Above: If you’re looking for someplace safe to bike, there are safe options in nearby parks for kids and rail trails for longer rides. (photos by Joao Melo)
Yesterday, when I posted my links to tips for making the most of the last days of summer, I realized that it’s been years since I shared tips on biking in the area. Here’s my updated* look at options for safe biking for families through adults near Southborough.
I’m breaking these up in appropriateness from youngest and least experienced bikers to those for people who want to really go the distance.
Playgrounds — When my kids were in the trike through just past training wheels stage, we used to enjoy the small bike trail loop in the EMC Park playground in Hopkinton. That playground was renovated in 2019 and I couldn’t get an answer as to whether the updated facility still has that. But there are safe areas at our K-5 school playgrounds. So you can do something similar there through August 30th and after school and on weekends after that. (Just no loops.)
Cushing Memorial Park in Framingham (at 80 Dudley Road) has nice walking/biking paths with a tot playground in the midst of the green. The loop choices are just over or under a mile – so not for serious biking. For me, it was a great place to test out the kids’ stamina and interest level before trying a longer trail. There’s also markers about the site history to add to the experience. (You can learn more about the park here, just ignore the incorrectly listed Union St address.)
A family friend used to recommend Hopkinton State Park for biking with kids. There are a few miles of paved roads between the beaches and parking lots. You do have to share the pavement with cars. Still, that seems less treacherous than most of our narrow back roads or busy main streets.
As the kids got older, my family’s favorite ended up being the Assabet River Rail Trail. The dedicated trail is actually in two sections.
We used to take the 5 mile trail from the Marlborough parking lot to Hudson trailheads. On the return trip, we’d stop at one of the many downtown Hudson eateries for a snack. (Essentially, their bribe to participate.)
But for those who want to bike further, you can continue down 4.5 miles of roads (Route 62 to Sudbury Road) to connect to the 3.2 mile trail section that travels through Maynard, Acton, and Stow.
There other Rail Trails that may be worth taking a spin on – but they’re pretty far flung. (It looks like many of the projects to build out and link trails are still in the works many years after the process started. There has been very little progress since I first researched this six years ago.):
- The Minuteman Bikeway allows you to include some history with your recreation. It passes through where the American Revolution began. Cycle through Bedford, Lexington, Arlington, and Cambridge.
- The Bruce Freeman Rail Trail now connects from Lowell, through Westford, to Acton. (It seems the Sudbury/Framingham section is still stuck in an early design phase.) Click here for trail map.
- The Upper Charles River Rail Trail runs through Milford (and plans to eventually include Hopkinton and Ashland.)
- The Mass Central Rail Trail has segments open and boasts 59 miles of trails. But it’s broken up along the 94.5 mile route from Boston to Northampton with lots of closed and under construction sections along the way.
Do you have any favorite are routes for biking? Share them in comments below.
*Thanks to Michael Melo for helping with some of the research on updated links and details.
