Berkshire Bike Path Council June Update

Coasting into Summer
This month we cycle north to North Adams and Williamstown, two towns exploring an east-west trail link that could one day also serve as an extension of the Ashuwillticook Trail and connect into Vermont. This bike path project, along with several others in Berkshire County, is being coordinated by the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC). The BRPC website provides an excellent overview and maps of this and other current bike path projects. We're glad to have them as an advisory member of the Berkshire Bike Path Council.
Marge Cohan, President, Berkshire Bike Path Council

p.s. check out Farnum's Challenge...a very cool Berkshire event!

Spotlight: Connecting North Adams and Williamstown
"The wheelmen and wheelwomen who are now visiting northern Berkshire in great numbers would be strongly impressed with our enterprise up here if they could see something being done in the way of bicycle paths.  A good starter would be to connect Williamstown and North Adams with a bicycle path."  -The Transcript, July 18, 1896

Berkshire bike paths were envisioned more than 100 years ago!  Although those new-fangled motorcars soon eclipsed the bicycle as America's favorite transportation, we are hoping that the creation of a new trail, dedicated to bicycles and pedestrians, will reawaken interest in bicycles for transportation and recreation.

The goal of the Mohawk Bicycle/Pedestrian Trail project is to connect North Adams and Williamstown with a safe route for bicyclists and walkers. The project has two active committees, made up of local citizens, bike enthusiasts, businesses, cultural institutions and officials, who are guiding the planning process. The Technical Advisory Committee helps with fieldwork to identify possible trail routes, and the Community Outreach Committee helps to engage neighborhood groups and landowners who might be affected by a trail.  If you are interested in becoming involved, please contact Lauren Gaherty at Berkshire Regional Planning Commission.

According to Williamstown Selectman Jane Allen, "The bike trail will support community health and recreation and, hopefully, reduce energy use by encouraging residents to use alternative forms of transportation. The next step will be to identify preferred and alternative routes, and then to develop preliminary designs and cost estimates. Once we have an idea of the costs before us, we will pursue additional grant funds to keep the project moving forward."

The project is primarily supported by federal and state highway funds through the National Scenic Byway Program, with local funds from the Town of Williamstown, the City of North Adams and the Fund for Williamstown.

Visit Us
We welcome your support and ideas on improving bicycling in Berkshire County. For more information, visit us at http://www.berkshirebikepath.com

Coming in July:
Spotlight on Great Barrington