Southwest Corridor Parkway

Orange Line down? or maybe you just want to race the Orange Line? Awesome cyclist commuter trail from Forest Hills to Ruggles. It even [tries] to separate pedestrians from cyclists.

(Quick) History Lesson — The Southwest Corridor Parkway was supposed to be I-​95 through the city; the gov’t bought up houses along the route; the gov’t had the houses bulldozed; the neighbors near the proposed highway united and protested; the gov’t ditched their plans so they could get re-​elected; the neighbors rejoiced; the corridor became a wasteland; the neighbors started to plant stuff and take care of the area; the gov’t thought that was a great idea; gov’t invested in it and made it nice; neighbors rejoiced again; everyone else gets to use it; I-​95 is now connected to I-​93 and 128 making it a great way for non-​locals to get lost; I get to review it on Unilocal.
I use the section between Back Bay T and Mass Ave frequently. It is a great way to cut through the city on a nice path and not feel like you’re in a city for a few moments. There are people walking through, biking, walking dogs, and other park like things. Can’t play frisbee or anything, but it’s still nice.
One negative is that one time when I tried to go on a long run down the path, but once I got to Roxbury the path went away for a little bit, and I couldn’t find how it reconnected. So I didn’t get to enjoy the path in Roxbury going south. But I’ll figure it out someday, and not worth knocking it a star.

I love the SWC Parkway, it’s my bike highway! I love that [most] cyclists follow the rules of the road, at least during rush hour when I’m on it.
I understand why pedestrians prefer the bike path to the pedestrian path since it’s usually more shaded and a little further from the road, but please be aware that it *is* a bike path. That means: stay to the right side of the path, don’t walk more than two abreast, and if you’re listening to music, keep one earbud out so you can hear cyclists coming or letting you know which side they’re coming up on. Please? Thank you.
As far as reports of ‘shady lurkers’… I see that this is the first review in a while. There are some homeless people who camp out by Forest Hills, but they definitely keep to themselves. The only ‘shady’ people I encounter are high school kids smoking up before school. Stupid, but not dangerous. Besides that it’s mostly commuters, young families, and elderly people taking strolls.
Interesting factoid: originally, the space that is now the SWC Parkway was meant to be I-​95. They razed miles of housing and other buildings to make way, but the people of JP protested loudly enough that they stopped the project, even after all that destruction. For years they didn’t know what to do with it, but the residents decided for themselves by starting community gardens. Eventually the funding that would’ve gone to building the highway went into the wonderful paths, gardens, playgrounds, basketball courts, etc, that we have today. Pretty neat, right?

Love this path, it’s my bike highway to work every morning. missing a star for the bumpy Back Bay part of the path, and for all the freaking people that walk on the bike path when there is a sidewalk within five feet of them. Not trying to vent on here but oh my god could people stop walking on it please?
I’ve never had a problem with shady people on the path, and I’ve ridden it all hours of the day and night, from Ruggles to just past Jackson Square.

I’m a very new biker, but have felt safe both biking and walking along the Southwest Corridor. I read some of the reviews on here before the first time I biked on the path, and while I certainly understand that people who have had bad experiences are going to be vocal about them, I would hate to think that overblown fear would stop anyone from using such a wonderful resource. It’s common sense for girls (and guys for that matter) of ANY race to be smart and cautious when traveling alone, but crime can happen anywhere and I really don’t find the population of JP or Roxbury particularly «shady,» as some people here have indicated. (In fact I’ve seen more elderly folk and toddlers since moving to this area than I have anywhere else in Boston — terrifying, I know.)

I rode up and down this path twice a day for two years (often, later at night) and never had any trouble. It’s a nice smooth ride from Forest hills to Ruggles Station.
The most disturbing thing that happened over two years was that once two kids were in a fight (with each other) and needed to be broken up. Another bicyclist got off of his bike to help me do it.
As for the people afraid for their safety, a word to the wise: If you are afraid of walking down the street in JP, don’t ride down the bike path that runs next to the street.
Also, for people who are afraid of people of different skin colors: this path probably isn’t for you. JP and Roxbury are extremely diverse. You will see people with different skin colors and it could frighten you.
There. I said it.

Edit* I won’t change the wording in my original review. Since I upgraded from the T to a bicycle, I now understand the complaints about too many people on the path. I mean, granted. there’s more shade, but it is annoying. I’ve only biked for a week now and have no qualms of running someone over if it gets to that. Wish I had a roadbike but whatevs. Still haven’t ran into a safety problem with lurkers, but I bike by home before 9ish since I’ve started.
A very nice place to walk. Never had any issues with anyone, no one approached or bothered me. Maybe I also looked shady?
Other than those several drunk guys who hang out at the entrance near Forest Hills Station and enact drunken fight club brawls, the pathway helps soothe my consciousness when not trying to deal with ridiculous Boston drivers.
Why cyclists complain about the pedestrians — I dunno. Return to yonder roads, then, and continue disobeying traffic laws.

Fast but ugly, not the safest, pedestrians seem to think a bike path is also a sidewalk even when the slightly narrwer pedestrian path is empty. The stnes that separate the pathway from the sidewalk at several places have knocked wheels out of true. When its empty its fun to blast down but the only reason I take it is because it cuts the dstance of my rideto downtown or back in half

Well, I’d be giving it high marks except for two notoriously dangerous spots — Ruggles by the police station and *Jackson Square* behind the T stop.
I don’t recommend riding through the short bit of bike path behind the Jackson Square T station alone during the warmer months, no matter what time of day it is. I’ve seen people attacked by children here at rush hour in full view of scores of people. I’ve had kids try to push me off my bike here, I’ve had bottles & rocks thrown at me as I’ve ridden by. I haven’t been through this summer because last summer was SO BAD.
This path is under the jurisdiction of the State Police, who don’t do much to patrol it. The known trouble spots are not given particular attention.
Be careful, my friends!
Apart from these spots, the bike path is fantastic.

The Southwest Corridor is my beloved pedestrian highway!
I LOVE it.
But minus one star for occasional shady characters that make you want to avoid walking alone at night as well as the extremely high noise level, afforded by the passing Orange Line and Commuter Rail.
Since I moved to JP last April, I discovered the amazing convenience of both the Orange Line and the SWC. They both give you a direct shot into the heart of Back Bay with little to no interference from vehicular traffic.
The SWC is a chain of paths, parks and green space running from Forest Hills station to Back Bay Station, ending at Dartmouth Street.
It’s fun to appreciate that the park was actually built along the remnants of the old B&P Railroad line. A portion of the track space was salvaged for the existing O Line and Commuter Rail, but the rest was turned (thankfully) into a chain of bike and pedestrian paths, green space and recreational areas. Thank you Boston!
If you ever take the time to walk, bike or run the entire span of the SWC (just under 5 miles) you will surely revel in the ample playgrounds, tennis courts, basketball courts, wading pools, roller hockey rinks, garden spaces, open grass and park benches that you never knew existed.
I can’t express enough my love of this little gem in the city. I can easily skip a T ride and run home from work along the miles of paved pathway or I can leisurely walk my dogs through the grassy areas, allowing them to stop and play with the oodles of other pups in the ‘hood. All I’m waiting for now is to get a bike, and then I won’t need the T at all!
And to only think… the Southwest Corridor space was actually slated in the 60’s to become an 8 – 12 lane HIGHWAY connecting I-​95 and Rte. 128. Could you imagine the obscenity?! Even if you’ve never used the Corridor, I hope you can at least now appreciate that it isn’t a highway.
Get out and explore and enjoy it, please!

I used to live two blocks from the Southwest Corridor Park, and I can’t tell you how much I miss it. Great place for running, walking, playing games with friends, relaxing in the sun with a book… whatever you want or need green space for.
Bike path is great for running/​walking/​biking, and for the most part the folks that use it are great about obeying the «rules of the road» — i.e. alerting people when you’re passing them as a runner/​cyclist. Well lit so you won’t feel nervous running alone as a female at dusk.

I love you Southwest Corridor Parkway. Newly paved bike path, maintained basketball courts, tennis courts, and playgrounds. What is not to love? So much space for families, couples, or maybe commuters who just want to get somewhere downtown.
I bike to work through this. I walk. I play its courts. This is what makes me love where I live so much. This is not just one neighborhood’s thing or another. This is a part of Greater Boston, for us to share.
These reviews must be a bit dated because I don’t think it’s that sketchy. So as an experiment, I’ve biked the paths at night (9 – 10:30ish) and I still find nothing sketchy about these parts of town. Yes, I even bike past the area behind English High towards Forest Hills.
I see plenty of people past sunset walking around, even women by themselves. I think this is verified safe now. make it your own, residents. Keep it clean and just enjoy it.
(Slightly irritated that someone keeps breaking off the hoop near Stony Brook basketball court.)

I didn’t know there was a «park» right next to Copley Mall till I started working in the area. This is a nice place to relax during break from work on a fair weathered day. A sweet escape from the hustle of city life.

I do like having a slightly-​less-​risky way of walking from my house to the Pru, and being able to bike these byways is also nice. The dogshit is a little irritating, but people are getting better about picking up after their hounds. The parts near Ruggles are a little sketch, but that don’t confront me. The trash cans are overflowing about 30% of the time.
In the late spring early summer, however, the paths are the best way to get around the city!

can i say i love walking from forest hills all the way to stonybrook and beyond… can i say i love watching the homeless men ask me for money, or sit in the bushes wackin’ it off to some girl walking by, of course
Can i say that I love when pedestrians walk on the bike side and people on bikes swear and curse them to death, oh of course :)
you are so pretty, filled with life and trees and greens. minus the too many dogs, endless amounts of dog shit, and the occasional train that goes by that’s too loud. But it’s ok. I wear my headphones and look down mostly.
Clean up after your pet dammit.

I only walk a small part of it everyday from Back Bay to the Pru and i Love it. Its so peaceful and there are a lot of others walking to work, but its not annoying. I also like that if you were to follow this parkway you can go pretty far.
Its pretty, quiet and a nice place for walking.
the end.

Okay, listen. The Southwest Corridor Parkway is, without a doubt, the best route from Jamaica Plain to downtown Boston. It’s much safer than riding in the streets, an experience that is more like a game of Mario Kart than a simple commute to work/​school/​wherever. And it’s quite lovely, especially during the heat of the summer, that a large portion of the bike trail is blanketed by trees.
What’s not so wonderful is that the area directly behind the police station near Ruggles can be rather unsafe at night. This place consistently ranks as a high-​risk area for mugging and, believe it or not, bike jacking. This is not an exaggeration; this information comes from primary sources accounts, as well as official crime reports. I know it’s ridiculous and ironic (it is, after all, behind the police station), but if you’re coming home late, be aware of your surroundings and choose your route wisely. This also goes for the portion of the path between English High School and Forest Hills station; it is very secluded and set back from the street, so use your head (especially my fellow ladies!).
Also not so fabulous: humongous piles of sewage in the middle of the path near FH for several months this fall, and the sporadic snow and ice removal this winter. The DCR really needs to put a little more effort into maintaining the Southwest Corridor, especially by Forest Hills.
That said, I take this path to work twice a day, every day (except when I’d have to wear ice skates to use it), and am thankful for its existence. But the problems with the Southwest Corridor Parkway illuminates how desperately Boston needs to step up its efforts at becoming a truly bike-​friendly city.

I don’t mind that it’s a little bumpy. I don’t mind that I have to stop for kids running back and forth and blocking my way. And I don’t even mind the bums hanging out at numerous benches along the way.
This thing is just so damn convenient!
I can leisurely ride from JP to Back Bay or Forrest Hills. Very useful, especially because the road can get a little gravely. Before I knew the trail existed, a friend and I rode up Columbus on the other side and it SUCKED. If it was repaved in some spots I would give it 6 stars. Yay bike trail!
Oh and apparently there’s a half you can walk on too or something… but seriously, who does that? Losers…

The Southwest Corridor is a very pretty and useful bike/​pedestrian path that begins in Back Bay, and winds through the South End, Roxbury, and Jamaica Plain before ending in Forest Hills. It’s not long (I think it’s about 5 miles), but it is scenic, flanked by green space on either side, and it provides easy access to the many playgrounds, basketball courts, tennis courts, wading pools, and cute neighborhoods.
What an awesome resource for connecting these neighborhoods while keeping off the roads! Kudos for the city of Boston for providing walkers, runners, kids, athletes, and green space lovers with a beautiful place chock full of resources to enjoy a nice, sunny day.
BUT it’s not perfect. It isn’t particularly well lit, and once the sun goes down, I’ve noticed that the lights are spaced apart so far that there are very dark spaces between them. This makes it feel sketchy at night, and promotes the loitering of some of the skeevier characters I’ve seen around later at night. I wouldn’t recommend hanging out on the path alone after hours… once the sun goes down, stick to the roads, or bring a light and a friend.

I used to ride my bike from Forest Hills to Northeastern pretty much every day. It wasn’t always idyllic, but you’d be surprised how pretty and un-​terrifying a bike ride through Roxbury can be! No cars and no T tracks (a la Centre Street) make this a very comfortable route, even though the path isn’t always perfectly paved and sometimes you want to ride extra fast to get away from shady characters. I never once had an unsavory encounter on the bike path though. I save that for the Fens.
There are plenty of green spaces for playing football or soccer, and basketball/​tennis courts throughout the corridor. So there’s more to do than commute or take a stroll. It’s also very clean, especially considering it goes through some sketchy neighborhoods.