Neponset River Greenway Spring Ride
10:00 am, Saturday, March 26, 2022

Every year, the Neponset River Greenway Council tries to lead a bike ride along the Neponset Trail on the Saturday closest to the first day of Spring to check out how the Trail has fared through the Winter, look at the next trail extensions, and explore the neighborhoods and sites just off the trail. Sometimes the weather or a pandemic is too bad and we postpone it until later into the season, but not this year.

We started at Tenean Beach in the Port Norfolk section of Dorchester, following the Neponset Trail up the Neponset River to Readville in Hyde Park, stopping to rest twice, at Ryan Playground in Mattapan and at Walcott Square in Hyde Park. From the second rest stop, we'll follow Hyde Park Ave. to B St. and take a little-known bicycle/pedestrian bridge across the Neponset River to the confluence of Mother Brook and the Neponset. We'll cross Dana Ave, and follow Walnut St, Nott St, and Fairmount Ave back to the Neponset Trail at Truman Parkway and follow that until the Blue Hill Parkway crossing before Mattapan Square.

We'll go straight onto Curtis Rd, instead of left onto the sidewalk along the Neponset Trail. We'll take that to Eliot St. to Adams St. in Milton Village, turn left, then right at River St. and right on Medway St, which will take us to Ventura Park, where we'll circle the neighborhood and rejoin the trail via a ramp through the Butler St. trolley station and head back to Tenean Beach.

For those that are interested, we'll follow the route of the future Dorchester Coast section of the Neponset Trail to Victory Road and back, with a stop at Phillips Candies for a bit of chocolate.

Helmets are required. Heavy rain will postpone the ride. Bring a mask if you wish to wear one when inside a building or close to others.

[photos]

Photos from past Neponset Trail Rides:
[2021] [2019] [2018] [2017] [2017new] [2016] [2015] [2014] [2013] [2012] [2011] [2010] [2009] [2008] [2007] [2003]


Trolleys and bikes along the High-Speed Line

Details

  • Where: Meet at the parking lot at Tenean Beach.
  • When: Departing at 10:00 am, Saturday, March 26, 2017
  • Distance: about 18 miles.
  • Pace: Relaxed, probably 6-10 MPH.
  • Terrain: Mostly flat.
  • Route: Mixture of shared-use path (80%) and roads.
  • Leader: Jessica Mink

Maps and Cue sheet

 route map

Getting There

Bicycle

From the south, cross the Hancock St. Bridge from Quincy and turn right into Port Norfolk.
From the north, take Dorchester Ave. to Freeport St. and follow it to Conley St., where you turn leftand go under the Southeast Expressway to Tenean Beach.
From the west, take the Neponset Trail

MBTA

You can take your bike on the Red Line to the Savin Hill stop for no extra charge. Take Savin Hill Ave west to Dorchester Ave, then turn left on Freeport Ave to Conley to Tenean Beach. Details are on the MBTA website.

Car

From the north, take the Southeast Expressway to the Gallivan Blvd/Neponset Circle exit, go around Neponset Circle to northbound Morrissey Blvd, and turn right onto Conley St and under the Expressway to Tenean Beach.
From the south, exit the Southeast Expressway onto northbound Granite Ave toward Neponset Circle, which you will reach by turning right onto Gallivan Boulevard. Go around the Circle to northbound Morrissey Blvd, and turn right onto Conley St and under the Expressway to Tenean Beach.
Click for Google Maps

Bailout points

You can turn around at Mattapan Square or Dorchester Lower Mills. The closest T stations to most of the ride are Ashmont and Savin Hill on the Red Line, but it can be a hike. From Mattapan Square south, we parallel the commuter rail Fairmount Branch, which takes you north through Hyde Park, Mattapan, and Dorchester to South Station. All MBTA buses have bike racks and you can get lots of places from Mattapan Square and a few from Walcott Square.