A meeting held on May 2, 2011 in the Rodman Street Stop & Shop community room focused on plans for a bicycle ride to UMass-Dartmouth from both Fall River and New Bedford. Two groups will ride: one from the ATMC on Martine Street in Fall River, and the other from Fort Rodman in New Bedford, The groups will meet at UMass in Dartmouth. The event marks Bay State Bike Week and is designed to highlight efforts to establish the South Coast Bikeway, a designated bicycle route between Fall River and New Bedford. Mass in Motion in Fall River and New Bedford organized an historic and scenic bicycle ride held on November 7, 2010 along Old Fall River Road between the two cities to also garner support for a designated route. Since then, the four communities on the route have formed their own bicycle path committees. The Southeastern Regional Planning & Economic Development District (SRPEDD) and the UMass-Dartmouth Office of Sustainability were partners in the effort and with Mass in Motion to organize the first South Coast Regional Bicycle Summit on Feb. 15, 2011. For more information, call or e-mail Julianne Kelly, chairwoman of the Open Space & Recreation Planning Task Force, at 508-324-2405.

(Top row) Brian Pearson, Jim Cusick and Fall River Mass In Motion coordinator Julie Kelly talk over plans at the meeting held at the Rodman Street Stop & Shop community room. (Bottom row) Helen Rego, Sandy Dennis, Rick Schwartz, Karen Pearson, Tom LaBowte and Dave Dennis talk over details of the planned event that is scheduled to take place on May 15, 2011.