With the completion of  the new Veteran's Memorial Bridge over the Taunton River, a bicycle path now connects Somerset with the City's North End. Fall River Mass In Motion coordinator Julianne Kelly and Fall River Bicycle Committee Chairman Brian Pearson were invited by the North End Neighborhood Association on October 19, 2011 to talk about the bicycle path and plans to develop paths that will eventually link Providence with Provincetown. The bicycle lane runs south from the bridge parallel to Route 79 North before ending at the western end of Wellington Street where the route continues on city streets starting with Fulton Street. Plans are for marking the route from the bridge to Bicentennial park with route signs and "sharrows" on the pavement to warn motorists that they will be sharing the street with bicycles. Bicycle paths help to encourage residents and others to be more physically active, one of the goals of the statewide Mass In Motion program. Click here for photos of a planning meeting and here for the Quequechan River route planning meeting.  For more information, contact Fall River Mass In Motion coordinator Julianne Kelly, at 508-324-2405 or Fall River Bicycle Committee Chairman Brian Pearson.

(Top row) Karen Pearson talks with Park Advocates chairperson Sandy Dennis and Mass In Motion Coordinator Julianne Kelly before the meeting. (Top row, center) Fall River Bicycle Committee chairperson Brian Pearson goes over some information with Maryellen Kurkulos. (Top row, right) Ron Thomas and Kris Bartley listen as Neighborhood Association vice-chairperson Lillian Correia talks. (Middle row) Neighborhood Association president Derrick Rezendes introduces Julianne Kelly to talk about Mass In Motion. (Bottom row) Brian Pearson, Chairman of the Fall River Bicycle Committee, describes the potential benefits of the bike path, including commuters coming across the bridge to work, the increased use of businesses along the route, and the recreational value a bike path can bring to the community. Derrick Rezendes also made suggestions for the beautification of the path along the state highway that would improve the North End.