Bike the Charles, Saturday, June 10, 2006

10:00 am, Artesani Playground, Herter Park, Allston

Despite a steady, but not hard rain on Saturday morning, nine people showed up and it was already the rain date, so we decided that this would be it. We checked out the path all of the way to Waltham and back to the start.

Blue Heron Bridge
May 13 ride turning around at the
Blue Heron Bridge over the Charles		 Blue Heron Bridge
June 10 ride after crossing the
Blue Heron Bridge over the Charles

This ride, cosponsored by MassBike's Metro Boston chapter, Boston's Hub On Wheels, and the Cambridge Bicycle Committee, will start at 10:00 am in Artesani Playground in Herter Park in Allston (at the big parking lot where Everett St. hits Soldiers Field Road) and travel the entire length of the Charles River bikepaths and trails, from the New Charles River Dam and Paul Revere Landing Park in Charlestown to Prospect St. in Waltham.

This Google map should get you to the start. Zoom in and you can see the parking lot where we will meet.

We will head upstream on the south side of the river, crossing over on the new bike/ped bridge between Newton and Watertown. We'll continue on to Prospect St. in Waltham (a half mile past Moody St.) and turn around to bike all of the way to the New Charles River Dam in Charlestown on paths on the north bank of the Charles River, Then we'll ride along the Esplanade and back to the starting point. The total distance is about 26 miles, and it is pretty flat. Helmets are required, and water and a snack are recommended. A lunch stop in Watertown Square is possible.

Since we bike past the starting point on our way back downstream, you can cross the Arsenal St. bridge and cut the ride short at 13 miles.

This was originally going to be the kickoff event of Bike Week in Massachusetts, but it wasn't.

Possible stops include:
  • The new bridge between Newton and Watertown
  • Moody St. Dam and mill complex in Waltham
  • Watertown Square
  • Potential separate bike path on Memorial Drive at MIT
  • Half-grassed-over former 4-lane Cambridge Parkway
  • Paul Revere Landing Park in Charlestown
  • Hatch Shell in Boston
Resources:

Put up this flyer to help us publicize the event.

Here is a 2-sided map and cue sheet Adobe Acrobat PDF file.

Read and fill out this 2-sided disclaimer and safety form in advance to save time at the ride.

Email Doug Mink if you need further information.