Spotlight
A Regional Snapshot of Community Bikeway Planning
Here is our year-end overview of
community bikeway planning, plus local contacts, if you're interested in getting involved. For general information or volunteering on the regional level, contact us at Berkshire Bike Path Council.
North Adams and Williamstown: A bi-community citizen committee is working with the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission on
identifying alternative routes within an overall river corridor alignment that connect with
neighborhoods, schools, shopping and recreation areas and highlight views and
access to Hoosic River. Contact Lauren Gaherty, BRPC.
Adams: Development of a 1.2 mile northern extension of the
Ashuwillticook Trail is making steady progress.
Ashuwillticook Trail: On the ground, we know that regional bicycle use keeps
growing-one indicator is the Ashuwillticook Trail. A user count conducted by
Berkshire Regional Planning Commission, with the help of many great volunteers,
provides an eye-opening look at the volume of use on this regional bikeway
treasure. On a single Saturday in September
(9/13) from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., the official count for one-way trips was 2,344!
Check the BRPC website for more details. Contact Christine Neumann, BRPC.
Pittsfield: The City is dividing its efforts between overall improvements for bicycling and planning a designated north-south route to connect with the Ashuwillticook Trail and Lenox. The city recently submitted an application to the League of American Cyclists, a national bicycling organization that recognizes communities efforts to promote cycling through outreach and education and work toward creating safe conditions through better engineering and enforcement. Pittsfield received an 'Honorable Mention', and continues to refine its bike-friendly plan to create a truly bike friendly city. Contact Jim McGrath, City of Pittsfield.
Pam Roberts, Berkshire Bike Path Council, describes a trolleyline route in Lenox as part of a tour for Rails-to-Trails Conservancy visit.
Lenox: Lenox
is developing a bikeway route that includes both on-road and multi-use trail in
a generally north-south alignment from Pittsfield to Lee. The first part of the
trail to be developed will likely be a 4,700-foot section alongside Housatonic
Street and East Street from the Lenox Memorial Middle and High School to Woods
Pond. Contact Jeff Vincent, Town of Lenox.
Stockbridge: An energetic citizen committee is beginning work on identifying
community-specific improvements, such as bike route mapping and signage, along
with broader goals of creating a community bike path and safe routes to
schools, adding bike lanes, and connecting with adjacent Lee, Lenox and Great
Barrington. Contact Marie Raftery.
Lee: A bikeway planning group is forming and interested citizens
are welcome. Contact Richard Vinette, Lee CDC.
Great Barrington: Great Barrington Trails & Greenways,
is a coalition actively promoting the development of a townwide trail system.
The group is now exploring linkages with Stockbridge and Lee and creation of
designated bike lanes. Contact Peter Stanton.
