The Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Committee last week highlighted some areas where town conservation trails could be upgraded to allow use by bicycles. Three of the spots suggested by the BPAC are within areas that the ConCom is also considering opening to bikes as part of its set of proposed amendments to the town’s trail use regulations.
The trail segments shown in the BPAC’s June 22 presentation to the Conservation Commission were part of the draft master plan the group unveiled to the Select Board in April. That plan outlined several types and examples of infrastructure improvements they recommended making over a period of decades to increase roadway and path safety for all users (cars, bikes, and pedestrians) and improve connectivity within the town.
Some of the suggested spots (shown with fuchsia arrows in the images below) already have walking trails but are not currently usable by bikes because of flooding or other reasons; in other locations, the BPAC suggested creating new trails, as indicated by asterisks.
Complicating the issue is the fact that the trails have different owners. Some of the land is owned by the town, some by the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust, and some by private property owners who have granted easements. “We understand there are a lot of land ownership issues, but these are the connections we’ve identified where trails might be the best option,” said BPAC Co-chair Ginger Reiner.
North Lincoln
- Bypass Road to Brooks Road*
- Brooks Road to Sunnyside Lane
- Minute Man National Historic Park to the corner of Old Bedford and Virginia Roads
- Mill Street to Bedford Road*
East Lincoln
- Weston Road to Tower Road
- Tower Road to Todd Pond Road*
- A trail connection to a future underpass or overpass near Page Road if MassDOT ever builds one*
South Lincoln
- Mt. Misery to the canoe landing parking lot alongside Route 117
- The canoe lot to Birchwood Lane (now open to walkers but closed to bikers via terms of an easement over private property)
- The link from Old Sudbury Road to the Weston trail system
West Lincoln
- Baker Bridge Road near Woods End Road to the rear commuter lot in South Lincoln*
- The link to the Concord trail system in Adams Woods just northeast of Fairhaven Bay
- Concord Road to Goose Pond Road, very close to the easter edge of Walden Pond*
In a few areas prone to flooding, the work might have to include a boardwalk that bikers would be required to walk their bikes over. Most or all of the initial work could be funded by grants, BPAC Co-chair Bob Wolf said.
The improvements will require multiple neighborhood discussions as well as plan modifications and compromises over time as circumstances change, said Wolf, noting that it took the Netherlands at least 25 years to make its targeted roadways equally safe for bikers, walkers and cars.
If we can’t get a full loaf, we’re happy to get half a loaf,” he said. “We’re not advocating for a wholesale opening of trails… [the recommendations] are highly selective and in places we could not get a roadside path option to work well.”
The BPAC will continue to meet with town boards and committees over the summer, followed by regional public forums in the fall and a State of the Town presentation in November and a possible measure to be voted on at Town Meeting in March 2023.
Bikes on trails
Later in the Zoom meeting attended by more than 50 residents, the ConCom continued its discussion of the four areas of proposed trail improvements from its last meeting on June 1. Most of the comments focused on the bikes-on-trails issue, with some residents advocating for more equity in how some trails can be used and others worrying that more biking will damage trails and detract from the enjoyment of walkers. There was debate over what neighboring towns allow on their trails, how new rules would be posted and enforced, and why certain trail segments were targeted for opening.
Given the strong and numerous opinions, “This might be a wise place to pause… this is a very hot issue and I think it needs a lot more consideration,” Diana Beaudoin said. Sara Mattes agreed, saying the town should “step back a minute and look more holistically” at the issue of safe roadway and trail use.
“Our goal is to reach consensus… but we know we won’t keep all of the people happy all of the time. It’s a dance,” ConCom Chair Susan Hall Mygatt said.
The Lincoln Land Conservation Trust is scheduled to discuss the issue early next month, and the ConCom will resume its discussion on July 13 at 8 p.m.