Transportation Planning
Franklin County Bikeway
Riverside Greenway in Greenfield
Project Overview
Planning for a Franklin County Bikeway began over twenty years ago when a local group, called the Franklin County Bikeway Committee, began identifying ways to get around the region without cars. Comprised of local elected official, planners, business people and citizens, the group originally formed in response to the energy crisis of the 1970s. However, it quickly became apparent that Franklin County had much more to offer in terms of bicycling for transportation: scenic, low traffic country roads; generally flat terrain in the central portion of the county; and numerous employment, educational, and recreational destinations that are close enough to reach by bike. Changes in federal transportation funding in the early 1990s made it possible for the Franklin Regional Council of Governments to take the early vision of the Bikeway Committee and lead building it.
Current Activities
The Franklin County Bikeway totals approximately 240 miles in length and covers the entire county, with connections to bordering counties and states. Much of the Bikeway network consists of “on-road” or “shared roadway” sections that make use of predominantly low traffic roads. There are several “off-road” bikepaths as well that provide connections suitable for all riders. The central portion of the Franklin County Bikeway is marked with Franklin County Bikeway way-finding signs. The FRCOG has published hard copy maps of the Bikeway. They can be viewed below.
- Central County Bikeway Map
- Central Front of Map (1.2M pdf file)
- Central Back of Map (2.4M pdf file)
- Eastern County Bikeway Map
- Eastern Front of Map (1.5M pdf file)
- Eastern Back of Map (2.6M pdf file)
- Western County Bikeway Map
- Western Front of Map (1.3M pdf file)
- Western Back of Map (3.7M pdf file)
- Greenfield Area Map
- Greenfield Area Front of Map (2.7M pdf file)
- Greenfield Area Back of Map (2.8M pdf file)
In addition, a map of the Bikeway can now be viewed on-line in Google Earth. To access this electronic map, you must download the FREE Google Earth application. Then click on the link below to save the Bikeway Map file to your computer. (Use File Open in Google Earth to add the map and view it.)
Download the Franklin County Bikeway Map for Google Earth here.
Future Plans
The FRCOG has begun working with the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation and the States of Vermont and New Hampshire to identify routes and connections for a Tri-State Bikeway, and a map will be produced using funding from the National Scenic Byway Program. The FRCOG will also be working on an on-going basis to mark additional portions of the Franklin County Bikeway with way-finding signs.
If you have any questions, please contact Elizabeth Giannini by email or at (413) 774-3167 ext. 125.
This page was last updated on 10/23/2012 .