Massachusetts Bike Paths

VISION | BICYCLE IMPROVEMENTS | BICYCLE MAPS |

VISION

MassHighway published the Massachusetts Statewide Bicycle Transportation Plan in 1998. The plan's Vision Statement reads:

The vision statement of the Statewide Bicycle Transportation Plan is recognition of bicycling as a viable means of transportation and reasonable accommodation of the needs of bicyclists in policies, programs, and projects. Greater recognition and accommodation of the needs of bicyclists will lead to a more balanced transportation system with greater modal choice and improvements in bicycle safety. Such actions will enhance the environment and quality of life in the Commonwealth, and improve personal mobility.

Bicycling is also a highly efficient means of transportation as well as a healthy, enjoyable activity for people of all ages. (The Surgeon General has found that a regular, preferably daily, regimen of at least 30-45 minutes of brisk walking or bicycling can lead to improved health.) For all these reasons, bicycling should be encouraged and promoted so that more people will choose to bicycle. Improving facilities for bicycling will lead to greater use of bicycles and an increase in the attendant benefits to citizens, communities, and the Commonwealth.

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BICYCLE IMPROVEMENTS

Over the last 15 years, many new off-road bike path projects have been completed. Many more are in the planning, design and construction phases. More detailed information on some of these projects may be found in these Web pages.

Improving bicycling requires more than building bike paths. It requires accommodation of bicyclists on our bridges and roadways, improving bicycle access, to and parking at transit, stations and park-and-ride lots, and promoting awareness of rights and responsibilities through education programs. MassHighway's primary focus is planning and engineering, but we continue to work closely with other agencies to enhance education, enforcement and encouragement initiatives as well.

MassHighway has funded maps, such as the MetroWest Bike Map and the Berkshire Bike Touring Map, to increase bicyclists' mobility. We have also funded bicycle commuting encouragement programs through Regional Planning Agencies and Transportation Management Associations. MassHighway has supported regional and local initiatives to improve bicycle parking, such as by providing bicycle lockers at numerous Cape Cod locations and at the South Acton MBTA commuter rail station, a bicycle parking shelter at a Cambridge community hospital, and bicycle racks at other selected locations in Cambridge, and bicycle racks at Boston locations. We have promoted better multimodal linkages by funding bike racks on buses in the Pioneer Valley and around Worcester.

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BICYCLE MAPS

In addition to funding both on and off-road bicycling improvements to make bicycle travel more attractive, MassHighway has worked closely with the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism to develop maps and brochures geared to bicycle travel. Maps for some of the more popular bike paths are listed below:

Additional map references will be added as they become available; continue to check this site.

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