Hello everyone.

In an effort to get fit, save on gas, and avoid some of the abominable traffic in the Boston area, I am planning to bike to work 3X a week. I have purchased my gear (consisting primarily of a Trek 7.5FX) and am now looking for suggestions as to commuting routes.

My goal is to find a way down to the bike path on the memorial drive side of the Charles from the Piety Corner area of Waltham (specifically the intersection of Totten Pond Road, Bacon Street, and Lexington street). Thus, I would appreciate any route suggestions from that region to the Charles. For obvious reasons, I would prefer to avoid commuting down main street into Watertown, through Watertown square, and past the aresenal mall.

Thanks in advance!

My goal is to find a way down to the bike path on the memorial drive side of the Charles from the Piety Corner area of Waltham (specifically the intersection of Totten Pond Road, Bacon Street, and Lexington street). Thus, I would appreciate any route suggestions from that region to the Charles.

I might be wrong, as it's been a while since I've ridden the Charles path out to Waltham, but I believe that you can go

south on Lexington Ave.
left on Main (rt. 20)
right on Newton

then pick up the river path from Newton St. or thereabouts. There's a couple of sections where the path stops and you have to cross a bridge or ride on streets briefly before picking it up again, but it should still be a relatively straight and steady path to Cambridge.

Hi patentman. Good luck with the new commute.

I commute 3 or 4 days a week from the Cedarwood section of Waltham to Harvard Square. I've found the bike paths on either side of the river are often so crowded with joggers and dog walkers it is easier to take roads. Coming from Waltham I take the Prospect St. bridge across to Newton, then I follow Maple/High/Waltham St. to Crafts St. A few blocks on Crafts St and I turn onto California St which brings me into Watertown Square. Across the Square I take North Beacon to Greenough Blvd and Greenough to Memorial Drive. I join the bike path just before Memorial Drive so I can take the bike underpass under the Elliot Bridge.