MassBike Boston Bikepath Snow Plowing Report
Wednesday, January 8, 2003

Bikepaths are an integral part of the bicycle transportation network, and these reports are provided to encourage their use by bicyclists who might otherwise not venture out in the snow, and to encourage their proper maintenance (which includes snow plowing) by the responsible agencies given in bold type below. Paths with significant foot traffic become unskiable within a day, and remain a mess for everyone if they are not plowed while the snow is still soft.

While Boston didn't get much snow from last Friday's storm, it has been snowing a little every day, so path conditions have been continually changing, not usually for the better. After last night's inch, all of the paths I ride have a snow cover, some over ice, some over pavemnent.

Please send updates and reports on the conditions of other paths in Massachusetts to Doug Mink dmink@massbike.org.

Arnold Arboretum
1.5 miles of park roads which are mostly closed to automobile traffic with no intersections
Boston Parks and Harvard University
Wednesday morning, all of the roads had a layer of snow, mostly on top of smooth ice, the most dangerous I've seen it all winter. There was enough snow for traction, but it looks like it's time to shell out for studded snow tires.
Jamaicaway Bikepath
1.5 miles of mostly bike/ped-separated paths paralleling a busy 4-lane parkway; two intersections with traffic lights
Boston Parks Deparment
This path has been plowed a couple of times since Friday, and sanded, but it was covered by a layer of snow over the sand today. The path from Perkin St. to Route 9 has not been plowed this week and is in worse shape, with mounds of snow around the various curb cuts. The bollards at Pinebank are still a problem, too.
Olmsted Park Paths
3/4-mile of mostly bike/ped-separated paths built over Riverdale Road, across Leverett Pond from the Jamaicaway.
Brookline Park Department
The bike and pedestrian paths were not plowed Wednesday morning, though they were plowed before the latest snow.
Muddy River Path
12-foot-wide 0.6 mile shared bike/ped path with no intersections
Brookline Park Department and DPW
This path was bare pavement Tuesday night, so this morning's snow was easy to ride through.
B.U. Bridge
The Boston approach was clear, and the bridge sidewalk was plowed but snowy. Part of the Cambridge approach was very icy on Wednesday morning. The roadway is clear.
Charles River Bikepath
Narrow, shared bike-ped path with few intersections
Metropolitan District Commission
This path has not been plowed since the weekend and it's getting a bit rugged to ride. I still was able to keep up 15 mph over long stretches. Paul Steckler reported Monday that the Boston side had not been plowed at all, though it was bikeable with fat tires.
Southwest Corridor Bikepath
Separated Bike/Ped path with poorly-designed intersections
Metropolitan District Commission
Not checked yet.
Melnea Cass Bikepath
Separated Bike/Ped path
Boston Parks or Transportation Deparment
Not checked yet.
Neponset Trail
Mostly paved Bike/Ped path
Metropolitan District Commission
This path is not plowed.
Cambridge Bike Lanes
Striped lanes of varying widths on major and connecting streets
City of Cambridge
Cars are parking out from the curb due to the snow, so the lanes are narrowed.
Fresh Pond Bike Path
Parallel to Fresh Pond Parkway in Kingsley Park
City of Cambridge
Not checked yet.
Red Line Linear Park
Over the Red Line from Alewife Station to Cedar St.
Cities of Cambridge and Somerville
Not checked yet.
Minuteman Bikeway
From Cambridge through Arlington and Lexington to Bedford
Each town
This path is not usually plowed.