Neighbor News
Inaugural Northampton to Boston Cross State Bike Tour
Six public events including a stop at Russell's in Wayland on Sunday 9/22 at 11:15am
Today the Chairman of the Norwottuck Network, Craig Della Penna, announced six public events along the inaugural RideN2B cross-state bike tour route to raise awareness for the completion of the 104-mile Mass Central Rail Trail (MCRT).
The RideN2B will take place on September 20, 21 and 22, traversing the MCRT from Northampton to Boston, through 26 Massachusetts communities with plenty of opportunities for local engagement and support along the way.
Over a dozen Rail Trail Ambassadors, including representatives from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, the MA Department of Conservation and Recreation, the Metropolitan Area Planning Council, MassBike and several family foundations, will take part in this multi-day event.
Find out what's happening in Waylandfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Della Penna said, “We are thrilled to have folks from MassDOT, MassBike, DCR and MAPC join the ride and see first-hand how the MCRT connects communities and stimulates local economies. And because there are so many friends of the rail trail, we’ve created public events along the route for talks with local leaders in Belchertown, Ware, Oakdale, Clinton, Wayland and Cambridge.”
Local communities are invited to come join the talks, cheer on the riders, and learn more about the rail trails connecting their towns. For a full schedule of public events, visit FinishTheRailTrail/RideN2B.
Find out what's happening in Waylandfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The Mass Central Rail Trail follows an old railroad corridor from Boston to Northampton, traveling through small towns and rural landscapes, next to free-flowing rivers and wide-open fields. Currently, 60% of this corridor is complete, providing safe off-road trails for walking, biking and other activities. The Norwottuck Network recently partnered with the Solomon Foundation to map the complete sections of the MCRT corridor onto Google Street View – including this iconic crossing of the Quinapoxet River in West Boylston, MA.
A recent study demonstrated that a completed Mass Central Rail Trail could generate upwards of $200 million per year in new revenue, provide thousands of local residents with access to safe trails, and revitalize Gateway cities and towns. Similar rail trails in NY and PA have been highly successful in promoting tourism, economic growth, and healthy communities. The RideN2B will highlight these opportunities for communities along the MCRT.
