anotha day in the Comm. Ave. bike lanes…
10-5-2010 ~11 am: From Packard’s Corner to Kenmore saw only 2 vehicles parked illegally in the bike lanes: 1 commercial white van parked half in half out in block before Babcock (with plenty of room to move all the way into the legal spot) and the other… Landry’s vehicle double parked with blinkers in front of their shop (gasp!)… hmmm… maybe it was a bike loading emergency? 😉 Kinda psyched that not a SINGLE non-commercial vehicle was in the bike lane (methinks in large part thanks to BUPD). Not so psyched to see a cyclist blow the red light on the BU bridge (without a helmet of course)… but at least I saw only ONE cyclist blow a red light this lap!
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October 6th, 2010 @ 9:18 AM
Can you explain to me as a cyclist leaving my house. On a 8 mile cycle north to Harvard Sq I go through 48 sets of traffic lights. How is that bike friendly?
Red Light Stop Advocates need to understand not all cyclists ride at 5mph enjoying the sights. Not all cyclists ride only 20 minute journeys to work or the store. Not all cyclists ride to be environmental. Can you imagine those who ride 3-4hour rides how many times we need to stop. Christ !! I could sue for knee injuries for clicking out and puting my foot on the ground!!
These ‘new age cyclists’ come on the scene and demands experienced riders to drop down to their level of ability and views, demanding we follow the rules of the road which ironically kill 30,000 people anually and are solely designed for ‘motor vehicles???.
(A) I won’t be leaving my safety to other road users.
(B) A simple bike path isn’t going to improve my safety. Just litigationally only
(C)If so many cyclist are so nervous or worried about cycling on the roads, then get off the road, because you’re a danger to the rest of us.
Complaining about a motor vehicle on a bike path when there is clearly no signs stating not to do it, and commentating on cyclists not wearing helmets or running red lights is silly.
Untill the roads are 99.9% safe or car free then i’m on my own out there to look after ‘me’. Do not put your trust in the road system and law to save you from an agressive, drunk, speeding, or distracted driver when the that moment (all longtime cyclists knows what I talk about), happens.
Thanks.
October 6th, 2010 @ 9:41 AM
Tea: Thanks for your comments… keep ’em coming! I actually agree with you on the signage for parking in the bike lanes, and some of your other thoughts. I’m all for educating and only ticketing if that doesn’t work. On the red lights, I see your point. But I believe that even cyclists not as competent as you should have a right to share/use public streets as safely as possible. What would you propose that would be acceptable to you to ensure that only competent cyclists who know how to operate their vehicle are out there on the roads? Also, in your fantasy world… what could the City of Boston do with the streets to make your commutes/rides less miserable? (light/street/traffic redesign) What do you think of what they did for cyclists in NYC?
October 6th, 2010 @ 9:56 AM
and this is why I get bummed out when I see cyclists run red lights without a helmet (some riders are a risk to themselves and, more importantly others, when they blow through red lights):
http://www.smith.edu/news/2009-10/pineda-216.php
October 6th, 2010 @ 11:19 AM
Was interested to see that in the Mayor’s Boston Bike survey of self-reporting cyclists nearly ALL of us had been in an accident recently. Certainly that doesn’t bode well for us as advocates no? So perhaps we as a group should slow down a little. I think there are lights we can run and there are lights we shouldn’t ever run and I’m sure you know the ones on your trip that fall into both categories. For bicycling it isn’t how fast you go it’s how little you go zero…Helmets aren’t required on bikes unless your a child so what can we do if someone doesn’t want to wear one? I’ll bet there will be a law passed requiring same and I think that will suck really…(even though I wear a helmet much of the time, there are times I don’t and places I don’t either…) So loving the updates of parking woes. Keep up the posting.
October 6th, 2010 @ 9:46 PM
I often don’t wear a helmet when cycling on off-street paths or sidewalks (where/when it’s legal or adviseable). I just don’t like seeing cyclists blowing through red lights without helmets when they are more likely to sustain a serious head trauma. In many cases helmets won’t help much or at all, but they certainly can’t hurt if you’re going to ride a bike into a busy motor vehicle intersection without the right of way.
October 7th, 2010 @ 3:31 PM
Well I can’t speak for NYC because I don’t ride there often. Word to the wise. Traffic lights are weak…..way last week!! They are an inefficent form of traffic control. Are they needed in certain palces yes. Others? No. We need a comprehensive overhaul of the driving test. With strict standards imposed. The network needs to have rotaries and flow systems which educated drivers understand and prove as much before getting their drivers permit. The United States needs to join the international community and bring its driving test standard up joining Canada, Europe, Britain and Austraila amongst others who have a set standards policy. That is why a US driving permit isn’t reconized in these countries for a perminent licence. A vaction yes. Long term no. Big business rears it’s ugly head once again in important issuses with regards to our safety over profits. I certainly don’t live in a fantasy world. We need to tell drivers cyclist ain’t 2nd class. Drivers need to understand that there is a penalty for dangerous driving. The drink driving law is if it wasn’t so serious, a joke. There needs to be common ground found and drivers need to realise that rules made for motor vehicles don’t neccesarily need to apply to push bikes. Just as in avation different standards of aircraft and airspace have different laws affecting them. Keep Safe.
November 8th, 2013 @ 12:33 AM
Comm. Ave is a very interesting st and I think it’s worth reviving a blog that was focused on it. Any of the former writers/readers still alive?
Did “abbikerz” graduate? Did Tea get bagged for drinking and driving?
I am interested in researching how cycling has or hasn’t improved since Comm Ave bike lane was “built” or painted.
Why does the uphill section of bike lane on the north side of Comm Ave across from Landry’s bike shop look so smooth and yet on the down hill section in front of CVS the pavement on left side of bike lane is deformed and dangerous?