Mayor Walsh, other city officials and an old parking meter today.
Mayor Walsh said today the dedicated bike lanes planned for Comm. Ave. between the BU Bridge and Packards Corner are only part of a long-term "Vision 0" plan to curb crashes and traffic-related deaths through a combination of street reconfiguration and tougher enforcement.
At a City Hall press conference today, Walsh said he will start a nationwide search for a city "active transportation director" to spearhead efforts over the next few years to make Boston streets safer for pedestrians, bicyclists and drivers. Boston's bicycle director, Nicole Freedman, is leaving to take on that very job in Seattle, which Walsh pointed to as an example of a city that is trying to make streets safer.
The new director will be in charge of a citywide master plan, he said. He added this will include not just major thoroughfares but neighborhood side streets. He said that as a state rep, he tried to get speed limits lowered on such streets and said the BPD flashing speed signs might get even greater use in those areas.
Walsh said the Comm. Ave. project is a perfect example of how to make streets safer, on a road that has high concentrations of pedestrians, bicyclists, drivers and trolleys - but that is currently "one of the highest crash areas" in the city.
BTD Director Gina Fiandaca said the project could go out to bid this fall and take six to eight months to complete. DPW Director Mike Dennehy said he is already looking for specialized equipment to plow the lanes after snowstorms.
Walsh predicted the city will follow up with even more "cycle track" lanes elsewhere.
"For bicyclists, [the state of Boston roads] is pretty dangerous," he said, adding they have the same rights to use the roads as motorists.
At the same time, he acknowledged bicyclists and pedestrians need more education to follow traffic laws as well. "People aren't darting across 45th Street" in Manahattan, and they shouldn't be doing that on Boston thoroughfares, either, he said.
Walsh downplayed at-large Councilor Michael Flaherty's contention that the loss of 73 parking spaces along that stretch of Comm. Ave. will harm businesses there. Walsh said experience in New York, which already has several dedicated bike lanes, is that business actually increases, because it turns out bicyclists buy as much from small shops as motorists.
He said he doubted all of the 73 people parking in those spaces were really shopping, anyway - many probably use the spaces for long-term parking.
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Comments
Thank you Mayor Wash
By HarryMattison
Wed, 03/25/2015 - 12:11pm
great news
Remember to label the bike lane!
By fefu
Wed, 03/25/2015 - 12:28pm
In Cambridge, they went to all this trouble to build a great dedicated bike lane on Western Ave. It's not labeled, so it's jam packed with pedestrians walking on it like it's just an extra asphalt sidewalk. Most of the cyclists I see still use the road because the dedicated bike lane is too full of pedestrians (and their dogs and their strollers, etc.). This makes it more dangerous because the road was narrowed to make space for this dedicated bike lane.
I agree with bike lanes, but they need to be labeled as such!
That's my problem
By BostonDog
Wed, 03/25/2015 - 12:35pm
I'm very much in favor of cycling improvement but I don't think the cycle tracks are a good idea. In the winter they won't be plowed. (Not to say the current lanes are plowed but generally they are somewhat still usable.) The cycle track is seen an extension of the road and people jog in it, cart stuff in it, and generally make it unusable for cycling. Worst, unlike a double-packed car you can't ride around something once in the track.
They are a nice idea and people are protected from some risks but if they are unusable all it's done is made the road worse for all users.
The better plan is to slow down traffic speeds and use the bike-line-in-travel-lane like they have in Allston. This forces drivers to completely go around cyclists which cuts down on the dreaded right hook and car dooring.
Somewhat agree
By fefu
Wed, 03/25/2015 - 12:39pm
I basically agree with you, but the dedicated bike lanes around MIT seem to be used appropriately. They are labeled as bike lanes and pedestrians generally steer clear of them and know to look for bikes if they need to use them to pass someone or something.
"generally" true, but at least one or two per day ignoring signs
By peter
Wed, 03/25/2015 - 2:47pm
I commute to/from work down Vassar, on one of those sidewalk bike lanes. Overall I like them, but despite the copious signage, complemented with contrasting paving materials for bike and pedestrian lanes, I only have to leave the bike lane to avoid a pedestrian about once or twice a day, in the half mile stretch I use. The worst is when they are literally standing on top of the stencil that declares the lane for bikes. Of course, that's more an annoyance than anything. As far as actual danger goes, I am more concerned about the cars running the stop sign on their way out of the "West" parking garage.
The plan being proposed for
By Eric
Wed, 03/25/2015 - 2:41pm
The plan being proposed for Comm Ave is *considerably better* than Western Ave. The lanes are separated from the sidewalk by trees and several feet of space, and on a completely different grade. As for snow removal, the transportation department indicated that they intend to acquire special snow removal equipment dedicated to dealing with the bike lane, and the lane itself is separated from the road by a curb, so it seems pretty unlikely that it will ever end up being just another storage space for snow that gets plowed off of the road.
is Western Ave bike lane officially finished and open?
By Ron Newman
Wed, 03/25/2015 - 12:38pm
it didn't look like it was, the last time I went by there.
Looks finished to me
By fefu
Wed, 03/25/2015 - 12:40pm
You can bike on it from about Green St. almost all the way to Memorial Drive.
Maybe they just haven't labeled it yet? (I hope, I hope.)
Something else that might help
By Michael
Wed, 03/25/2015 - 12:29pm
Maybe make it slightly more of a challenge to get and keep a driver's license? Someone smarter than me pointed out that when you're 16 you take a driving test and a chemistry midterm. Nobody expects you to still know the periodic table when you're 40 (I mean, obviously, some people do) but somehow the bare minimum knowledge of road laws you cram in high school, reinforced with years of, let's face it, probably terrible application in the real world, is enough for life.
As a commuting biker
By Jeff5000
Wed, 03/25/2015 - 12:44pm
Here are my main fears:
Cars not using turning signal/running lights
Parked cars blocking view of oncoming traffic when turning onto a road
Trucks/busses riding besides me. Or as they should be called: 6-wheeled, 10-ton traveling death rectangles.
Cars opening their driver side doors
Pot holes
Many many many many many many times, the safest thing to do is just bike in a car lane, and I am glad that Walsh reminded everyone we can. Then you know its pot hole free (compared to near the curb), no ones opening their door into you, buses cant Indiana Jones crush you from the side, and cars cant side swipe you when turning without notice.
Thankfully the new design for
By Eric
Wed, 03/25/2015 - 2:48pm
Thankfully the new design for Comm Ave addresses all of these concerns:
- Dedicated signals at some intersections and extra curb sections at the corners at others to force drivers to cross the bike lane at a roughly 90 degree angle; also the bike lane crosses the side roads on a raised crossing in several places, forcing cars to further hesitate before right-hooking you.
- Curb bumpouts near the intersections make parking and even double parking all but impossible
- You'll be separated from the traffic lane by a row of parked cars and a traffic island for almost the entire length of the project (except at driveways and intersections).
- You'll be riding on the passenger side of parked cars, and you'll be separated from them by a pedestrian island--doors will not reach you
- Potholes take decades to form on dedicated bike facilities, hopefully we can get them repaved before that. ;-)
Quid Pro Quo
By moxie
Wed, 03/25/2015 - 1:22pm
I'm happy to give bicyclists this designated piece of the road. And in exchange, I'd like to have every bicyclist over eighteen registered with the state, and required to display prominent identifying, traceable tags on their bike similar to a license plate. You get the privs and you lose the anonymity.
While we're at it, let's make
By TiO2
Wed, 03/25/2015 - 1:43pm
While we're at it, let's make all pedestrians register with the government and wear prominent ID numbers too and be required to wear helmets and wear high-vis all the time. And make them pay the additional taxes to cover all the additional costs of bureaucracy for registration.
Pedestrians, too?
By SwirlyGrrl
Wed, 03/25/2015 - 2:21pm
Jaywalkers are a nuisance. If I'm coming through an intersection on my bike on a full green light, I want to be able to take my go-pro footage to city hall and have them cited.
Yeah, because the last time someone walked into me
By moxie
Wed, 03/25/2015 - 2:56pm
They were doing 20 mph and hit me with a 30lb metal frame. Happens all the time.
Laugh away
By Scratchie
Wed, 03/25/2015 - 3:01pm
But I know a friend who had major elbow surgery after some idiot pedestrian walked out in front of him on his bike. She was uninjured, but tumbling over his handlebars onto the asphalt didn't do him any favors.
Maybe she shoulda oughta, you know, stopped?
By moxie
Wed, 03/25/2015 - 3:17pm
Because of that annoying pedestrians have the right of way thingy?
http://massbike.org/resourcesnew/bike-law/
Moooooooo
By SwirlyGrrl
Wed, 03/25/2015 - 3:38pm
Pedestrians do NOT have the right of way if they are NOT in a cross walk.
Pedestrians do NOT have the right of way if they are at a signalized intersection and do NOT have a "walk" light or (absent a pedestrian light) a green light.
Try again.
I have to deal with this a lot - Joe TeleCow munching on his electronic cud device blunders out against the light, then screams at me for "running red lights".
Except Joe TeleCow is the one proceding illegally against the light, and I am running a GREEN light.
Baaaaaahhhhhhh.
Step out in front of me while I have the right of way and I can't avoid you? I will sue you for damages. Count on it. Keep your ass on the curb when the red hand thingy is up or the light is red.
And if a cyclist
By whyaduck
Wed, 03/25/2015 - 5:18pm
hits me as I proceed off of the curb, in a marked crosswalk, with the hand thingy flashing green (like almost happened to me a few months ago), I will also sue for damages.
Cool story, bro.
By Scratchie
Wed, 03/25/2015 - 5:21pm
Cool story, bro.
Boy--if I could only sue for the things that ALMOST happened
By Sally
Wed, 03/25/2015 - 6:16pm
to me...well heck--I'd be almost a bazillionaire.
Pedestrians don't have the
By Scratchie
Wed, 03/25/2015 - 3:36pm
Pedestrians don't have the right of way if they're not in a crosswalk.
It's hard to stop when someone jaywalks in front of you with no warning.
You think he wanted to take a header into the street?
Do either of you have a citation, please?
By moxie
Wed, 03/25/2015 - 3:45pm
And do you want to take it up with MassBike,org? See the section headed: "Your responsibilities: you MUST do these things" bullet item three. It reads:
You must give pedestrians the right of way.
That's a full stop, period, after the phrase right of way. Preceded by the word pedestrian.
http://massbike.org/resourcesnew/bike-law/
Here you go
By SwirlyGrrl
Wed, 03/25/2015 - 4:04pm
https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/T...
https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/T...
There is currently legislation filed to clarify jaywalking as an offense, and raise fines to $25 or even $50 (if using headphones) from the current $1.
https://malegislature.gov/Bills/189/House/H3004
That Mass Bike page is not a
By Scratchie
Wed, 03/25/2015 - 3:52pm
That Mass Bike page is not a citation of the actual law. The actual law has been cited numerous times on the other Bike Lane thread. Laws for bicycles are the same as they are for motor vehicles.
You're welcome.
Straight on Red
By ElizaLeila
Wed, 03/25/2015 - 4:45pm
So can you clarify why bicyclists think it's ok to go straight through a red light?
No
By SwirlyGrrl
Wed, 03/25/2015 - 4:59pm
Which bicyclists would those be?
Ain't me. (with the exception of the briefly advanced walk lights before green lights in Cambridge, where every cop I have asked has said "go for it - please!")
I often mount up just before it goes green, but don't enter the intersection.
You
By ElizaLeila
Wed, 03/25/2015 - 6:21pm
Are not the norm in this question.
The intersection at Mass Ave and Beacon is rife with bicyclists roaring on across Beacon heading into Boston from Cambridge. (rife, I say!) (I'm there daily). It's a tough crossing because the bike lane changes to intermittent stripes because of the dedicated car right turn lane (at the bus stop), so there is that jog to keep an eye out for cyclists (and vice versa for them - so my blinker comes on early so they know what I'm doing). And many a bicyclists slow to see if anyone is coming down Beacon and then pedal right along.
Kenmore Sq is a tough one for cyclists - I wouldn't want to try it unless I had a motor - so much easier to swerve and speed up to avoid.
My whole route - especially in bicycle happy JP has many bicycle operators blithely riding through red lights.
Maybe you can explain
By SwirlyGrrl
Wed, 03/25/2015 - 7:29pm
Why do so many people downtown block the box, insist on plowing through crowds of pedestrians who are walking with the light, or outright run red lights at speed in their motor vehicles?
I suspect that it is two things: 1) badly timed lights for the vehicles using the intersections and 2) massholes all around.
Why do so many people
By ElizaLeila
Thu, 03/26/2015 - 9:07am
I've been finding it getting better, but it does need more oversight by the police. No, red light cameras are not the answer.
That's reprehensible. Do not like.
Everyone knows red is the fastest color, just ask a motorcyclist! d&r
(ps, my moto is red, lol)
1. Agreed
2. Assholes, not always massholes (and that's too easy/lazy an epithet for UHub commenters to throw around. You/We are all smarter than that). I see a lot of out of state plates performing similar idiotic moves (They think they're 'blending in'? Who knows).
I was thinking about this on my drive home last night and curious to where this conversation would go. The item that floated to the top of the pile was that the people on UHub, while a part of the Boston-area population, do not appear to be typical of what I see out on the roads. You (in general) say here you follow the rules and I choose to believe you. I believe you are the small minority.
It's one of the WORST intersections in the City!
By thetrainmon
Thu, 03/26/2015 - 12:12am
First of all, I've very rarely seen cyclists "roaring" through red lights. Stop-and-then-proceed is more like it; and some municipalities have even taken steps to legalize that for cyclists, citing safety improvements since cyclists don't have to contend as much with right hooks and other intersection issues.
That being said, let's talk about that whole area:
A) Some of the worst pavement along all of Mass. Ave--numerous potholes and divots from the high volume of traffic, especially heavy vehicles.
B) As you already mentioned, the "bike lane" on the Harvard Bridge, which I put in quotes because it's really just an often gravel-ridden, glass-ridden shoulder, gives way to a right turn lane, just past the bus stop. The 1, the CT1 and the LMA M2 Shuttle all stop there--basically up to 120 feet of bus (plus space in between them). If even one bus is in the stop the only way to go around it is to merge into the middle lane with cars zooming off the Bridge. Even before that is the little alley on the right where cars dart out right in front of you as you're coming off the Bridge. As crazy as it is when they fly out of the alley, it's even worse when they only make it partially out and wind up blocking the end of the bike lane.
C) If you make it past the bus stop and are stuck at the intersection, you're either on the far right--meaning, when the light turns green, you're contending with people turning right right in front of you--or you're wedged in between the turning lane and the middle lane, which is far from a pleasant experience.
D) The worst part of that whole area is even further back if you're coming from the Paul Dudley White Bike Path: after going up the ramp and narrowly missing a few joggers and cyclists riding on the sidewalk, if you're headed to Boston, you first have to cross the Storrow Drive offramp, mixing it up with impatient drivers, already ticked off because they had to detour to Cambridge due to the Longfellow Bridge construction, who often don't look right at all. Then your amazing options are:
1) Stay on the sidewalk all the way to Beacon Street, mixing it up with heavy pedestrian traffic.
2) Ride down the bike lane to Beacon Street, against the flow of bike traffic.
3) Cross four lanes of traffic and then deal with all of the other aforementioned problems.
Yup
By ElizaLeila
Thu, 03/26/2015 - 8:52am
re: roaring: You're right - if you re-read my paragraph, you'll see I started out that way but tempered it by the end.
A. I do not envy you having to ride in the worst parts of the roads. And couple that with cars swerving to avoid the potholes makes it all very difficult for everyone and more dangerous for cyclists.
B. I hate that alley with a passion. It should be one way the other direction.
C. I'm surprised - I would have thought you'd feel a measure safer between the turning lane and gaily forward lane at that light. The buses make that tough. I wonder if moving the bus stops to the other side of the intersection easier on everyone. They would have to get in the right turn lane pre-crossing the intersection so they'd already be out of the line of traffic in preparation for the stop.
D. Wow, never thought about it. That sucks. And before anyone gives me shit about 'never thought about it', suck it. We all have things we've never thought about until they pertain directly to us. (yes, I guess I'm preemptively defensive. *shrug*)
If it's one way the other direction
By Will LaTulippe
Fri, 03/27/2015 - 2:13pm
Then how do you suggest cars access it from the Boston side? Do you want them to go across to Cambridge and come back, or do you want them to turn left against traffic coming down off the bridge?
Beacon St
By ElizaLeila
Fri, 03/27/2015 - 2:24pm
They can get into that alley or Back St from Beacon St. Take the Charlesgate East on ramp to Storrow and pull a quick right turn. The egress at Mass Ave should be an ingress only with a no left turn sign from Mass Ave heading to Cambridge direction. Maybe an egress during certain hours. People can turn their cars around in the alley - there's plenty of room.
So can you clarify why
By Scratchie
Wed, 03/25/2015 - 5:13pm
I haven't the slightest idea. I assume they're probably Mass. drivers and they're used to doing whatever the fuck they want.
Most of the cyclists going
By gotdatwmd
Thu, 03/26/2015 - 8:14am
Most of the cyclists going through red lights I see are older homeless looking men on walmart hybrids who don't give a fuck anyway
Cool story, bro.
By Scratchie
Thu, 03/26/2015 - 8:39am
Cool story, bro.
Do you have anything mature
By gotdatwmd
Thu, 03/26/2015 - 9:19am
Do you have anything mature or revelent to add or just post millennial dismissel dreck? The people that disobey the light are mostly aloof idiots that appear homeless, not responsible cyclists
U mad bro?
By Scratchie
Thu, 03/26/2015 - 9:28am
U mad bro?
U mad bro?
By ElizaLeila
Thu, 03/26/2015 - 9:29am
U mad bro?
Is that timeline for real?
By ErnieAdams
Wed, 03/25/2015 - 1:50pm
When they said "six to eight months," did it sound like they meant that the whole project would be constructed in that time? Like the whole stretch of Comm. Ave from BU Bridge/Packard's Corner would be restriped, with the cycle track built and bus stops installed? Maybe that's not unreasonable, but it almost sounds too good to be true. At least, such are my expectations for a public works project in the City of Boston.
Probably not
By jeffkinson
Thu, 03/26/2015 - 6:11pm
I'm assuming that's a mistake. Either she meant that Comm Ave construction would start six to eight months after going out to bid, or she meant that coming up with a citywide master plan would take six to eight months.
Comm Ave construction will probably take two or three years.
edit: ABBQ is much better informed than I, please listen to
himher insteadPartially agree
By ElizaLeila
Wed, 03/25/2015 - 3:05pm
Construction bids are only good for 30 days after proposal/opening (the City can't hold onto them and wait to open them for 6-8 months. Besides, contractors would withdraw left and right).
I'd venture your second guess is closer to the truth, however master plans often take upwards of a year to design due to the herding of the cats that want/need to provide input.
Edit to add: Looking at the section again, it's not that long of a streetscape and it actually is feasible for the work to be done that quickly. It's concrete with granite curbing working within the already existing roadway. It will be hell on daily traffic, but it can be done. They might even require the work to be done at night - which does add to the cost, but in the overall picture they may find that worth it. The liquidated damages will also provide incentive to completing it on time. Now if they can provide remunerative rather than punitive incentives, you might find more contractors willing to bid. I don't know.
Think about this: MassDot had the Craigie Dam Drawbridge replaced in 11 months (http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/charlesriverbridges...). It's the metric tonne of forethought and preparation that allows projects to be completed that quickly.
thanks for the info
By jeffkinson
Wed, 03/25/2015 - 4:04pm
Oops, I meant possibly 6-8 months after accepting a bid, not after putting out a bid. I don't know too much about this area, but I thought that timeline was reasonably common, e.g. accepting a contractor's bid in the fall with the intention of them starting construction in the spring. Could that be it?
Doubtful
By ElizaLeila
Wed, 03/25/2015 - 4:55pm
Material costs change between fall and spring. No contractor in their right mind will put a bid in the fall for spring work. And certainly not for public work. Besides which, the specifications for public work include the current wage rates that they must use and that's only good for a specified amount of time. Wages may change between fall and spring, too.
Private work can be done a little differently.
Public bidding process in MA is a pain, but has rules and regs that must be followed. It can be tight - maybe 6 or 7 weeks, but more like an 8 week process.
Just a reference, Comm Ave Phase I timeline
By shawnp
Wed, 03/25/2015 - 4:26pm
Kenmore to Amory Street took about 25 months according to bu.edu/cap/. August 2006 through September 2008, with a little work afterwards to finish up some items.
Interesting
By ElizaLeila
Wed, 03/25/2015 - 4:57pm
Good to know, thanks!
or
By ElizaLeila
Thu, 03/26/2015 - 2:25pm
Or her. She is kind of in the business. :)
fixed :)
By jeffkinson
Thu, 03/26/2015 - 6:12pm
fixed :)
:)
By ElizaLeila
Fri, 03/27/2015 - 2:17pm
I was >< close to not saying anything, but ... meh!
Thanks!
I would assume that means it
By Eric
Wed, 03/25/2015 - 2:50pm
I would assume that means it will go out to bid in 6 to 8 months. They haven't even finalized all of the details of the design yet.
Comm Ave.
By Kathode
Wed, 03/25/2015 - 4:33pm
should have dedicated bike lines all the way from Packard's Corner to Kenmore. They definitely should not end at the BU Bridge.
As a driver, not sure why
By bostonkid_316
Wed, 03/25/2015 - 5:00pm
As a driver, not sure why cycle tracks don't get more support. Whenever I have a cyclist in the road next to me, I am always paranoid about hitting them. What if they get doored, move quickly to avoid a pedestrian, etc and that causes me to swerve? Tracks would give me some peace of mind that we were separated.
A win for *almost* everyone
By Angry Dan
Wed, 03/25/2015 - 8:53pm
I have to give the mayor credit for going with a forward-thinking design that should decrease conflicts and increase safety for everyone, even if there will be some unfortunate tears from bicycle haters.
To the haters: No hard feelings. You have my sympathies for yet another setback. This must be galling when added to the never-ending bicycle traffic jams you have to sit in, the constant search for a parking spot that hasn't been usurped by bicycles, not to mention digging your vehicle out from under the unprecedented piles of bicycles that fell from the sky this winter. I do not envy you.
First of all
By gotdatwmd
Thu, 03/26/2015 - 8:18am
First of all
CYCLISTS RIDE BICYCLES, BIKERS RIDE MOTORCYCLES. God that bugs me
Anyway, I support the idea and was in a video advocating for this but now it occurs to me from seeing a number of posts on Bikesnobnyc's blog of riding around manhattan's dedicated spots how this could be a problem. In New York, pedestrians don't give a fuck and will walk in protected lanes often. BU kids are irresponsible children and will use this as another pedestrian spot or place to wait. The second one of those new jersey/ct kids darts into the lane without looking and gets hit, you know their rich lawyer dad is going to go sue crazy on the cyclist.
yup
By ElizaLeila
Thu, 03/26/2015 - 9:07am
I've been doing my best to ignore that. But yes.
Actually, I don't consider myself a 'biker', but a motorcyclist.
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