Berkshire Bike Path Council                                                                                                    

April 2012 Update    

 

Lots of events this Spring which begin with a Spring clean up on the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail April 21 and many activities for May National Bike Month.  An energetic group of North County folks have some big plans and can certainly use some help.  Details and contacts are in this issue.  Local towns and Cities continue to work on path building and those updates follow too. 


 

Marge Cohan
Marge Cohan President, Berkshire Bike Path Council

                

Calendar

  
 

  • April 21 - Ashuwillticook Trail Clean Up 9am Farnum's Crossing
  • May 6 - Lenox Ride
  • May 17- Bike Documentary Film MOCA 8pm
  • May 19- Bike Celebration MOCA 11 -3
  • May 26 -Pittsfield Community Ride
  • May      Bike History Exhibit - Western Gateway Heritage Park North Adams
  • Week of June 7th - Pittsfield Ride to Work Week
  • Sept 23 - Housatonic Heritage Community Ride - Stockbridge

Ashuwillticook Trail Clean Up   

DCR parkservice day logo 2012

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Department of Conservation and Recreation's

annual statewide effort to clean up

DCR's public forests, parks and beaches

 

Saturday, April 21, 2012

 

On Saturday, April 21, Governor Deval Patrick invites you to lend a hand.   During this day of statewide volunteer service, we'll work together to get state forests, parks and beaches across Massachusetts ready for summer.

 

With your help, we'll spruce up park facilities, clean coastlines, clear and maintain trails, plant flowers, and more!  These valuable resources belong to all of us, and we can all take pride in them! 

 

Pick a park, give a day and make a difference!

 

Online Registration is now open at www.mass.gov/dcr/parkserve

 

Hope to see you on April 21st!

 

For information, call 617-626-4980

DCR website:  www.mass.gov/dcr  

Follow us on Twitter at MassDCR!

 

Ashuwillticook Rail Trail clean up begins at 9 AM at Farnam's Crossing

 
  
Cycling Classic (aka - the Gran Fondo of Lenox)
JOHN EUSTICE OF SPARTA CYCLING, INC. has scheduled the first annual Berkshire Cycling Classic in Lenox on Sunday May 6, 2012.  It will feature route selections of 62 and 81 miles (100k and 130k) and travel through 11 towns in Southern Berkshire County with the start and finish in Lenox. It is open to cyclists of all abilities and ages but is aimed at riders looking for a challenging experience.  Overall times for both distances will be recorded and ranked according to age groups.

 

Bikefest - North Berkshire
 Bike North Berkshire is a grassroots coalition of citizens and organization in northern Berkshire working together to promote safe bicycling for recreation, physical fitness and environmentally friendly transportation.  This energetic group has organized Bike Fest which will include a documentary Bike Film Night May 17 at MOCA at 8 and family bike rodeo on Sat May 19 from 11-2.  Learn more about it - http://tinyurl.com/Bikefest2012

 

Pittsfield Community Ride

Saturday, May 26, 2012
Where: Controy Pavilion on Onota Lake at Burbank Park
The ride will be from the Controy Pavilion to Pittsfield State Forest and back along the same roads (same as last year)
Ride will begin at 10:00am
Registration will be from 9:00am to 9:45am
 

Bike Path Updates    

1. Adams

Extension of existing trail to Lime Street in Adams - The project costs have declined in recent weeks.  All the paper work is into the state for easements and the maintenance agreement has been given to DCR.  The town is waiting to hear back.
Extension of trail from Lime Street to Hodges Crossing Road - This would bring the bike path to North Adams. The MPO voted in favor of it at their recent meeting.  Both North Adams and Adams are looking at what funding is available and how to secure more.

2. Stockbridge

 A project to repave Main Street has offered a good opportunity to redesign the roads to be more bike friendly.  Community Preservation funds will be allocated for planning and they will incorporate the complete streets guidance available from MassDOT 

3. Pittsfield

Representatives Paul Mark and Tricia Farley Bouvier are considering requesting funding in the state budget for the purchase of the Coltsville Spur.  

4. North County and Lee - Scenic Byways

Hold up in allocating federal funding for these two projects continues.  The hope is that work will begin this Fall.

5.  Lenox - 

Road construction from downtown to Tanglewood will be completed soon making it more bike friendly.

 

Update on Transportation Bills

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a clean 90-day extension to the transportation bill, SAFETEA-LU. The Senate quickly followed suit, making this the ninth extension of the current federal transportation authorization. Passing a "clean" extension does not reduce funding for any existing program.


The new transportation bill has language which may require that all unencumbered money be returned at the end of the year.  This has implications for the Berkshires as we will need to have at least 10% of $5 million earmark encumbered or we could lose the money. The hope is that Mass DOT will advertise for the extension project in Adams by August and contract at least 10%of the funding this year.  

 


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PHOTO OPS

park srvc robin 2012     

Park Service Day --- OH NO!!
To share your biking adventures email photos to info@berkshirebikepath.com

 

 

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Thank you for your continued support! 

Please support our efforts to advocate for better bicycling in Berkshire County. Mail your check, made out to Berkshire Bike Path Council, 55 South Mountain Rd, Pittsfield, MA  01201. Per IRS regulations, your donation to the Berkshire Bike Path Council will be treated similarly to a donation made to a 501(c)(3) organization and will be tax deductible.