It was a Tour de Dartmouth on Sunday, as dozens of cyclists pedaled through town to help raise money and support the South Coast Bikeway.

The ride, which began and ended at Cisco Brewers Kitchen & Bar in New Bedford. 

According to Ian Legge, who led cyclists along one of the routes, the ride serves as a way to showcase the potential of a finished path.

Sections of the path have already been completed in Fall River, Fairhaven, New Bedford and Mattapoisett. Legge said at this point it’s about connecting Fall River to New Bedford via towns like Dartmouth.

“That’s the real challenge, which is why we’re here,” he said.

Former Director of Finance Greg Barnes, who volunteered to provide snacks and water to cyclists outside of Davoll’s General Store, noted that many other municipalities have been able to quickly get their portions done simply by converting old rail lines. 

Unfortunately, he said, “we don’t have an abandoned one that we can convert.”

“We have one rail line,” Barnes said, referring to the one that goes through Faunce Corner Road. “Though it’s still infrequently used, it’s still active.”

Instead, town and bikeway officials are looking further north onto Old Fall River Road as a potential spot for a dedicated path.

To learn more about the plans for the path, visit srpedd.org/transportation/bicycle-and-pedestrian-networks/scba-feasibility-study/.