DO NOW:List the ways that you have ever used the bike path for.

Lauren Buschini

The Railroads•The Lexington and West Cambridge Railroad ran on the route the bike path travels today

•The railroad provided both a passenger and freight service, with the Lexington Depot being one of the stops along the way

•After the focus transitioned from railroads to roads/highways, the railroad became less and less popular

•In 1981, the railroad system was completely shut down

The Minuteman Bikeway•Tom Fortmann (who lives in Lexington today) and Alan McClennen were the primary advocates for the path

•Fortmann fell in love with biking when he lived in Australia, and would bike six miles every day to graduate school where he taught

•The EPA was accepting grant proposals relating to air quality planning, which is what pushed Fortmannto propose his idea for a path

•In 1993, the path was finally opened to the public for use

Activities on the Path•Biking

•Rollerblading

•Walking

•Dog walking

•Running

•Cross-country skiing

•Playgrounds/ picnic grounds along

path

•Food stores, convenience stores

•Spy Pond

•The Great Meadows

•Marked historical landmarks

Quick Facts•The path is 11.2 miles long from start to end

•The bike path cost $3.2 million and took 15 years to complete

•The path is in memory of Selectman Jack Edison, who put in much time and effort to make the path become a reality

•The Minuteman Bikeway is part of the Rail-Trail movement (which has developed more than 1,350 rail-trails across the U.S.)

•2 million people used the bike path just last year

•It starts in Bedford, goes through Lexington and Arlington, and ends at Alewife Station in Cambridge