MassBike Boston Bikepath Snow Plowing Report
January 23, 2001

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.

Boston's first real snowfall of the winter of 2000-2001 came over the weekend of January 20-21, the same date as last winter's first snow. The paths I use were all plowed on Monday morning, but there was lots of ice showing. This time the MDC had the clearest paths! 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
haven't ridden this yet, but there was still ice on the road before this snowfall. It was rideable for an experienced ice biker.
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 has all been plowed, with bare pavement showing near the pond. North of the pond there is a lot of snow on the path and sometimes ice. Some of the path is sanded, but it is still a bit rugged.
Olmsted Park Paths
3/4-mile of mostly bike/ped-separated paths built over River Road, , across Leverett Pond from the Jamaicaway.
Brookline Park Department
These were not plowed.
Muddy River Path
12-foot-wide 0.6 mile shared bike/ped path with no intersections
Brookline Park Department and DPW
This path has been sanded, but there is still quite a bit of snow and ice.
B.U. Bridge
The sidewalks are totally clear on the bridge and the Boston approach, but the Cambridge approach is snowpacked and icy.
Charles River Bikepath
Narrow, shared bike-ped path with few intersections
Metropolitan District Commission
The Cambridge side was plowed from the B.U. Bridge to the Eliot Bridge along Memorial Drive. It is snowpacked and icey from the B.U. Bridge to the Riverside Boat Club, then there is at least some clear pavement most of the rest of the way. It is only plowed to three feet or so, but two bikes can pass.
Southwest Corridor Bikepath
Separated Bike/Ped path with poorly-designed intersections
Metropolitan District Commission
It's been plowed, and the brief stretch I rode was mostly pavement with some ice.