It was more than four decades ago that Marge Cohan started to get serious about bicycling. She had met her future husband at the Josh Billings and she was hooked. Still, she never could have imagined that she would be one of the key advocates to stretch a bike path through the Berkshires from Vermont to Connecticut. It's a slog, especially in Massachusetts where bike paths are built to strict specifications. For instance, in New York the Empire State Trail covers 750 miles, traversing multiple types of surfaces and varying widths. It's not as simple in Massachusetts where one mile of trail costs about $2 million to construct. It's built well, but it doesn't happen overnight. Today, the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail has extended now to Crane Avenue in Pittsfield from the north and will soon have another section completed to Merrill Road. As it is, the bike trail section from the Pittsfield/Lanesboro border to Crane Avenue is the most-used recreational hub in the city. The month of May is Bay State Bike month and there are several events to promote bike safety, the concept of bikes mean business and bike tourism. And there is potential for growth on the bike tourism side of things. For instance, Pittsfield lies on the path of the popular Western New England Greenway, which draws thousands of bicyclists annually. I admire Margie's longterm commitment to making it happen and her passion for bicycling. Also in this episode we cover: the politics and logistics of developing a countywide bike path, bikes mean business, e-bikes and making bicycling more accessible to people of all ages, Margie's personal experience bicycling for commuting and for enjoyment, riding groups, the challenges for those without motor vehicles in the Berkshires and its economic impact, lights (on bikes) is the law, the progress of running the bike path through Williamstown into North Adams, new laws to give bicyclists and motor vehicle operators some leeway and more.

I hope you enjoy my conversation with Marge Cohan.