Where:
Boston
Surrounding areas
Boston, MA
Admission:
FREE
Categories:
Date Idea, Kid Friendly, Nature, Outside, Sports & Active Life
Biking is an easy, healthy and fun way to explore Boston, but the famously aggressive drivers and uneven infrastructure can be off putting. Use these car-free bike trails in and around Boston to get around the city and enjoy a leisurely bike ride, without worries about safety or traffic.
by Celina Colby
Where: Somerville
Info: The Somerville Community Path is a paved stretch of more than 3 miles running from Massachusetts Avenue to East Cambridge via Davis Square. The path was extended as part of the Green Line Extension project so you can bike (or walk) on this sheltered path alongside four new Green Line stops.
Charles River Esplanade Bike Path
Where: Back Bay
Info: The esplanade path is one of the most loved and most beautiful shared pedestrian and bike paths in the city. The scenic 3 mile path runs along the Charles River overlooking the Cambridge skyline and, in the summer, the sailboats floating by.
Memorial Drive (pictured)
Where: Cambridge
Info: There are two wide protected sidewalks on either side of Memorial Drive that are well utilized by both bikers and pedestrians. It’s a shared sidewalk, so be mindful of that, but it makes for a beautiful bike ride overlooking the Charles River and the city skyline. Sections of Memorial Drive are also completely closed to traffic on Sundays.
Where: Cambridge, Arlington, Lexington, Bedford
Info: This bikeway is rich in history, passing through the area where the American Revolution began in 1775. Built on a former railway, it’s utilized by both pedestrians and bikers and connects to the Alewife T station for easy public transit access.
Where: Jamaica Plain, Back Bay
Info: The Pierre Lallement Bicycle Path in the Southwest Corridor Park is a separate bike path removed from pedestrians and traffic that runs 4.7 miles from Forest Hills Station to Mass Ave in Back Bay. Along the way you can access Franklin Park, the Arboretum, Ruggles Station, and more attractions.
Where: Back Bay, Fenway, Jamaica Plain, Roxbury
Info: One of Boston’s oldest and most beloved public park systems, The Emerald Necklace winds from The Boston Common all the way to Franklin Park and includes The Arnold Arboretum, The Back Bay Fens, The Riverway, and many other beautiful urban landscapes. The parks are connected by off-road pedestrian and bike paths.
Where: Dorchester, Mattapan, Milton
Info: The Neponset River Greenway Trail stretches a glorious 8.2 miles through Dorchester, Mattapan, and Milton along the Neponset River. The car-free waterfront path is utilized by both pedestrians and bikers.
BONUS
Where: Fenway
Info: The Fenway Path is a family-friendly, off-road bike and pedestrian route. It is also a "Green Link," these are proposed paths that will create a seamless network of great walking and biking routes across Boston. With the first two sections complete, the final phase will extend from Fenway Station to the Emerald Necklace, enhancing access across the neighborhood.