Map of Obscure Somerville-area stairways, ramps, paths, and shortcuts

[ron_newman]

Two years ago, I began making a Google Map of obscure stairways, ramps, paths, and shortcuts in and near Somerville. Since Google Map URLs are quite long, I gave this map a shorter one that's easy to remember:

http://TinyURL.com/ObscureSomerville

I've added to the map a number of new or reconstructed paths along Alewife Brook and around Alewife station. Some of this construction is still incomplete, which I've indicated with red lines.

Please look at the map and let me know of anything you think should be added to, removed from, or changed on this map. You can comment here or send e-mail to the address on my LJ profile page.

I post this notice a couple of times every year. Here are links to the earlier posts:
April 2011 | June 2010 | May 2010

Comments

[littlecitynames.livejournal.com]

Thanks! It might be useful to add a line from the end of New Street in Cambridge (next to Danehy Park) into the Fresh Pond shopping center. It's not very clear on the map, but New St. just dumps right into the parking lot for Fresh Pond, which makes it clearer why you've written that the path through Danehy Park is the best way to walk/bike there.

[littlecitynames.livejournal.com]

Also, would you consider adding more potential obstacles such as steep hills to this map? I know there was a post here fairly recently where somebody said they were looking for hills to bike up, which could help.

[ron_newman]

That's going to have to be a different map from mine, as one cyclist's steep climb is another's easy ascent. I suggest turning on the 'Terrain' feature, which is available on the pull-down menu near the right side of any Google Map. (You may need to zoom out some to enable this feature.)

[littlecitynames.livejournal.com]

Oh, no, sorry, I meant that the replies to that post could be a good guide to making that map. Mapping the steepest hills would be useful for people who might have trouble getting up them, not necessarily people on bikes. But I didn't know about the terrain feature!

[ron_newman]

For this, I also suggest looking at the US Geological Survey topographical map. (After following this link, click the 'My Topo' button near the top right of the map, then zoom or adjust as desired.)

[ron_newman]

Done.

[808.livejournal.com]

Thanks for this. I reposted it to various Somerville/Tufts FB accounts I'm on.

[ron_newman]

You're welcome. If you can post links to those groups here (assuming they aren't closed or secret), I'd appreciate it. I'd like to monitor any comments that contain useful feedback so that I can improve the map.

[rozhinka.livejournal.com]

Thanks for doing this, Ron; it's such a cool project.

[ilai]

Thanks, this is great!

I routinely cut across Waldo Park from Cross St to Waldo Rd in Arlington; not sure if that's too obvious (or sufficiently out of Somerville) to add.

[ron_newman]

Thanks! I did not know about that path and have added it to the map.

I've seen a dirt path that leads into St. Paul's Cemetery from the corner of Cross and Henderson streets. But I haven't explored it and I'm not sure I actually want to encourage people to use it. ETA 8/18/12: I've added that path, too. But it doesn't go very far into the cemetery and doesn't connect to any of the paved roads there. You end up on a grassy lawn with tombstones all around. OK for walking, not for biking.

[freetobeme18.livejournal.com]

This is awesome! I will have to explore!