MATTAPOISETT — A light show on wheels took off from Mattapoisett Village, approached the Fairhaven border and turned back around Friday. Oct. 25.

Bright bicycles illuminated the Mattapoisett Rail Trail during a “neon night” bike ride held by the Buzzards Bay Coalition. 

Shortly after sunset, the riders embarked towards the entrance of the Shaw Farm Trail, by a sweeping green field right where the bike path turns into Fairhaven’s Phoenix Bike Trail.

It was the first ride of its kind for the nonprofit. Inspiration for the jaunt of lit-up bicycles stemmed from a glow-in-the-dark trail walk held earlier this year at a coalition property in Acushnet, according to Vernon Baptista, bay adventure manager for the Buzzards Bay Coalition, who said he’s essentially been given the reins to “find out what I think is fun.”

“The lights are going to look really good,” Baptista said. “I’m really excited about this.”

The group reached the turnaround point near Fairhaven right around nautical twilight or the “blue hour,” according to Baptista. With their lights flashing and strobing as the sky darkened, the cyclists pedaled back to the beginning of the Mattapoisett Rail Trail. They were hard to miss in the dusk.

“This is a beautiful spot,” Baptista said.

With illuminations affixed to their mounts and headlamps strapped to helmets, riders afterwards reported no issues seeing while they biked through the night.

There are plans to hold similar rides in the future, possibly geared toward families and kids, according to Baptista. 

“The key is to get people out doing things," Baptista said. “Any way we can get people of all ages having fun.”