Berkshire Bike Path Council

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Berkshire Bike Path Council Home Page

Advocating bike path development in Berkshire County Massachusetts

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Please use our site as a resource to help use and develop bike paths in Berkshire County.

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Bicycling in the Berkshires

Berkshire Bike Path Council Vision
The Berkshire Bike Path Council is working to promote the establishment of a Vermont to Connecticut multi-use recreational path of approximately 75 miles. The border to border trail will utilize railway corridors and related off-road bike paths where possible along with on-road bike lanes. Through the involvement of community groups and towns the trail will extend from the Vermont border in Williamstown south through North Adams, Adams, Cheshire, Lanesboro, Pittsfield, Lenox, Stockbridge, Lee, Great Barrington and Sheffield to the Connecticut border. This primary north-south route will serve as the central spine for secondary connections with diverse destinations, including schools, businesses, community centers, transportation links, recreational opportunities and other points of interest.

Marge Cohan
email marge

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Implementation Plan Presented to Congressman Olver

Congressman Olver receiving Berkshire Bike Path Impementation Plan presented by Berkshire Regional Planning's Christine Nuemann and BBPC president Marge Cohan.

Congressman Olver received our countywide implementation plan. He was most impressed with the commitment from 11 towns/cities and the vision map.  The vision map is now available in all 11 town and city halls. A long standing bike path advocate, Congressman Olver promised to continue to support funding for bike path, increase access to enhancement funding, and assist with negotiations with the railroads.


                                                                          Click on vision map for a larger view.

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Berkshire Bike Path Council
                            Partners

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Berkshire County Bike Path Projects

Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC) is coordinating all Berkshire County bike planning efforts. An overview of current bike path projects can be found at the BRPC website Bike Trail Planning.

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NPS awards grant
for 2010

The Berkshire Bike Path Council has received a grant for continued assistance from the National Park Service (NPS) for 2010. During the next year we will be working with Steve Golden, Program Manager for National Parks Service Boston Office.

The NPS grant will focus on south county efforts to:

1. Expand constituency of bike path
advocates and interested citizens

a. Conduct public meeting in four south
county communities

b. Develop brochure with vision map

c. Conduct and participate in community
events.

2. Support efforts of south county communities
to develop bikepath/route efforts

3. Collaborate on efforts to address issues
raised by local railroads.

4. Conduct a follow up symposium on Building
Trails and Bikeways

North County continues its similar efforts through the Scenic Byway grant.

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Trails Symposium

Dan McGinnis Dan Bolognani

September’s Housatonic Heritage Trail Symposium was well represented by Massachusetts towns and community groups that make up the proposed north south bike path corridor. Speakers included Dan McGinnis who described ongoing bike path efforts in Connecticut. The main speaker, Mark Jewell, provided an interesting and most informative talk concerning all aspects of planning and design of the Blackstone River Valley Bikeway.

Another symposium is planned for the spring of 2010. Keep watching this website for details.

Mark Jewell describing the Blackstone Valley Bikeway
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Visits since Jan 2006

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Frequent Asked Questions

Where are places to stay in the Berkshires?
     visit Berkshire Visitors Bureau or send email

Where can I rent bicycles?
      See Local Bicycle Shops

Where can I find a map of the Ashuwillticook?
See   Ashuwillticook Rail Trail Map and parking locations

    Parking Location Maps and Pictures
    Berkshire Mall Parking    Map, Picture 48 parking spaces
    Farnams Parking            Map, Picture 35 parking spaces
    Cheshire Parking            Map, Picture 16 parking spaces
    Russell Field Parking       Map, Picture 35 parking spaces
    Berkshire Visitors Bureau
    Berkshire Visitors Bureau Parking Map, Picture
                          Spaces in Town Parking lot

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      The 2009 Berkshire Regional Planning
     count on the Ashuwillticook is complete.

    Count results can be found at the BRPC website.

          Pictues of volunteers counters

        The next count will be during
     May 2010.

      For more information: email your question.

     Pittsfield Councilman Mike Ward an
     advid bicyclist rides the Ashuwillticook
             during the May 2009 count.

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Berkshire Bike Path goes Digital

BBPC will not redistribute your e-mail address.

For Email Marketing you can trust

Link to

Past Enewsletter Issues

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Thank you for your continued support

Please support our efforts to advocate for
better bicycling in Berkshire County.

Send check made out to
Berkshire Bike Path Council
mail to

55 South Mountain Rd
Pittsfield, MA 01201

As 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.