Staff from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation held one of 19 pubic hearings statewide at the Woodland Common at UMass-Dartmouth on December 3, 2012 to solicit input to guide future transportation planning on the South Coast. In addition to support for the expansion of commuter rail the the Area, many called on MassDOT to make improvements for bicyclists. Mass In Motion Fall River coordinator Julianne Kelly testified as to efforts to expand bicycle transportation. Plans to complete the path through Fall River are currently underway. Of special concern was the need to connect the various segments of striped roads and designated bicycle lanes and paths throughout the region. Speakers asked the state to eliminate restrictions on bicycle lanes along active rail line, something that has been done successfully in nearby Rhode Island and other states. Citing the environmental and health benefits that expanded opportunities to ride, some pointed to the potential of many to bicycle to South Coast rail stations if bicycle lanes were abundant. Others spoke of the lack of public bus transportation during evening and Sunday hours. Click here for the Herald News article. Click here for pictures from the Southcoast Bikeway Summit. For more information, contact Fall River Mass In Motion coordinator Julianne Kelly, at 508-324-2405 or Fall River Bicycle Committee Chairman Brian Pearson. (Photos courtesy of Karen Pearson and Julianne Kelly)

(Top row, left) Massachusetts Department of Transportation Secretary Richard A. Davey welcomes participants to the hearing in the Woodland Commons as UMass-Dartmouth. (Top row, center) Rev. James Hornsby of Fall River thanked the Secretary for the Quequechan River Rail Trail plan that is now 25% completed and expressed his hope to see it finished while he can still ride it! Rev. Hornsby is on the FR Bicycle Committee and was instrumental in the creation of the South Watuppa Bike path. (Top row, right) Fairhaven resident Molly LaBrode, who just returned from studying in Germany, spoke of the infrastructure for cycling there. (Row two, left) Fall River City Councilor Dave Dennis spoke about Davol Street improvements to link the community to its waterfront and of the improvements the Southeastern MA Rail will provide to economic development and the need to link the City to the Veterans Memorial Bridge with safe bicycle routes. (Row two, center) Mass In Motion Fall River coordinator Julianne Kelly testifies on the health implications of bicycling. (Row two, right) Fairhaven selectman and chair of the South Coast Bikeway Committee, Bob Espindola, testifies on the importance of completing the South Coast Bikeway. (Row three left) Rick Schwartz, owner of True Value Hardware on South Main Street in Fall River and an active member of the Fall River Bicycle Committee as well as a member of the Narragansett Wheelmen, attended the hearing. (Row three, center) State Representative William Straus speaks at the hearing. (Row three, right) Brian Pearson looks over the hearing material as Fall River Bicycle Committee Chairman Jim Cusick talks with him after the hearing. (Bottom row, left and right) Tom LaPointe, an avid Fall River cyclist,  filmed the session. (Bottom row, center) Director of the Southeastern Mass Rail Project Jean Fox and her friend, Eileen, of the Senior Action Coalition, discussed the need for seniors to have better bus service.