Minutemen parade on the new bikeway during dedication ceremonies in 1992.

TODAY, AFTER TWO DECADES OF PLANNING, an abandoned railroad corridor (much of which parallels Paul Revere's famous route) is being celebrated as the Minuteman Bikeway. The rail-trail conversion was fueled by the Clean Air Act of 1977 and funded by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts at a cost of $2 million. In 1992, the Minuteman Bikeway was named America's 500^th Rail-Trail by the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy.

Nearly 11 miles long, the Minuteman Bikeway is now a welcomed reality - beginning near the Alewife Transit ("T") Station in Cambridge, passing through Arlington and Lexington, and ending one mile into Bedford.

1775 Paul Revere takes his midnight ride, and the American Revolution begins.

1846 The Lexington & \West Cambridge Railroad opens, providing rail service from North Cambridge to Lexington Center.

1874 The Boston & Lowell Railroad extends the railway line to Bedford.

1974 The concept of converting the rail corridor to a commuter bike path is first proposed.

1980 The Boston & Maine Railroad discontinues rail service.

1991 The final plan for the rail-trail conversion is approved, and the bikeway construction begins.

1992 The Minuteman Bikeway is officially dedicated and named the country's 500th rail-trail.

1993 Construction of the bikeway is completed.

The dual-faced granite mile markers indicate the number of miles, etched in roman numerals and read sideways, from either end of the Minuteman Bikeway. The east face indicates the number of miles from the Arlington endpoint; the west face indicates the distance from the Bedford endpoint. For example, this marker in Lexington is seven (VII) miles west of the Arlington endpoint.