Commuting by Bike in Watertown
Whether you are new to bicycle commuting or a seasoned cycling pro, here's your go-to guide for what you need to know about biking in Watertown, MA.
Celebrate the nicer weather and break out that bike to skip the traffic and enjoy the scenery of your daily commute and other trips. Watertown offers cyclists dedicated bike lanes, paths, and built-in infrastructure that makes it easy and safe to pedal to where you want to go.
Step One: Planning
The first step to any biking commute is planning. Plan your route, what you'll wear, how long it will take to get there, and coordinating schedules (if you're joining a group ride in with friends). The best thing to do once you find your route is to go for a practice ride on the weekend or other non-working day to hone your cycling skills as well as exploring Watertown's local cycling trails.
- Employer and Residential WTMA members, find bike partners and plan your commute route with eCommuter.org
- Or explore pre-planned Watertown Cycling Trails from Map My Ride
Step Two: Bike Safety
Get your bike ready with a safety tune-up from a certified bike mechanic. These people are passionate about all types of biking—biking to work, biking for fun, and biking for sport! They are a great resource and many have tons of cycling experience. Stop by the below local bike shops for pointers and gear:
- Belmont Wheelworks
480 Trapelo Rd, Belmont, MA 02478
(617) 489-3577 - Farina's
61 Galen St, Watertown, MA 02472
(617) 926-1717 - Electric Bike Boston
22 Coolidge Ave, Watertown, MA 02472
(617) 924-1747
The WTMA offers Employer and Residential members bike safety events that include an on-site mechanic who will perform a free safety check on your bike—keep an eye out at your location for details about upcoming events.
Step Three: Day-of Preparations
Now that you have the route planned, the gear tuned up, it's time to prep for your first day out on the road. A few tips to remember:
- Look at the weather forecast and dress appropriately
- Double-check all lights are charged and/or have working batteries
- Pack a few wet wipes for when you arrive at your destination and bring a refueling snack with you (bananas are great for muscle recovery)
- Before every ride, check your tire pressure
Other Biking Resources
Live Well Watertown
is a great cycling resource for Watertown residents. Check out their bike maps below for Recommended Bike Routes & Infrastructure in Watertown.
The Watertown Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee
works to improve the bicycling and pedestrian alternatives within the Town for commuting and recreation. Officially commissioned by the Town in 1995, the Committee is composed of volunteer residents appointed by the Town Manager.
Meetings are held on the first Monday of each month at 7:30 p.m. in the Town Hall and open to the public. Anyone interested in any aspect of bicycling or walking in Watertown is encouraged to come and participate in one of the monthly meetings.
Contact the planning staff for the committee at 617-972-6417 or contact the committee by email (watertown.bikeped@gmail.com)
to learn about agenda items, projects and updates on meeting locations.
Get Ready to Ride: Bike Month is Here! Spring is in full bloom! The days are longer, tulips are popping up, and if you have allergies, you might be sneezing a bit more. But there's good news for cyclists: the warmer weather means it's time to get back on the road. May is National Bike Month , and there's plenty to be excited about for bike enthusiasts in Massachusetts. What is Bike Month? National Bike Month , established in 1956, is all about celebrating the joy of cycling, promoting its health benefits, and encouraging more people to give it a try. A key part of this celebration is Bike to Work Week, which falls in the third week of May, with Bike to Work Day on the Friday of that week. This year, Bike to Work Week is from May 13 to 19, with Bike to Work Day on May 17. What's Happening in Massachusetts for Bike Month? Massachusetts is a great place to be if you love biking, and Bay State Bike Month , hosted by MassBike , has a full schedule of events to keep you moving. If you're looking for group rides or ways to get involved, this is your go-to resource. Here are some of the events that took place in celebration of Bike Month:
It's officially winter! Are you ready for the snow and ice? Is your car ready? Join Luis Mejia, Fleet Mechanic at TransAction Associates & Corporate Shuttles, as he shares some winter car maintenance and safety tips.
World Car-Free Day 2023 was a huge success! Organized in a variety of ways around the globe, every event shared the unifying goal of reducing the number of cars on the road. The Watertown TMA participated in MassCommute 's 2023 Car-Free Day, the Commonwealth’s Coalition of 15 TMAs to promote and celebrate Car-Free Day in Massachusetts. Commuters who participated helped to make a positive impact on the environment and contributed to a greener Bay State!
The WatConnector launched on September 7, 2021, with hourly service between Watertown Mews on Pleasant Street and Harvard Square. Starting February 13, 2023, the WatConnector will go electric and will run every half hour. Thanks to a grant from MassDOT, along with other public and private funds, two new electric shuttle buses were purchased and will replace the existing gas shuttles.
This past November, Watertown Transportation Management Association (WTMA) commuters were challenged to express their gratitude for the commutes that bring them safely to-and-from the workplace.
Also known as the WATConnector, passengers along Pleasant Street can now get to and from Watertown Square as well as Harvard Square during the AM and PM commutes. The WATConnector Pleasant Street shuttle services are available to participating corporate and residential partners and the public.
As a green commuter, you’ve done your part to help the environment. You found a carpool partner, coordinated schedules, made the trip in together. But what if you arrive at work and find that all of the good parking spots are taken? Many organizations have good intentions when they designate special preferred carpool parking spots in a prime location near an entrance. One carpool space reduces the need for at least one other parking spot. Promoting carpooling is a great way to reduce your parking demand and encourage commuters to share the ride. However, without the proper enforcement and program management in place, the positive impact of the preferential parking incentive can lose its effectiveness. That’s where having a partner like the Watertown Transportation Management Association (WTMA) to manage the program can help.
Everyone knows biking is good for you and good for the planet. Incorporating biking to work and during the workday has its advantages on the business side of things too. Studies have repeatedly shown people who bike are healthier (and therefore take fewer sick days), arrive to work less stressed, and are more productive. Need even more reasons? Below are just a few more of the benefits of biking for your commute: Avoids unhealthy traffic congestion Helps to improve air quality Saves on gas Avoids parking costs Increases your physical activity Reduces your stress Be a member of the bike commuting community Feel the thrill you get from bike riding
The Watertown Connector transports passengers to and from Harvard Square during the AM and PM commutes. There are two services available to participating corporate and residential partners (listed below).
The MBTA Forging-Ahead service cuts were approved by the MBTA's Fiscal Management and Control Board (FMCB) on December 14, 2020. These reductions are being made based on an overall 80% drop in ridership due to the pandemic. Although these cuts are not as severe as originally proposed by the MBTA in early November, they are significant and will impact the Watertown commuter community. According to the MBTA, by focusing on the reductions to service frequency, this allows for better preparation to increase service when ridership returns, after the widespread vaccine distribution.