Harry Mattison photographs a bevy of cars parked in those brand spanking new bike lanes the city just installed:
... Cars parked in the bike lane force the bikes to swerve in and out of traffic - a situation that could be more dangerous than having no bike lane at all. So hopefully drivers will learn - with help from some parking tickets, if needed - that bike lanes are for bikes, not cars. ...
Ed. Great White North note: In Montreal, some bike lanes actually have curbs to keep the cars out.
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Comments
bike lanes
By o_brien
Sat, 08/09/2008 - 5:55pm
That's the issue... vehicles are always going to double-park in the bike lanes. While paying double-parking fines may change the behavior of the average non-commercial driver, do you think delivery companies such as UPS and FedEx give a rat's ass how many double-parking violations their drivers accumulate? Probably not. I can't think of any given hour that I've walked through the city of Boston and not seen delivery vans of some sort illegally parked.
I hate double-parkers too...
By Will LaTulippe
Sat, 08/09/2008 - 10:33pm
...but the delivery vehicles still need to park somewhere. Can't stop commerce. Lack of commercial zones is the culprit.
The other sharing
By massmarrier
Sun, 08/10/2008 - 9:45am
We did a podcast with Cambridge's government and civilian cycling big shots (Cara Seiderman and Ken Fields) at Left Ahead! I brought that up, calling the Central Square bike lanes UPS/FedEx parking lots. She was jolly about it, saying that was a case of bikers having to accommodate the reality of city life, as we expect drivers to accommodate us.
I must admit that I bike in such situations frequently on that side of the river. It's not much of a deal for me to slow and pass safely (I always have and use my mirror.) Fair is fair and that is a reasonable trade-off to get a more bike-friendly Mass Ave.
I was able to try out the
By adoonan
Sat, 08/09/2008 - 5:59pm
I was able to try out the bike lanes today (yes, on my bike). I was very excited about them, but for some reason didn't think that they would be there for awhile.
In Cambridge, the bike lanes have pictures of bikes in them. The Comm. Ave lane just has an arrow. Maybe adding the bike picture would make it more obvious.
I agree
By wrenhunter
Sat, 08/09/2008 - 7:51pm
A picture of a bike would be swell. Also, what about using yellow paint for the lane marker? Or green, or something besides white? Some drivers may just think it means "park here".
Normally I come down on the
By ShadyMilkMan
Sun, 08/10/2008 - 1:00am
Normally I come down on the side of the driver, but Im pretty sure I see a no parking sign on that light pole. Assuming its well posted the whole way down I say ticket and tow if you have to otherwise people will park there all the time.
When Im in the city and I find a parking spot I always check, double check, then check again to make sure its a legit spot. As they say if its too good to be true...
American Legion Speedway
By massmarrier
Sun, 08/10/2008 - 9:51am
Likewise, I tried the American Legion Highway versions — prematurely as it turns out. The lane has zip, zero, nil arrows, bike sketches or the like. The usual suspects next to the tiny on-street parking spaces by the park already claimed spots.
In this case, that's a big deal. The road starts at the northern end at 25MPH. Hardy har. It goes pretty quickly to 45MPH. That seems to be the minimum speed for most cars. A lot go 60 or higher.
This is the road that regularly is the scene of grotesque, deadly crashes at night. There are lots of little memorials on that short stretch before Baby Nat's.
I've told my middle son to stick with the slower roads and not take ALH, at least not until the city gets its act together.
Back when these were announced
By Kaz
Sat, 08/09/2008 - 6:18pm
I said:
You think the double-parking is bad...just wait until the students return and the other half of my prediction comes true too.
Teach 'em a lesson
By Will LaTulippe
Sat, 08/09/2008 - 10:34pm
A forearm to the head of any dumbass 18-year old from out of town will teach 'em the lesson real quick on where not to stand.
A Famous Person's Car in Those Bike Lanes
By Michael Pahre
Sat, 08/09/2008 - 11:12pm
Earlier this week I included a photo of a famous Bostonian's car parked in that very same bike lane. You know who he is: the guy who was holding a press conference to announce the new lanes.
Double Parking is Contageous
By glebovitz
Sat, 08/09/2008 - 11:13pm
Thursday, I had to swerve away from the bike land on Comm Ave to avoid a double parked BPD truck. I guess they like to lead by example.
Tow them
By dirtywater77
Sat, 08/09/2008 - 11:50pm
Tow them all. Every last one of them, including the delivery trucks. Then tow the people who abuse the loading zones; maybe that will give the delivery trucks somewhere to park.
I don't understand why cities like Cambridge and Boston tolerate this behavior. Maybe towing isn't profitable? I can't think of another reason why there shouldn't be swarms of tow trucks yanking these violators off the street.
Brighton Ave.
By Will LaTulippe
Sun, 08/10/2008 - 12:12am
Happens all the time in front of the BoA ATM. Worst is when somebody is in the driver's seat. CIRCLE THE BLOCK, YOU STUPID FUCKING ASSHOLE.