Bike Resources

Greater Boston's Bike Network

MAPC LANDLINE NETWORK PLAN

The map of the Boston Bike Lines comes from a larger, regional effort to create a network of shared-use paved paths, protected bike lanes, and foot trails connecting the communities of the Greater Boston Area. The Landline Network Plan is an initiative led by the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) in coordination with the LandLine Coalition to create an inventory of all the paths, bike lanes, and trails in the region. MAPC has two active mapping resources documenting the existing, currently under construction, and envisioned paths in the LandLine Network: The LandLine Greenway Network Map focuses on main travel routes while TrailMap is a more comprehensive collection of regional walking and cycling trails.

With the Greater Boston Bike Lines resource, Allston-Brighton TMA and Allston Brighton TMA have highlighted the most accessible and established LandLine routes for safe, convenient mobility in and around the City. The Boston Bike Lines include only paved rail trails, river and harbor paths, and city park paths with dedicated lanes for active mobility.

Greater Boston Bike Lines Map

Greater Boston Bike Lines Map (Above): Scroll within the map frame or click the "+" and "-" icons in the lower left-hand corner to zoom in and out on the map. Click the small screen icon in the top left-hand corner of the black bar at the top of the frame to see the maps' layers. From here you can toggle on and off each of the five major arterial routes in addition to bike lanes and protected bike lanes from the MAPC's Trailmap resource.

CHARLES RIVER PATH

The Charles River Path begins as the Charles River Greenway in Waltham between the Brandeis/Roberts and Waltham Commuter Rail Stations on the Fitchburg Line. It follows the Charles River through Watertown and Newton, before turning into the Dr. Paul Dudley White Bike Path which continues along the Charles River Esplanade through Brighton, Allston, Fenway-Kenmore, and Back Bay. The Charles River Path concludes in the West End at the Charles/MGH Red Line Station.

MINUTEMAN BIKEway via Somerville Community Path

Beginning in Bedford Center, The Minuteman Bikeway runs through Lexington along a former railroad right-of-way, and roughly follows Mass. Ave and Mill Brook through Arlington. The Bikeway formally ends at the Alewife Brook Reservation and the Alewife MBTA station, but the route continues along Alewife Linear Park until intersecting with Mass. Ave at Cedar Street in Cambridge. In Somerville, the route becomes the Somerville Community Path where it runs through Davis Square before connecting with the Medford/Tufts extension of the Green Line at Magoun Square. Finally, the Somerville Community Path parallels the Green Line until linking up with the Charles River Bike Path at Science Park and the head of the Charles River.  

NEPONSET RIVER Trail Via Boston HArbor Walk

The Neponset River Trail begins at the Mattapan MBTA station servicing the red line trolley extension at Blue Hill Ave in Mattapan Square. It runs along the Neponset River on the Mattapan-Milton line all the way to the Neponset Ave Bridge on Route 3A in Quincy. It then runs through Joseph Finnegan Park and formally terminates at Tenean Beach in Dorchester. Currently under construction is a connector between Tenean Beach and Dorchester Shores Reservation which will link the Neponset River Trail to the Boston Harbor Walk. Once established, the Neponset River Trail will encircle UMass Boston via the Boston Harbor Walk, pass by Moakley Park, and wrap around Old Harbor prior to terminating at Castle Island in South Boston.

NORTHERN STRAND

The Northern Strand, also known as the Bike to the Sea Trail, currently begins at the end of the Community Path of Lynn but will soon extend all the way to Nahant. The path runs along the former right-of-way of the Boston & Maine Railroad in Saugus, Revere, Malden, and Everett, and terminates at the Encore Boston Ferry Dock across the Mystic River from the Orange Line in Assembly Square in Somerville.

SOUTHWEST CORRIDOR

The Southwest Corridor Park was initially a former railroad right-of-way selected as the site for a major highway development which would bring I-95 directly through Boston's Downtown. With the help of opposition from the local community and leaders in the Massachusetts State Government, the highway project was never completed. Today the Southwest Corridor is a public greenway beginning at the Forest Hills Orange Line station, running parallel to the Orange Line and Northeast Corridor through Jamaica Plain and Roxbury before terminating at the Back Bay Orange Line Station at the Prudential Center.