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
Wrong
By SwirlyGrrl
Wed, 03/25/2015 - 12:42pm
Cars may be safer for the people in the steel cage, but they are far more dangerous to others, including those inside buildings.
Obesity does kill people who are younger, and has measurable mortality effects across the entire lifespan. Source
I'd need a comment space the size of an encyclopedia to discuss traffic-related pollution and mortality effects ... and the exposures to those in the cages are actually higher than they are for cyclists, particularly when cycletracks are employed.
The other elephant in the room
By roadman
Wed, 03/25/2015 - 12:09pm
bicycle advocates don't seem to want to address is this: Does providing separate facilities for cyclists give them a false sense of security, thus increasing the probability of their being in a crash when they're riding on streets that don't have those facilities?
Ask NYC
By SwirlyGrrl
Wed, 03/25/2015 - 12:30pm
They have had such facilities in place for much of the last decade. The results: safer for pedestrians, safer for cyclists.
http://www.peopleforbikes.org/statistics/category/...
(yes, advocacy organization, but they do provide links)
Also, a peer-reviewed assessment concluded that:
Source: Am J Public Health. 2012 Jun;102(6):1120-7. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2011.300319
TL/DR: there have been MANY evaluations of such questions as you ask - nobody is avoiding them, they just haven't done your (very easily done) research for you.
Cyclists are terrorizing pedestrians in NYC
By Markk02474
Wed, 03/25/2015 - 1:46pm
Cyclists are terrorizing pedestrians.
http://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/bicycle-cr...
TERRORIZING!!!
By Scratchie
Wed, 03/25/2015 - 1:49pm
One article from last September... that terror must explain why the streets of New York are empty of pedestrians these days.
Oh, you're funny!
By Sally
Wed, 03/25/2015 - 1:53pm
Why don't you peruse the actual list of the 269 traffic fatalities in NYC last year and let us know how many New Yorkers were actually killed by bikes as opposed to cars? http://project.wnyc.org/traffic-deaths/ and THEN tell us who's terrorizing who?
Just for you, MarKKK!
By lbb
Wed, 03/25/2015 - 2:16pm
TIN FOIL ON SALE AT THE STOP AND SHOP!
Eight Million People
By SwirlyGrrl
Wed, 03/25/2015 - 2:31pm
One ... ONE collision resulting in a fatality = "terrorism"? Try again.
Having actually cycled in NYC some, I'm surprised that it doesn't happen more often due to rampant pedestrian jaywalking (and the odd cow meandering blindly into a cycle track) alone.
Now Mark
By spin o rama
Wed, 03/25/2015 - 3:12pm
Are you forgetting our conversation from the summer? The one where I pointed out that 80+ pedestrians had already been killed in NYC that year?
So 1 death caused by bike compared to 80 caused by cars in the same period of time.
Separate facilities
By anon
Wed, 03/25/2015 - 1:57pm
Is exactly what they need - stick them in their bike lanes and ban them from traffic lanes. Hipster on a fixie is essentially just a slightly faster-moving pedestrian, he/she does not belong in a lane full of 5000lb chunks of metal flying around at 50mph. Ride in your dedicated lanes, and cross the road like pedestrians do - stop, get off your bike and walk.
If your mother had wheels instead of legs...
By lbb
Wed, 03/25/2015 - 4:43pm
...she'd be a bicycle.
Bicycles aren't pedestrians, they're vehicles.
Now stop being a ninny.
A lane full of
By Sock_Puppet
Thu, 03/26/2015 - 7:21am
5000 pound chunks of metal flying around at 50mph doesn't belong anywhere in the city except a limited-access highway. Anybody found to be going 50mph on a normal city street should have their car impounded and license revoked.
Less reliance on cars means safer streets for everyone
By jeffkinson
Wed, 03/25/2015 - 1:48pm
[img]http://usa.streetsblog.org/wp-content/uploads/site...
Your concern theoretically could happen, but worldwide we've seen the opposite effect. The Netherlands, home to a higher percentage of cyclists than anywhere in the world, is also one of the safest for all road users. Bike-friendly Denmark is also very safe, as is the rest of Northern Europe, with a high percentage of pedestrians, cyclists, and transit users.
Sweden, the inspiration for Vision Zero, has become one of the safest countries. Meanwhile, the US remains one of the most dangerous first world countries for traffic fatalities.
Dutch Driver's License
By ElizaLeila
Wed, 03/25/2015 - 1:31pm
This license is notoriously difficult to attain. Perhaps the US Driver's License should be equally difficult? Then we might see a decrease in car crashes.
Licenses have always been
By Eric
Wed, 03/25/2015 - 2:37pm
Licenses have always been difficult to obtain in Sweden (and indeed most of Europe). It wasn't until the infrastructure changes that came along with Vision Zero were introduced that fatalities really started to fall.
Have you ever been to Finland
By anon
Wed, 03/25/2015 - 1:52pm
Have you ever been to Finland, Italy or Portugal? Driving there is extremely dangerous.Especially in Italy. Yet they are listed safer than the US.
I call BS on that grid.
Italy
By ElizaLeila
Wed, 03/25/2015 - 4:33pm
It's where I learned how to cross the street. ;-)
Its bad use of data saying little
By Markk02474
Fri, 03/27/2015 - 6:09pm
The graph provides little information when factors of vehicle ownership levels, cars vs scooter vs bicycle ownership, speeds traveled, vehicle miles traveled, infrastructure quality, driver competence, public inebriation levels, jaywalking levels, and who knows what else are rolled into one graph.
Correlation does not imply
By anon
Wed, 03/25/2015 - 3:58pm
Correlation does not imply causation.
Remember that the mayor was
By Eric
Wed, 03/25/2015 - 2:35pm
Remember that the mayor was hit by a car, not by another bicyclist. It is the presence of the cars in the system that creates the danger. Traffic fatalities were a relative rarity even in very populated areas until the car was introduced. There are really three ways we can change the system that will likely reduce fatalities: 1) Everyone drives (practically impossible: not everyone can drive), 2) Eliminate cars from the system entirely (not likely to happen any time soon) or 3) Redesign the system so that the cars drive more slowly and interactions with bicyclists and pedestrians are scarce and carefully controlled. #3 is what the new Comm Ave was designed to do, and the city should be applauded for making a bold effort on this front.
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.
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