Explore Massachusetts by bike and you’ll experience an up-close look at our vibrant cities, our iconic villages, and our rural byways. Hop on, hop off. Ride a rail trail (no hills). Take a guided trip. Join riders of all ages on a rewarding and fun-filled cross-state tour. Explore Boston at your own pace with a Hubway bike. Welcome to bike-friendly Massachusetts.
BIKE SAFETY
Stay safe while exploring Massachusetts by bike. Always wear a bike helmet (Massachusetts law requires that children 16 years old or younger wear a helmet). Obey all regulatory signs and signals. Never ride against the traffic. Watch for car doors opening. Respect all other riders, drivers, and pedestrians. More safety tips from BLUEbikes bike-sharing.
MAJOR RAIL & OFF-ROAD TRAILS
Assabet River Rail Trail
Marlborough-Hudson, 6 miles
Maynard-Acton, 3.4 miles
Minuteman Bikeway
Cambridge-Bedford, 10 miles
Cape Cod Rail Trail
Yarmouth-Wellfleet, 26 miles
Cape Cod Canal Bikeway
Bourne Bridge-Sagamore Bridge, 7 miles
Shining Sea Bikeway
North Falmouth-Woods Hole, 10.7 miles
Ashuwillticook Rail Trail
Adams-Lanesborough, 12.4 miles
Norwottuck Rail Trail
Northampton-Amherst, 11 miles
Manhan Rail Trail
Easthampton-Northampton, 9 miles
Bruce Freeman Rail Trail
Chelmsford-Westford, 11.7 miles
Columbia Greenway/Southwick Rail Trail
Southwick-Westfield, 8.6 miles
Other bike trails and pathways :
BIKING IN METRO BOSTON
You don’t need to bring your own bicycle to explore Boston on two wheels. Just hop on BLUEBikes, metro Boston’s bike share program. 1,300 bikes are available at 140 Hubway stations in Boston, Cambridge, Somerville, and Brookline. Hubway has 24-hour and 72-hour memberships — perfect for a long weekend in the city — as well as an annual membership.
Two helpful guides to the ins and outs of pedaling around the city:
Guide to urban riding from Boston Bikes
Bikabout’s guide to Boston biking
TRAVELING WITH BIKES ON PUBLIC TRANSIT
Too far to ride? Take your bike on the MBTA. The “T” provides bus, trolley, subway, ferry, and commuter rail service in Greater Boston and eastern Massachusetts. You can take a bike on most of the system with some restrictions during rush hour service. 95% of the T’s non-electric buses have bike racks. The commuter rail will take you south to Plymouth, north to the beaches and picturesque harbors of the North Shore, and west to Worcester and charming rural town and villages.
BIKE TOURS/RIDES
Bike About
Choose from four routes in Ipswich, The Merrimack Valley or Boston/Cambridge
Cotuit Bicycling Tours
Custom day trips to Cape Cod villages and Martha’s Vineyard
Baja Bikes – Boston Bike Tours Explore Boston During a Fun and Relaxed Excursion
Great Freedom Adventures
Multi-day themed trips
Easy Rider Tours
6-day tour, Autumn in the Berkshires
Nantucket Bike Tours
Short bike rides around the island
Urban Adventours
2- to 3-hour escorted bike tours of Boston and Cambridge
Bike Rides for Ordinary People
Free, easy-paced weekend rides in Greater Boston
River Edge Cycling
Multi-faceted bicycle tours in Massachusetts and western New England
ANNUAL BIKE EVENTS
August Statewide charity bike ride with 12 routes ranging from 25 to 192 miles
August – 2- to 7-day options. Starts in Northampton.
August – 3- to 9-day options. Starts in Northampton
Second week of May – the only state in the nation with a statewide bike week!
BIKE-RELATED ORGANIZATIONS
Bay State Bike Week, Bike Night fashion show, BikeMass Summer Century, education, advocacy
Rail trails, bike paths, bike trails
Boston Bikes is Boston’s city-wide initiative to encourage citizens and visitors to use bicycles for fun, exercise, and transportation. It manages the BLUEbikes bike share program and develop bike-related events.
Livable Streets advocates for a metro Boston transportation system that balances transit, walking, and biking with cars.
BIKE SHOPS & RENTALS
Adventure East
Hadley
Amherst Business Improvement District
Amherst
Arcadian Shop
Lenox
Ashuwillticook Rail Trail
Lanesborough
Beartown State Forest*
Monterey
Berkshire East Ski Area
Charlemont
Bullitt Reservation
Ashfield
Canalside Rail Trail (bike)
Turners Falls
Canterbury Farm Nordic Center
Becket
Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) State Forest*
Goshen
ENQ ~ Explore North Quabbin
Orange
Greylock Glen
Adams
HG October Mountain Estate
Lenox
Kenneth Dubuque State Forest-Hawley Trailhead
Hawley
Laurel Lake Recreation Area
Erving
Northfield Mountain Recreation and Environmental Center
Northfield
NQTA ~ North Quabbin Trails Association
Orange
Peak Paddlesports Boathouse
Orange
Pedal 2 Pints
Greenfield
Pittsfield State Forest
Pittsfield
- A
Adventure East
12 Breckenridge Road
Hadley
+14138005345 - B
Amherst Business Improvement District
35 South Pleasant Street
Amherst
413-345-2945 - C
Arcadian Shop
91 Pittsfield Road
Lenox
413-637-3010 - D
Ashuwillticook Rail Trail
Ashuwillticook Rail Trail
Lanesborough
(413) 442-8928 - E
Beartown State Forest*
Blue Hill Rd.
Monterey
877-422-6762 - F
Berkshire East Ski Area
66 Thunder Mt Road
Charlemont
413-339-6617 - G
Bullitt Reservation
332 Bullitt Road
Ashfield
413 532 1631 - H
Canalside Rail Trail (bike)
2 Avenue A
Turners Falls
413-863-3221 - I
Canterbury Farm Nordic Center
1986 Fred Snow Rd
Becket
413-623-0100 - J
Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) State Forest*
Rt. 112
Goshen
877-422-6762 - K
ENQ ~ Explore North Quabbin
131 West Main Street
Room 222
Orange
978-549-1747 - L
Greylock Glen
135 Gould Road
Adams
4137438300 - M
HG October Mountain Estate
430 East Street
Box 2282
Lenox
8662645139 - N
Kenneth Dubuque State Forest-Hawley Trailhead
16 Plainfield Road
Hawley
(413) 339-5504 - O
Laurel Lake Recreation Area
60 Laurel Lake Road
Erving
978-544-3939 - P
Northfield Mountain Recreation and Environmental Center
99 Millers Falls Rd.
Rte. 63
Northfield
800-859-2960 - Q
NQTA ~ North Quabbin Trails Association
131 West Main Street
Room 222
Orange
978-549-1747 - R
Peak Paddlesports Boathouse
25 East River St
Orange
413-648-7673 - S
Pedal 2 Pints
324 Wells St
Greenfield
4137745350 - T
Pittsfield State Forest
Cascade St.
Pittsfield
877-422-6762
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