And we suspect what was going through the mind of that truck driver on the Expressway southbound by South Bay this afternoon could be abbreviated "WTF?!?"
Jeremy Yan, who photographed the furiously pedaling Hubway rider, couldn't believe it, either (note to curmudgeons: As you'll see in the next photo, Yan was not driving):
UPDATE: And we were right. Hubway replies:
No cyclists should be riding on 93 or 95. Hubway riders obligated 2 follow road rules.
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Comments
There's a bit of pavement to
By anon
Sat, 09/17/2016 - 1:51pm
There's a bit of pavement to the right of the white line, which randomly varies from about 2 feet to less than a foot. I wouldn't call it a shoulder.
Is this the 1960s 1970s all
By ZA
Fri, 09/16/2016 - 8:02pm
Is this the 1960s 1970s all over again do what you want on our highways. Hitchhiking will be back soon.
Updated for the 2010s
By BostonDog
Fri, 09/16/2016 - 9:15pm
Now people use their thumbs on the their phones and instead of offering a few bucks for gas they pay with a credit card.
Uber is modern hitchhiking.
Take Mass Ave, for the love of God!
By anon
Sat, 09/17/2016 - 10:34am
It runs parellel to 93 along this section.
I have to think this guy was drunk or drugged or something.
I'm nervous as a passenger in a car along that stretch sometimes. Drivers are f-ing clueless of course and there's a lot of merging and exiting going on.
It would be beyond terrifying to me on a bike.
In all likelihood a tourist
By anon
Fri, 09/16/2016 - 5:55pm
In all likelihood a tourist who took a wrong turn... typically hubway renters aren't city cyclists.
I doubt it
By FredQuimby
Fri, 09/16/2016 - 6:17pm
Where would a tourist be going on the SE Expressway?
What would be the drop off location for the bike?
Do tourists pack dust/surgical masks for riding around town? Its not exactly Beijing we live in.
Maybe not a tourist, but
By anon
Sat, 09/17/2016 - 5:03pm
Maybe not a tourist, but almost certainly a visitor from Asia, because yes, they do pack them. As to where, that could be anywhere a person would drive to along the expressway. Reason: GPS directions.
Hubway riders aren't city cyclists?
By Anony- Mouse
Fri, 09/16/2016 - 8:29pm
So I guess the dozen + folks who take the Hubways from a nearby residential rental kiosk every weekday morning between 7am and 9am are tourists?
I find that surprising. I
By DTP
Mon, 09/19/2016 - 9:25am
I find that surprising. I generally see very few hubway bikes on my way to work in the morning, and the few I do see usually don't have a helmet or proper footwear or anything, which strongly implies that they are not a regular rider.
Also, I doubt anyone who has ridden a hubway bike would willingly subject themselves to that twice a day, every day. They're heavy, slow, and uncomfortable.
The 30 minute limit also discourages actual commuting (and discourages use in general for me), because if you can guarantee that your commute will only take 20 minutes (which is what I would want in order to have a buffer in case there was difficulty returning it, like a full kiosk) including waiting a signals, and the slow speed of the bikes, then you might was well just walk. Almost everyone I know who bikes to work has a longer commute than that.
Finally, the fact that hubway coverage is greatly reduced in the winter means that anyone intending on commuting via hubway needs to have another means of getting around for half the year - again discouraging its use.
I'm not trying to discredit your observation, I would just be very surprised if anyone actually used hubway to commute every day.
My commute to work is 20-25
By eherot
Mon, 09/19/2016 - 12:26pm
My commute to work is 20-25 minutes by bike (closer to 30 if I use a Hubway). Walking takes about an hour and 15 minutes.
I don't think a huge number of people commute by Hubway, but I know it must be some significant amount because the Hubway station near my house (Jackson Square) is always empty by 10 am and the one near my office (Congress St in Fort Point) is always full by 10:30.
My 20-25 min threshold was
By DTP
Mon, 09/19/2016 - 3:47pm
My 20-25 min threshold was based on Hubway times, not regular bike times. So your commute would likely be too long for Hubway without getting charged a fee.
I've done it. It's not
By eherot
Mon, 09/19/2016 - 6:39pm
I've done it. It's not (partly because the Hubway station is a few blocks from my house, so the Hubway ride is a minute or two shorter than the bike ride).
I see commuters using Hubway every morning
By anon
Mon, 09/19/2016 - 12:29pm
At Aquarium. These aren't tourists. And your bike doesn't turn into pumpkin you'll just get charged more:
Ride Length
Usage Fee
0-30 minutes Included
31-60 minutes $1.50
61-90 minutes + $3
91+ minutes + extra $6 per each additional 30 min
I occasionally use them to commute as well. I don't think they'd be a sustainable biz w/o daily users.
They reallocate bikes (and docks) nightly to account for people using them at beginning and end of days at different locations, i.e commuting.
Yes I am aware of how the
By DTP
Mon, 09/19/2016 - 3:51pm
Yes I am aware of how the pricing structure works. I never claimed your bike "turns into a pumpkin". But if your commute is just over 30 minutes long, you'll be charged $3 every day in addition to your monthly or annual membership cost. Which is about the cost of a T pass. One of the main reasons I bike rather than take the T every day is to save money. If I still have to pay the same amount of money, that's one less reason to ride.
Finally, reallocating bikes nightly has nothing to do with people using them to commute, because bikes used to commute are largely returned to the same dock at the end of the day. Bikes needing to be reallocated between docks overnight is evidence that the majority of people do not use them to commute.
there's a trick to it
By anon
Mon, 09/19/2016 - 3:53pm
You can avoid the fee if you dock a bike at minute 25 and then take a new one and be on your way.
This really works.
Money is no object with me and Hubway!
By anon
Mon, 09/19/2016 - 8:20pm
Well, within reason...
I don't use Hubway to save money. I use it to save time and avoid the T and to get exercise.
The annual fee is so low at $85 bucks that I'd gladly pay 3 bucks more a day for a 40 minute bike ride that kept me off the T.
My rides usually come in under 30 mins but honestly the additional fees are barely a consideration if I go over. I've bumped into people and grabbed coffee or taken another lap on the Esplanade and haven't sweated the fees at all.
Having bikes at the ready is still an amazing concept to me.
I wouldn't want to keep one all day but even then its short money and extremely convenient compared to renting a bike.
Mutha of Gawd!
By anon
Fri, 09/16/2016 - 6:17pm
Jesus, Mary and all the saints!
The WTF look of the Feeney Brothers driver
By FredQuimby
Fri, 09/16/2016 - 6:20pm
Is priceless.
Yeah classic look
By anon
Fri, 09/16/2016 - 7:18pm
Feeneys are in Dot and there are some new Hubway stations there.
Note to cyclist:
Next time you Google directions be sure to use the non-highway option.
Good Lord.
Reviewing the route
By SwirlyGrrl
Fri, 09/16/2016 - 9:33pm
Is your friend.
Also make friends with "not getting on a highway" concept
By anon
Sat, 09/17/2016 - 7:01am
How many consecutive bad decisions did this guy have to make to put him in that spot at that time?
He had to bike along a ramp and decide not to turn back the whole way. He had to merge onto the highway during rush hour. He had to cross over into the other lane.
Mind-boggling when you think about it.
Only good decision may have made was not to take the Red Line. At least the way we went he had a slight chance of getting to his destination on time.
On the other hand...
By Russ
Sat, 09/17/2016 - 10:56am
Since we haven't heard any recent reports of dead or injured Asian bicyclists, we can assume he safely reached his destination, most likely in record time, since he bypassed all those traffic signals.
Risk/Reward ratio isn't working for me.
By anon
Sat, 09/17/2016 - 12:53pm
At all.
When it's Your Life/Save 15 minutes that's a no brainier. Which this guy could have been to if that Feeney truck or another didnt see him.
That mask does nothing for TRAPs either
By SwirlyGrrl
Mon, 09/19/2016 - 8:52pm
Traffic related air pollutants of most concern are either gases or particles too small for that mask.
Feeney brothers driver looks
By ZA
Fri, 09/16/2016 - 7:56pm
Feeney brothers driver looks like a younger version of Archie Bunker
He is saying to himself geez Edith, look at what we have here..
Lol, it's the look he gave Meathead
By anon
Sat, 09/17/2016 - 3:28am
What great characters!
We're seeing something we never seen before
By Refugee
Sat, 09/17/2016 - 1:08pm
"It's a baby fuckin wheel, kid!"
So who was making better time?
By eherot
Fri, 09/16/2016 - 9:24pm
Bike or car?
Brilliant
By Canardly
Fri, 09/16/2016 - 10:15pm
Brilliant on the part of the rider.
And the ever-growing militant bike movement people in this city wonder why some people, drivers as well as pedestrians, don't support their interests.
If they nut case was hit the driver of a car or truck would get cited, and might also face a civil suit for injury when in fact the moron was clearly in the wrong. So much for responsible bicycling.
Friend of mine was crossing the street recently, in a cross walk mind you, and almost got wipes out by a bike rider, who clearly didn't know the "rules of the road."
I can only begin to hear the rants - from both sides.
Our society is failing.
Again..."almost."
By Sally
Sat, 09/17/2016 - 5:03am
Seriously people--hasn't SOMEONE actually been hit by a bike? Because it would make a much better story.
If all of the cyclists here--and pedestrians for that matter--start posting about *every* time they "almost" got hit by a car then we'll never have time to talk about anything else. Ever.
Yes
By Trevor
Sat, 09/17/2016 - 5:56am
I hit a pedestrian once. I had dodged out of traffic onto a sidewalk, then dodged around another pedestrian. She was walking out of an office building, and I was too close to the entrance. I hit her before I could even see her. I knocked a handful of papers out of her hands and (sorry this was years ago so my memory isn't 100%) I believe she fell to the ground.
I immediately stopped, helped her pick up her papers, and apologized what must have been a dozen times. She didn't seem upset, mostly stunned. I felt awful. I hope she didn't have any pain afterward, but I'm sure she was wary of cyclists after that.
It does happen, however seldom. I'm a much safer cyclist than I was then. I will still sometimes jump onto a sidewalk, but only when it's clear, and only far from building entrances.
(For full disclosure, this was in Seattle, where it is permitted for cyclists to use sidewalks. It's generally not a good idea regardless, but stopping on roads can be very unsafe, so approaching a destination it can be necessary for safely ending a ride.)
It "almost" happens all the time for reasons
By anon
Sat, 09/17/2016 - 6:54am
1. There's many potential collision because most bicyclists run red lights every day downtown at rush hour.
They usually stop for the light and then also go when the pedestrians get the light.
I see this every evening at State and Congress. I can honestly say I've never noticed a bike actually stay at a red light when all lights are for pedestrians. I never seen it. Ever. It might happen and I may notice the bikes riding past me rather than stopped but I'm pretty observant.
On the other hand I've never seen a car do this at that intersection. (They block the box and definitely run reds on right turns elsewhere but I haven't seen it here.)
2. There aren't actually accidents b/c bikes are smaller and more easily avoided by pedestrians. And of course the riders are in general much more nimble and in tune with their environment than car drivers.
I'm not against bikes at all but to deny this behavior is ludicrous. And to say cars are worse doesn't mean the bike riders aren't scofflaws as well.
An acquaintance drove drunk for decades. Never got in an accident and never got arrested but I'm sure he "almost" did many, many times. I guess it's OK since he never actually hit anyone? And pedestrians jaywalk so he can do whatever he wants because, why...
This argument makes no sense to me.
Cars are dangerous and big and frequently driven by Massholes. Bikes are smaller and less dangerous to pedestrians but frequently ridden by scofflaws downtown.
Everybody happy?
Walk a block down to Water and Congress
By SwirlyGrrl
Mon, 09/19/2016 - 8:54pm
Note all the jaywalkers flooding out across water street when there is a green light for those going straight through.
I'm on that damn bell from the time that light turns green and I start across and still get stupid bastards going "mooooo" and "RED LIGHT".
PS
By Sally
Sat, 09/17/2016 - 5:10am
Do you see any "militant bike movement people" here defending this idiot? No. No you don't.
If he'd gotten himself squished
By Roman
Mon, 09/19/2016 - 8:40pm
They'd all come out of the woodwork, put up one of them ghost bikes, and scream to the heavens about how drivers on the f'ing highway should check their mirrors and crane their necks at 55mph to make sure there isn't some poor innocent cyclist there.
Saw a guy doing this on Rt. 2
By tofu
Fri, 09/16/2016 - 10:31pm
Saw a guy doing this on Rt. 2 west-bound from the Alewife rotary... granted, there are no signs prohibiting cyclists (though they did put up a no pedestrians sign after they added the Alewife lane)
Also saw another cyclist heading east on Rt. 2 right before the 95 overpass. Understand if he was confused and came from one of the tiny side-streets in Lincoln, right before the Cambridge Reservoir... in either case, common sense did not apply.
Route 2 - I've done that
By Ron Newman
Sat, 09/17/2016 - 6:06am
I've biked on Route 2 eastbound from Old County Road in Lincoln, through the 128 cloverleaf, to the next exit at Concord Avenue. Shoulders are pretty wide through there.
Most of Route 2 *could* be
By anon
Sat, 09/17/2016 - 1:56pm
Most of Route 2 *could* be fine for biking, if they made sure there was a continuous shoulder, even a narrow one. And it would be very useful -- just look at a map of Lincoln and Concord and notice the lack of other through routes.
But the shoulder randomly disappears for no reason. Sometimes for very short stretches, which ruin the whole segment for biking.
Route 2
By Ron Newman
Sat, 09/17/2016 - 4:22pm
The real problem with Route 2 in Lincoln is the high concrete barrier between the opposing lanes of traffic. That seriously reduces its usefulness for either cyclists or pedestrians (and even for some drivers). The state should reopen some of these intersections, adding median breaks and crosswalks.
You're smoking something
By Roman
Sat, 09/17/2016 - 6:19pm
Route 2 is a highway with highway sightlines and people drive it at highway speeds. I happen to have driven on it just a few hours ago. Putting (unsignalized) crosswalks on there is just asking for fatalities.
You want to put bridges over it for bikes or pedestrians? Sure. Crosswalks?! Get real.
Why?
By SwirlyGrrl
Sat, 09/17/2016 - 6:59pm
This road was never terribly useful for cyclists and pedestrians. There are far better roadways in the area that actually go to things.
It should be possible to cross Rte 2 on Lexington Rd in Lincoln
By Ron Newman
Sat, 09/17/2016 - 10:12pm
but the median barrier prevents it. That would be a very useful connection for cyclists and pedestrians (also to Page Road).
bikes on 93
By anon
Sat, 09/17/2016 - 9:49am
I once saw a guy trying to get on 93 at that same stretch, but on the NB side. He was promptly stopped by a state trooper. Another time, there was a cyclist on 93S right where the leverett splits before the tunnel. It definitely is something that makes you do a double take.
Idiot Millennial.
By Jo
Sat, 09/17/2016 - 1:15pm
This rider has the same mindset found in people (millennials) who put their bare feet up on the table at Starbucks, who talk loudly into their phones or earpieces at the register when paying for groceries, despite the presence of a cashier trying to conduct business with them, who wear pajamas in public, and who just generally think that the world is their living room and no one else matters. I'm surprised he didn't have some hipster accoutrement like an old-timey typewriter strapped onto his back.
My guess is this idiot was raised by parents who told him he was "special" and that he "could do anything." Maybe he got one too many participation ribbons in school.
He endangered his own life, and possibly those of the other drivers. He could have been roadkill.
Yes: Every single thing wrong with the world is their fault
By adamg
Sat, 09/17/2016 - 2:02pm
God, is there nothing Millennials can't ruin and despoil?
Not like our generation. We weren't mollycoddled; why, we rode around in back seats without seatbelts, and we smoked cigarettes when we were 10, and our parents thought nothing of slapping us upside the head if we sassed off. And we liked it! Well, those of who weren't killed in horrible crashes or died of lung cancer or whatever. But kids, these days! Jesus Christ, get off my lawn, you bums!
False dichotomy.
By anon
Sat, 09/17/2016 - 6:50pm
No one is suggesting that other generations don't have faults, but at least with other generations you could find redeeming qualities.
But just look at millennials... yeeesh!
And you know Millennials personally?
By adamg
Sat, 09/17/2016 - 7:25pm
And enough of them to condemn millions of people?
What generation were you?
By SwirlyGrrl
Sat, 09/17/2016 - 8:10pm
Let me guess - the "now it is MY turn to hate on young people" generation.
How trite.
This from a member of THAT generation ...
By SwirlyGrrl
Sat, 09/17/2016 - 7:05pm
You know, the one that caused crime rates to explode vastly beyond anything we have seen before or since?
"The Baby Boom" was a massive disaster of violent crime unparalleled by any other in recorded history. Maybe it was because they were slapped around a lot and huffed a lot of lead exhaust? The ones who also exploded the teen birth rate and the drug abuse rate and other impulse-control related metrics. OH BUT MILLENNIALS WEAR PYJAMAS IN PUBLIC! CLUTCH THOSE PEARLS!
No matter - baby boomers don't get to lecture anyone about self control, given the history of their lack of it.
there's a word for PJs in public
By anon
Sat, 09/17/2016 - 8:16pm
sloth
oh Jo
By Malcolm Tucker
Sat, 09/17/2016 - 10:45pm
Granted, this guy is a complete ignoramus. No one will deny that.
However: what are you, a Baby Boomer? Generation X? If you're a Baby Boomer, thanks so much for fucking up the economy and the country so horrifically that no one can go to college or to the hospital without potentially taking on tens of thousands of dollars in debt. If you're Gen X, thanks so much for raising millennials to be this way.
Good luck getting anyone younger than you to take care of you when you're old and enfeebled, honey.
yes
By Scumquistador
Sun, 09/18/2016 - 12:02am
when they're old and enfeebled, hopefully millenials recognize what is best for the world and let them die as quick as possible
As a millennial who worked in
By DTP
Mon, 09/19/2016 - 9:33am
As a millennial who worked in retail for a few years, the ONLY people who talk on the phone through earpieces at supermarket checkouts are soccer moms and middle aged business-types.
Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 85, Section 11B
By E
Sat, 09/17/2016 - 8:57pm
https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/T...
If there is a sign prohibiting a bicycle on the Southeast Expressway, then the bicyclist violated this law.
Riding hub way bike down mass pike
By YOUR HONOR
Wed, 11/08/2017 - 1:43am
NOT ONE BICYCLIST HAS ANYTHING TO SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THIS MORON HE SHOULD BE riding on a vehicle that he drive by blowing through a straw on his wheel chair.Cause he knew what he was doing .As bad as it sounds if he got himself killed GREAT HE WAS LOOKING FOR IT
Riding hub way bike down mass pike
By YOUR HONOR
Wed, 11/08/2017 - 1:43am
NOT ONE BICYCLIST HAS ANYTHING TO SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THIS MORON HE SHOULD BE riding on a vehicle that he drive by blowing through a straw on his wheel chair.Cause he knew what he was doing .As bad as it sounds if he got himself killed GREAT HE WAS LOOKING FOR IT
Riding hub way bike down mass pike
By YOUR HONOR
Wed, 11/08/2017 - 1:43am
NOT ONE BICYCLIST HAS ANYTHING TO SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THIS MORON HE SHOULD BE riding on a vehicle that he drive by blowing through a straw on his wheel chair.Cause he knew what he was doing .As bad as it sounds if he got himself killed GREAT HE WAS LOOKING FOR IT
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