Hey, there! Log in / Register
Roslindale Square parking space could be lifted to make room for bicycles
By adamg on Sun, 05/31/2015 - 8:04am
The city holds a meeting next week to discuss a proposal to replace a parking space on Washington Street with a "bike corral" that would give up to ten bicyclists a place to secure their bikes during stays in Roslindale Square.
The space would be next to the crosswalks from Adams Park to the other side of Washington at Cummins Highway.
The session starts at 6 p.m. in the Roslindale Community Center, conveniently located across the street from the proposed location, on June 10.
H/t Rozzie Bikes.
Neighborhoods:
Topics:
Free tagging:
Ad:
Support Universal Hub
Help keep Universal Hub going. If you like what we're up to and want to help out, please consider a (completely non-deductible) contribution.
Comments
taft hill municipal parking
We have to hold a public meeting for this? Given that taft hill lot is right there, i would be surprised if there were complaints? Or am i missing something?
City is big on civic engagement, meetings
Doesn't necessarily mean anybody will show up all angry and stuff, but better safe than sorry.
You must be joking?
Roslindale meeting means someone is showing up angry. In this case, the people who complained about the apts above Redds not having parking. Now we're taking their precious parking?
Pass.
That?
That was nothing (if you exclude the Tony-vs-Vinny undercard); if you want to really see the burning anger of 10,000 suns, you need to get over to one of the Casey Overpass meetings in JP or any meeting involving apartment buildings in Hyde Park or West Roxbury.
or
or any community meeting in Southie. Seems to be a trend for boston in general it seems.
roslindale meetings?
at the adam's park meeting someone said "we're drowning in cars" and they got applause. Roslindale has a lot of pro-bike people.
I have a better tag line
Access to businesses is dramatically improved. Roslindale transforms one parking space into a space that holds 10 vehicles
More than 10
There is one of these racks in Davis Square, Somerville that sometimes has as many as 25 bikes docked to it (three along the back rail, one on each side, and bikes locked to other bikes in their group).
Rozzie Square/Davis Square
Rozzie is what Davis would be if they had commuter rail instead of subway. Anyway, whether it holds 10 or 20, it will be a good thing, especially on farmers' market days.
More to the point
Almost every cyclist over 18 also has a drivers license and a vast majority own a car. So you're not taking away a parking space from anyone, just reserving the parking space for some particular drivers who sometimes drive a very thin car.
I am not sure
If almost every cyclist over 18 owns a car. I work for a university, lots and lots of bikes and those kids do not own cars. And, actually, you are taking a parking space away from the higher majority of folks who do drive cars. Rossie Village already gave up 2-3 parking spaces for that silly parklet. One parking space there, one here...they do add up.
Precious Parking Spaces
Has it occurred to you that many of those students would bring cars if biking was made less convenient?
Or do rational arguments that we should stop encouraging driving make your head explode?
Wrong about the parklet
It is in an area that has always been marked as no parking. The fact that many car operators chose to flagrantly violate the law doesn't earn them squatters' rights for that location.
But but but...they shoveled it out!
Once in 1987--it's theirs FOREVER!!!
No place to park
There are few places to park as is in Roslindale's business district. Many of the merchants (and they have told me when asked) that they have started to park in the MBTA lost and pay the fee there because it is cheaper to pay for parking there than risk a ticket if they park near their storefronts or on Taft Hill lot, forget to feed the meters, and get a ticket. Of course that detracts from legitimate commuters who want a space there to take the train. However if all of the merchants parked their cars in the business district - and none of them can walk there by the way - or bike - then there would be no place for the customers to park.
So umm
Are you saying that anyone who rides somehow hangs around without buying anything?
I can understand if the argument is that there needs to be more ways for people to get to and stay in the area. But suggesting that the trade of a large single parking space in exchange for a dozen smaller parking spaces will reduce business in the area makes no sense.
It would seem that the merchants, who definitely won't be spending any money at their own store yet will be there all day would be the best candidates to bike to work (or take the T, etc) and leave the full sized parking spaces open for actual paying customers.
Merchants support local businesses
They are in a neighborhood all day, so often have at least a coffee or meal from another local business while at their own every day, unlike the people who who use the MBTA parking who are only briefly in the area.
But, sure, more parking is a good thing if there is a shortage of one type or another. Getting 10 bike parking spots out of a parklet, other non parking space, off-street bike rack makes the most sense, and then from a car parking spot the next most sense. I've skipped doing business in a place when not seeing any open parking spots. It must be even worse for a cyclist who has expended the effort to pedal someplace and not been able to find parking anywhere and then leave because of it.
Do proponents have any actual data on how often that happens here?
How many cyclists have gotten parking tickets because they were forced to park illegally?
There are no meters in the Square
You should visit the Square sometime.
Are you really surprised that "No Parking" is a liar?
An anonymous coward by any other name...
*
*
citation needed
.
4.8 million
http://www.statista.com/statistics/198029/total-number-of-us-licensed-dr...
Nearly 4.8 Million licensed drivers in MA.
Only 5.3 million adults (over 18) in MA. (US census: http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/25000.html)
Therefore, nearly everyone over 18 has a license (around 90%).
sure, but
How many actually own a car (especially in the Boston area)? I have a license because I occasionally have to drive, and I did more when I didn't live in the city, but nowadays I bike or take the T 7 days a week. They don't make you give up your license if you're not using it...
Screw this shit. Yesterday I
Screw this shit. Yesterday I drove over a screwed up BU bridge. It untill a couple of years ago had two lanes of traffic in both ways. Now it is one lane in each direction plus two hafe rolling storage lanes for people who want to make a turn. There are also now two bike lanes one each way instead of the olid two lanes for cars. At 3:30PM this area was backed up on Memorial drive to the Hyatt. For the 15 minutes it took to transverse the BU bridge I didn't see a single cyclist. Then I crosed Brookline to South Huntington Ave traffic at Perkins street was in a single lane backed up 30 or 40 cars. We used to have two lanes . Now instead we have a car lane and a bike lane. I saw one cyclist use the bike lane. If one is concerned about air pollution you should know that a idling car at a traffic light runs much dirtier than a moving one. Secondly I realise cyclist through the real estate tax they or their landlords pay contribute to roads. But motorist pay that plus excise tax and heavy gas taxes (which also significantly subsidise the T). We have more vehicles than we used to but when you start reducing roadways like the BU bridge or Columbia Road and Blue Hill Ave that used to have three lanes each way to two each way it creates artificial traffic trouble. I am a lifelong resident of Boston (61 years). It is nice that to get around I can use the T or once in a blue moon use a bike. But I will not be bullied into not driving. I may be driven out of the city but there an upside to not having to pay unrealistic property taxes or being extorted by the MWRA for a staple of life. It should be realised that many drivers consider driving as a synamen to freedom. We can go where we want when we want.
Are you just angry in general or do you have some specific ire?
Do you know Roslindale Square at all? I'm guessing not, not when you start ranting about the BU Bridge and Blue Hill Avenue.
But I could be guessing wrong, so: Have you considered what the actual impact would be of removing one parking space from the Square? Would it be oh so more cataclysmic than the space that was removed for that summer table thing on Cohasset Street that we need to go full on ballistic and start planning sit downs and linking arms across the street and singing "We Shall Overcome" to stop this outrage?
In itself, no
But i am sensing a pattern here. Removing parking spaces for bikes, removing car lanes for bike....ok, fine, but we have to temper it along with the realization that folks who do drive into the city should not need to experience longer commutes because the City gave up too many car lanes to cyclists.
I pay property taxes in the city
I don't want suburbanites driving through my neighborhood. I'd rather have more bike infrastructure. I don't care about how long your commute is - I don't want you speeding through my neighborhood because I live here. find another way to get to work. Maybe ride a bike.
The parklet
on Cohasset St. is in an area where no parking is allowed anyway. So, it's never taken away legal spaces.
Domino Theory
Is your answer, per cold war politics. As one place succumbs to communism, others fall. Its the same how biking infrastructure takes over like communism.
In other political news, John Kerry broke his leg bicycling in Switzerland (he takes his bike on the jet with him). Perhaps he and Bono can be bicycling buddies and discuss world peace while riding and harming themselves.
One problem Marrrky Boy
The Domino Theory is a LOGICAL FALLACY in REALITY.
Now go fuss and fume while refusing to get that handicap permit.
Logical Fallacy
http://utminers.utep.edu/omwilliamson/ENGL1311/fallacies.htm (scroll down to "slippery slope")
Note: this isn't a tutorial for future commenting
Ah, the creeping specter of Communism
OK, I'm officially changing theories: Markk is actually an elaborate piece of performance art, underwritten by the Massachusetts Democratic Party. Somewhere on Beacon Hill, an underpaid intern for one of the state reps is banging away on a keyboard, trying to silence the cognitive dissonance that threatens to haunt his dreams. This unknown 21-year-old poli sci major from BU steadies his hands, willing the tremors to stop. "Without such a risible false flag operation on Universal Hub, people might actually start taking Republicans seriously."
There's no way--absolutely no possible way--that someone could be this obtuse, argumentative, and one-note without having some flickering sense of self-awareness. An actual real-life person who thought and acted like this all the time would long be dead of scurvy, or from whatever affliction you get from drinking 24 cans of Diet Coke a day.
Never said I believed in Domino Theory
I merely used it to explain how some people of a certain age might perceive some sort of deja vu as parking and travel lanes fall to commie-pinko bicyclists!
But now that I think about it, cyclists themselves claim that more infrastructure begets more riders and yet more support and yet more infrastructure for themselves, thus validating domino theory when it comes to shared travel lanes losing to bike-only infrastructure.
Otherwise, I like to make comments to provoke thought and taunt bigoted people who don't consider other ways of looking at things, whether I hold those opinions or not.
Otherwise, I like to make
Very fine line, Marky. You may want to reexamine that.
I know the Square very well.
I know the Square very well. All the way back to the Rialto theater where I remember catching a Saturday double feature for 35¢. I still go there regularly sometimes for a meal or a haircut at Sabastions.
Could not say it better myself, anon, thankyou!
The folks who live in a lala reality where cars will just disappear will rake you on over the coals. Let them. The city's old road structure coupled with the number of folks who car commute into the city (which is probably higher now since the T is so sucky) does not really have the wiggle room to loose car lanes to bikes...methinks you will see those bike lanes revert back in due course.
Fight the Real Enemy
Blaming cycling lanes for traffic is like blaming taxes for the price of gas.
Wanna know what causes traffic? Look in the rear view mirror.
Reality...
You mean that magical place where you can live in a charming, fun, vibrant city full of cultural attractions, restaurants, parks, etc AND just drive your car wherever you want at any time and never encounter parking or traffic hassles? Or have people speed through your neighborhood or worry about letting your kids walk or bike to school because the traffic is too dangerous? That reality??
Honestly--who's living in lala land here?
Calling pure BS on at least part of this
I am familiar with Columbia Road. I've been riding or driving down that street since I was a newborn. I remember how is was basically deteriorated to a gravel path after the winter of 1994. From Frankiln Park to Edward Everett Square it has always, since it's layout, been 2 travel lanes each direction.
Now all they need to do is put in bike lanes by St. Margaret's, and I want that as a driver. The right hand lane is not wide enough for a car, so I am always worried about being sideswiped by some asshat trying to pass.
You must be young. It was
You must be young. It was three lanes in each direction with a real skinny median. The median had light poles on it. In 1976 I bought one of those light poles for $714 dollars. Of course that was after I knocked it down!
My memories are vague
Since I was 5 when you took down the pole, but suffice to say that my memories in the 1980s while taking the #16 to school is 2 lanes, and when I started driving in the 1990s, and really had to notice these things, there were definitely only 2 lanes each way. The bike lanes were put in during this century, so the only thing they did when they put them in was to demarcate the outer limits of the parking lane and perhaps narrowed the two travel lanes a bit, but not impossibly so. I looking at Olmstead's plan for the road, I would say that your memory of a thin median might be a bit vague, but the memory of the pole makes me think otherwise.
Here's the thing that gets me about people griping about bike lanes. Generally (though admittedly not universally) they only put the lanes in when they can without sacrificing either travel lanes or parking lanes. if you are ever on River Street heading from Cleary Square to Dedham, there is (or at least was) a classic example. They only put in a lane on one side, since putting lanes in on both sides would have been too much of an imposition. And at that, I believe they are going to remove the lane they put in.
Don't let the door hit you on the way out
n/t
So, anonranter
When are you going to:
1. learn something meaningful about urban planning
2. get out of your car
You sound way too angry and entitled to be trusted behind the wheel. Texas awaits you.
Oh, wait, they have serious traffic despite paving everything ... could it be that paving more lanes doesn't help? Perhaps you can look that up in those urban planning classes.
You were on the BU bridge for fifteen minutes and
didn't see a single bicyclist? On a lovely May Saturday? I'm really not sure exactly how many lies are in that sentence but at least one. Screw that shit indeed.
Now hang on
I can totally believe that a local driver didn't see anyone on bikes. There may have in fact been hundreds of bikes, but nowhere in the Boston Drivers Code does it say you have to actually look around at your surroundings.
In fact...
...you';re probably likely to see many more during a weekday commute.
But motorist pay that plus
You don't really... get taxes, do you?
Fascinating. I would have pegged drivers as more the oregano type than synamen. Possibly cumin.
If we look past the most appalling spelling and grammar I've seen this month, though, I have a strong message for anyone who equates driving their car on (massively-subsidized, public) roadways: you're a delusional madman with Randian fantasies, and your magical thinking isn't going to change the way the rest of the state makes public policy decisions. If you're sick of sitting in traffic, stop driving your goddamn car into the city.
I'd rather have hubway
than a bike corral - never had trouble finding bike parking in the square. newbury street, on the other hand, they desperately need bike parking.
oh - and taking away "precious" parking spaces in the square? the only time I have had trouble parking my car there over the past decade or so was this past winter. If there was actually a problem with parking we'd move to metered spaces in the square.
anyway - I'll voice my support... but I'll be complaining about the poor state of washington street's bike lanes...
god no, last thing we is need
god no, last thing we is need is these oblivious hubway losers. Bar none worst biking segment in Boston. And this is coming from uhubs favorite biking scofflaw.
Loss of Space
The loss of the single parking space, or 2 spaces will impact the following people:
1) Adults and seniors visiting the community center during the day & night hours
2) Mothers picking up their todders from the Pre-K in the community center
3) Registry of Motor Vehicle customers
4) Mothers picking up their kids from the Sumner school
5) Mothers picking up kids in the community center's day care for after school kids
6) Families with kids in the sports programs at the community center.
** Wow, community center factors a lot, eh?
7) People using local business
8) Local employees
9) Post office customers
10) Construction workers from across the street.
11) Church-goers - well that's only on Sunday but worth mentioning.
And the majority of those people who will impacted don't even know there is a meeting happening about this. Why? Because no one from the city has sent out anything on their mailing lists. It will be interesting to see if there is anything in the Transcript or Bulletin this week. I saw my copy on Facebook. Where is the announcement from the Mayor's office people or district city councilor?
And... this will sail right through because no one will be there to complain? Why? See above. No one knows about it.
Clever.
My thoughts? Unless Fornax is against it, shove the "parklett down a little and put the bike rack there in the business district where it will serve the core users. Or take one space at Taft Hill Terrace lot.
The parking space chosen is right smack-dab in the middle of some of the worse traffic in the business district and probably one of the most dangerous intersections in Roslindale.
And why there? Why not closer to Poplar/Corinth.
Remarkable.
Is it true the people who thought this up are also the ones that are taking the Casey down? LOL!
Please spare me your rhetoric about people needing to walk or bike more as well. You're as bad as the people with cars. Take a side and drop the puck and watch the game.
Blah blah blah. I used the
Blah blah blah. I used the RMV in Roslindale. I parked on Cummins Highway. I walked for 2 minutes, rather than parking in the square. Boohoo.
If seniors who can't walk far need parking closer by, more parking spots can be labeled for handicapped only. If they can't get a placard, that means they should be able to walk like anyone else. Everyone else on your list can walk too. Some can even bike and use the rack.
One spot?
Sheesh--the hyperbole kills me. Moms, babies, old people--CHURCH GOERS!! Maybe Satan is behind this whole plan.
Right?
The nearest church is a good distance away, past other parking spots, on Cummins Hwy.
One damn spot
So, when are they going to start holding community meetings over every dropped cone used for space saving?
It takes away parking from those who need to park anywhere they want to!!!
Why are you so angry?
Why are you so angry? Disturbing. There should be places to lock up your bike to near a park other than trees. It's the logical thing to do. I'm not angry about it.
A single space next to Adams Park means nothing
There are no direct abutters, and no one parks there to pick anyone up at the community center, health center, or anywhere else.
Of course, if people really care about parking by Adams Park, what about the idea that comes up from time to time to allow parking on the Poplar Street side of the park? The Farmers Market folk do it illegally during set up and break down, so how about allowing it all the time?
Interesting idea, but...
the parking challenge in Rozzie Square requires more boldness in our thinking. It's high time we discuss paving Adams Park, which is ideally situated for serving as a parking lot.
[/sarcasm]
Removing one parking space
Removing one parking space won't have much affect.
Then again, neither will adding 10 bike parking spaces. Unless there aren't any bike posts or sign poles on that block of sidewalk, which they could easily add with less effort than putting in a corral.
Parking
What I don't understand is why the unit is place in the street this doesn't make any sense.