Flowers Along The Minuteman Bikeway |
Bicycling and Walking in Lexington |
Tree Planting Along Bikeway |
Sidewalk Use in Lexington |
Bikes Not Bombs |
Bikepath Improvements
Why I joined the Lexington Bicycle Advisory Committee
Flowers Along The Minuteman Bikeway
In many ways the verges of the Minuteman Trail are ideal for wildflowers. Sunlight, poor soil and open areas as found along the trail are conducive to the growth and propagation of wildflowers. These wildflowers prosper without fertilizer, without weeding, and love benign neglect.
Bicycling and Walking in Lexington
Since biking and walking have so much in common as healthful and enjoyable ways of getting about, it is perhaps no surprise that bicycle committee members would be interested in improving conditions for walking as well a bicycling in Lexington. Since the Minuteman Bikeway was officially opened in 1992, the number of walkers and joggers has almost equalled the numbers of those on wheels along the five miles of pathway, apart from traffic noise and pollution and yet passing near the Town center for those combining local errands with recreation.
Fifteen new trees were planted on Saturday, June 6, 2005 along the John C. Eddison Minuteman Bikeway. These were between the historic Depot building and Grant Street in Lexington Center. Two more were planted near Hancock Avenue. All 17 trees were made possible by a $4,420 Mass ReLeaf matching grant from the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation. The Lexington tree Committee applied for the grant in January 2005 with support letters from the Lexington Bicycle Advisory Committee, Lexington Friends of the Bikeway and other groups in town. Fifteen new trees were planted on Saturday, June 6, 2005 along the John C. Eddison Minuteman Bikeway.
It is perhaps not surprising that bicycling enthusiasts would also want to promote better walking conditions in Lexington.
After all, both are human-powered activities, good for our health, good for the environment, and good for the social benefits of being able to pause at any time to chat with firiends and neighbors along the way.
While driving along Lexington Streets on trash day my wandering eyes often spot discarded bicycles on the side of the road. If only these people knew about Bikes Not Bombs they could turn their trash into a useful means of transportation for kids in Boston or South Africa or Ghana or El Salvador or even New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. Boston students can become proud owners of shiny like-new bikes with fully working components.
On a cold day in October Mike Tabaczynski, Marita Hartshorn, Rich Spencer, David Pinsonneault, and Bill Hadley road the entire length of the Lexington portion of the Minuteman bike way to identify places that need repair. We are already seeing some results from our efforts: namely new caps on bollards and new STOP signs at road crossings. The sides of the bike path in Lexington Center were relandscaped in the spring greatly improving the center.
Why I joined the Lexington Bicycle Advisory Committee
When I moved to Lexington five years ago, the house that I rented happened, more by luck than by plan, to be located next to the Minuteman Bikeway. I found this to be a fortunate coincidence, as I ran for exercise on a regular basis, and found the Bikeway to be a great place to do so.