Bicycling onMartha’s Vineyard C hoosing to see the Island by bicycle is a great way to soak up the Vineyard’s character. Cycling also helps reduce auto traffic, preserves the environment, promotes fitness, and – best of all – is a lot of fun! More than 44 miles of bike trails and miles of roadways are available for cyclists to enjoy. While cycling is a great way to get around the Vineyard, all riders should adhere to all Massachusetts’ traffic laws and regulations and take note of all warning signs. West Chop Loop West Tisbury to Vineyard Haven H F Violations of Massachusetts traffic laws are subject to fines, and police may impound the bicycles of cyclists under the age of 18. G Up-Island Route PLEASE NOTE: Narrow, rural roads are part of the Island’s charm, but they often have little or no shoulder for cyclists. Especially Up-Island, cyclists should evaluate their experience and comfort with riding in vehicular traffic that includes large trucks and buses. A. West Chop Loop: For a quick, scenic four-mile ride in Vineyard Haven, take Main Street out past the West Chop Lighthouse and loop back on either Main Street or Franklin Street. B. East Chop Drive: There is no off-road path for the three-mile trip from Vineyard Haven to Oak Bluffs, so you must share the road with cars and trucks, and it is a heavily traveled roadway. Be cautious, and consider taking East Chop Drive; while it’s a little longer, it’s much more scenic and less congested. C. Oak Bluffs to Edgartown: The sixmile Beach Road path from Oak Bluffs to Edgartown is the Island’s most popular ride offering scenic views of State Beach and Sengekontacket Pond. Note that the path is usually quite sandy. D. Edgartown to Vineyard Haven: To get directly from Edgartown to Vineyard Haven, use the Edgartown-Vineyard Haven Road path. Watch for vehicles crossing the path from side roads and driveways on this rolling, seven-mile trip. State E A B East Chop Drive C Beach Road Oak Bluffs to Edgartown Edgartown - Vineyard Hvn Rd D South Beach Route Download this map at MVY.com/bikingmv E. Edgartown to South Beach: Biking from Edgartown to South Beach avoids parking hassles, and there are paths with bike racks on both Katama and Herring Creek roads. Roads in Katama, like Edgartown Bay Road and Slough Cove Road, offer generally flat and pleasant riding. F. State Forest Loop: Four miles outside Edgartown, the path along Edgartown-West Tisbury Road takes you into the State Forest, where you can enjoy a beautiful loop of roughly ten miles around the forest. There is also a smaller loop of about three miles in the northeast corner of the forest. Both of these loops are easily accessible from Oak Bluffs (five miles away) and Vineyard Haven (about three miles). G. Up-Island Route: “Up-Island” towns of West Tisbury, Chilmark, and Aquinnah do not have multi-user paths. Most of the roads in these towns are narrow, winding, hilly, and suitable mainly for experienced cyclists. The scenery is terrific. H. West Tisbury to Vineyard Haven: To get fromWest Tisbury to Vineyard Haven, consider a detour on rolling, twisty Lambert’s Cove Road, and then take a left ontoWest Spring Street to avoid the heavy traffic on Upper State Road. 2020 -21 Travel Guide 65 PLAY
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