCBA’s overall goal is to promote active transportation and recreation.

SRPEDD is the regional planning agency for the 27 communities that make up the Southeastern Massachusetts Region. Governed by a Commission of local officials and citizens, SRPEDD plans for the region’s land use, transportation, economy and environment while assisting member cities and towns to operate more efficiently. SRPEDD seeks to be a regional resource – a servant of local public servants and

community groups, connecting the dots between local municipal needs and the funding, community outreach, and proactive planning resources that can address them.

MassTrails grants support the state’s vast network of trails with projects dedicated to the construction, maintenance, and improvements for a variety of public trails, including hiking trails, bikeways, and shared-use paths. ​Funding for MassTrails Grants comes from the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation’s (DCR) capital budget, and from the motor fuel excise tax on off-road vehicles including ATV’s and snowmobiles, which is provided by the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Surface Transportation Act, in coordination with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT). All MassTrails Grant applications have been reviewed in consultation with an inter-agency MassTrails Team and the Massachusetts Recreational Trails Advisory Board (MARTAB).

This is the SCBA’s second successful MassTrails grant, following a $6,800 Trails Education Grant in​ 2017

For more information please visit the South Coast Bikeway Alliance’s website, www.southcoastbikeway.com​. More information on the project can be found at the project’s interactive workshop page -​ ​https://scba-feasibility-study-srpedd.hub.arcgis.com/​.

The SCBA and SRPEDD would like to congratulate fellow South Coast MassTrails grant recipients including the town of Mattapoisett, the City of New Bedford and the town of Wareham.

Bike and Hike

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Saturday, March 28, 2020
9:30am – 12:00pm

Join the South Coast Bikeway Alliance and the Buzzards Bay Coalition for a day of riding and hiking, to celebrate our local pathways and trails for bicyclists and pedestrians!
Start on bike at Fort Phoenix State Reservation and cruise the Phoenix Bike Trail/Mattapoisett Rail Trail to meet the Buzzards Bay Coalition at the new Carvalho Farm property. Park your bike at the trail head for a hike through woods bursting with spring wetland life down to the beautiful salt marshes that fringe Nasketucket Bay. After the hike, the group will bike back to the starting point.
Check-in for the ride begins at 9:30 am. Ride starts at 10:00 am.

RAIN DATE: Sunday, March 29

Cost: Free
REGISTER ONLINE

Pedal for the Path – 2019

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Dear Readers, 
The South Coast Bikeway Alliance would like to thank the 73 riders, 40+ volunteers and many supporters of our second annual Pedal for the Path fundraiser bike ride, held on Sunday, August 18, 2019. The ride was established to raise funds for the completion of the South Coast Bikeway, specifically the missing connection between New Bedford and Fall River.
The South Coast Bikeway, once realized, will be a 50-mile continuous system of bike paths (or multi-use paths) and bike lanes that will connect Rhode Island to Cape Cod.  Cities and towns included in this plan are Swansea, Somerset, Fall River, Westport, Dartmouth, New Bedford, Fairhaven, Mattapoisett, Marion and Wareham. Several segments of the bikeway already exist in Swansea, Fall River, New Bedford, Fairhaven, Mattapoisett  and Wareham.
We would like to thank our host venue, Dartmouth YMCA, our ice cream sponsors: Annie’s Ice Cream Shack, Acushnet Creamery (Pier 3 New Bedford and Dockside in Padanaram),and Alderbrook Farm and Head Town Landing Country Store for providing donuts for all of our riders. A special thank you to Kim Camara of Yesteryear Cyclery for providing support for the bicyclists before and along the route. Thank you to the Chase Farm Veterinary Hospital, Pare Corporation, Dartmouth Rotary and The Black Whale/Not Your Average Joe’s for their generous sponsorship. Thank you also to Moby Dick Brewery, Native Water, B4 Printing, Shaw’s Dartmouth, Stop & Shop Dartmouth and the United Way of Greater New Bedford for their support.
The South Coast Bikeway Alliance is working to connect our communities with improved bicycle and pedestrian accommodations. For more information about our organization and how you might get involved please visit southcoastbikeway.com.
With gratitude,
The South Coast Bikeway Alliance


What is it?
​The South Coast Bikeway Alliance (SCBA) will hold its second regional bike-ride fundraiser, Pedal for the Path.
Beginning and ending at the Dartmouth YMCA, three distances (57, 20 and 12) offer miles of fabulous cycling, postcard perfect scenic views, more historic places than you can count, and, along the way, memorable ice cream and a donut! A post ride celebration features food and Moby Dick Brewing Co. beer for purchase!

Sponsored stops include: (Note: Each route has a different selection of stops.)
Acushnet Creamery at Pier 3 – ice cream
Annie’s Ice Cream Shack – ice cream
The Black Whale – water stop
Head Town Landing Country Store – donuts
Alderbrook Farm – ice cream
Dockside Ice Cream – Acushnet Creamery

A map and complete details will be available soon.
57 mile route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/30758266
20 mile route:https://ridewithgps.com/routes/30795872?privacy_code=NoR2hPgiKtf6Q5dT
12 mile route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/30795677?privacy_code=f2swvhgC02Lz7QGy
Please refer to our Facebook page for the latest event updates. Contact us at thesouthcoastbikeway@gmail.com if you have any questions.  
Registration opens July 7th. As space is limited, sign up – right away! https://pedal-for-the-path-2019.eventbrite.com

Not planning to ride? Donate anyway on our website or Facebook page! Thank you! 

Volunteers Needed!
We will need plenty of help on the day of the event, Sunday 18 August.   If you don’t feel like riding but want to be outside doing something helpful and fun – then this is your opportunity to have it all. Click on the button above to sign up.
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What is it for?
This ride will help raise funds for an engineering feasibility study enabling the communities of Dartmouth, New Bedford, and Westport to move closer to completing their portions of a multi-use South Coast Bikeway spanning from Swansea to Wareham. Sections have already been completed in Fall River, Fairhaven, New Bedford and Mattapoisett. We need your help to bring the Path to completion!  

FAQs
What are my transportation/parking options for getting to and from the event?

  • There’s plenty of parking in the YMCA parking lot. The Dartmouth YMCA is located at 276 Gulf RD, South Dartmouth, MA 02748.

When can I check in for the ride?

  • Registration check-in starts at 8:00 am. All riders must check-in at planned intervals (indicated on map and cue sheet). Riders must return by 3:00 pm; ride support will be provided up to 3:00 pm.

How can I contact the organizer with any questions?

What’s the refund policy?

  • No refunds, very sorry. And the ride will be RAIN or SHINE.

Do I have to bring my printed ticket to the event?

  • Print or online receipts are accepted. 
  • You will be required to sign a waiver when you arrive.

Is my registration fee or ticket transferable?

  • Not transferable, sorry. 

 What is the terrain?

  • The route traverses country roads as well as city streets and a few suburban blocks, depending upon the distance you choose. Two draw bridges, that open every half hour, may encourage you to pause and look at the boats! Water refills and bathrooms will be available at rest areas and ice cream stops.

How do I get my ice cream or donut?

  • Present yourself at the counter with your rider bib on. The 57 mile and 20 mile routes include a donut stop!

What kind of cycling support will be available?

  • Yesteryear Cyclery will provide assistance at the start, on the road as needed, and will sweep the course.

What if I can’t complete the entire route?

  • You will be provided an emergency phone number for assistance. 

What about maps/cue sheets?​

What do I need to bring on the day of the ride?

  • Remember to bring your confirmation email (electronic or hard copy) with you to check-in.
  • Helmets must be worn.
  • Water bottles are a must for this long ride. Water bottles will be given at check-in. Water stations will provide refills.
  • Bike gloves help prevent injury to hands from long hours on the handlebars.
  • Snacks and water are provided at the checkpoints. If you have other preferences (sports drink, juice, etc.) be prepared to purchase items at stores along the way.