Leave the Bike at Home

Though cyclists are the primary users of the East Bay Bike Path, it is equally popular with runners, walkers, roller bladers and even, in the winter, cross-country skiers. The path is a great place to run, with its smooth surfaces, mostly flat terrain, spectacular views and, of course, plenty of fresh air. For those accustomed to running mostly in neighborhoods and on streets – dodging cars, weaving around potholes, navigating busy intersections, waiting for walk signals – the path’s long, uninterrupted stretches devoid of cars represent an ideal environment, even before you factor in the beauty of the surroundings.

If you haven’t run the path before, we’ve highlighted some of the best starting points. These are easy access points with parking and other amenities to make your run more enjoyable, like restrooms or places to reward yourself with a snack after. Start anywhere you like – the important thing is to just get out there and run.

East Providence
Riverside Square at the intersection of Bullocks Point and Lincoln Avenues is a great place to start, with a small lot and post-run refreshments available at the nearby ice cream shop and general storenearby. Haines Memorial Park, which spans East Providence and Barrington, also offers parking, as well as public restrooms, and is a great place to explore during your warm up or cool down.

Barrington

Warren
The Park N Ride lot at Franklin Street provides parking and ease of access to the path. However, as far as proximity to amenities – which goes a long way when you’ve just run several miles in summer heat – parking by Railroad Avenue and the post office makes for an easier walk to town center, including pick-me-ups like Coffee Depot.

Bristol
Where else are you going to start than at Colt State Park? There is parking, easy access to public restrooms, plenty of grass to sprawl out on for some post-run stretching and, of course, there’s always a frozen lemonade cart nearby. If you’re really hardcore, it’s also great for triathlon training: you can run and bike the path, and swim some laps at Bristol Town Beach.