UPCOMING EVENTSCELEBRATE NATIONAL BIKE MONTH
North AdamsFriday, May 17th. North Adams Bike Night! Meet-up at 5:30 pm at the North Adams Public Library for an easy fun & family-friendly group-ride around downtown North Adams. Everything looks better from a bike! Total route is no more than 3 miles - very low impact - very much for beginners. We will be riding in the evening though in an area that does not have bike lanes. Reflective gear & helmet recommended. This is a family friendly ride for all ages but all children must be accompanied by an adult.
Biking North Berkshire Forum
Thurs, May 16, 6-8 PM, Adams Visitors Center.
This event is taking place during Baystate Bike Week, where events all over the Commonwealth are taking place to celebrate human powered, two-wheeled transportation.
Pittsfield Community Ride
Saturday, May 25, 2013
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
EVERYONE CAN RIDE Training - June 5
To encourage use of the adaptive bike equipment which we purchased, BBPC with the help of Berkshire UCP is planning to train people to assist people with disabilities to ride on the trail. The plan is make the bikes available one day a week for 8 weeks. Teams of 2 -3 trained volunteers will be assigned to provide support. If we train a minimum of 8 people we would each do 2 days. The training is schedule for June 5, 3PM at DCR office on Route 8. If you are interested, please contact Marge Cohan at momimarge@msn.com .
Berkshire to Boston Cycling Tour - Sept
The Berkshires to Boston Bicycle Tour is a four-day, 240 mile bike tour showcasing the best of Massachusetts cycling. Beginning near the New York border in the town of Hancock, MA, the tour meanders through the Berkshires, the Pioneer Valley and the state's central highlands before arriving in the "hub" of Massachusetts bicycling - Boston. There, riders will join more than 5,000 cycling enthusiasts for Hub on Wheels, Boston's annual bicycling festival. To register Contact MassBike at (617) 542-2453. For more information check
http://www.berkshirestoboston.com/.
Half Marathon - May 19
The Berkshire Running Club is sponsoring a half marathon starting at the mall and ending at the Adams Visitors Center on May 19 beginning at 9:30 Entry fees are $65. For more information contact Kent Lemme at 413-344-4472.
PARK SERVICE DAY
The rescheduled Ashuwillticook Trail clean up was held on a beautiful, warm day. Over 40 people helped, sweep, plant, and rake before enjoying a delicious lunch provided by Old Forge. Thanks go to M Edwards Jeweler who donated water bottle for workers and brought their family and staff to help clean up. Thanks also go to the DCR staff, who helped organize the event.
Stephen and Diana Harrington logged 2800 miles each on the Ashuwillticook during 2012.
Both took part in Park Service Day 2013. They certainly demonstrated their appreciation of the bike path.
Ernie Delgado is also a regular on the trail.
Jim Neureuther - Park Service Day participant
BIKE PATH UPDATES
PittsfieldThe City allocated $100,000 of Chapter 90 funds to obtain an initial design for an extension of the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail from Lanesboro to Coltsville. The next step is to finalize a contract with Fuss and O'Neill Engineering to get the design to 25%. This would put the City in position for construction funding in 2015. The process will involve community input and it was suggested that our Aug 1 meeting could provide the forum.
Simultaneously, efforts to purchase the rail bed from Housatonic Railroad are making progress. Reps Paul Marks and Tricia Farley Bouvier have helped the State set aside $500,000 to purchase the rail bed. MassDot Rail and Transit division is taking the lead in negotiating with the railroad.
BBPC would like to thank the Mayor, Bruce Collingsworth, Public Works Commission and the Dept of Community Development for committing local funds to this project.
Adams to North AdamsUnfortunately the original idea that the redesign of the corridor to accommodate the Scenic Railroad could go on simultaneously with construction of the northern extension of the Ashuwillticook was not feasible. As a result the scheduled Spring construction of Ashuwillticook Rail Trail to Lime Street will be delayed.
North Adams to WilliamstownBRPC continues to work on the Scenic Byway agreements to allocate grant funds award for this project.
