Hey, there! Log in / Register
Citizen complaint of the day: Potholes of death in the South End
By adamg on Sun, 05/05/2019 - 2:42pm
A concerned citizen files a 311 report about the intersection of East Berkeley Street and Harrison Avenue in the South End:
Veolia needs to fix their sinking multiple potholes of death.
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
All I’m going to say is this
If those potholes were on the sidewalk, they would have been fixed by now. Boston has no concern for drivers, bicyclists, or anyone using streets.
Well
It wouldn't have happened on the sidewalk because the sidewalks are mostly concrete and don't need to support the weight of moving trucks and other heavy vehicles.
If you think the City takes sidewalk mobility seriously you must have never let the house.
Let's just say
There are certain commenters at this website who have never set foot off the sidewalk.
But yes to all of your questions. This wouldn't happen on a sidewalk since concrete can support loads better than asphalt can, and I do think that the City does a good job with sidewalks, judging from the sidewalks I have walked on across the city (particularly versus the streets I have walked, ran, and driven on.)
What alternate universe do
What alternate universe do you live in where Boston sidewalks are in good condition? And, you know, pedestrians have to use the street as well, unless they just walk around and around the block where they live.
I recently had to push a heavy cart across downtown. It was a major struggle. I now have a lot more empathy for people in wheelchairs.
Then there's all the wonderfully designed traffic lights and crosswalks, which put pedestrian convenience at the forefront. I had the joy of crossing the street here: https://goo.gl/maps/ox4vxZqu6oTS1CJx8
This required waiting for no fewer than FIVE walk lights, none of which arrived quickly. And going on a roundabout path down the street, diverted off to the side, across, up the middle, across diagonally, and back down again. Here's an aerial view: https://goo.gl/maps/MSXtygz6QvCrFyxq6
The next intersection up the road doesn't have crosswalks in all four legs. That's a slap in the face to pedestrians. https://goo.gl/maps/WpWF4dtUm2HhRJB47
Haven't they ever heard of accommodating pedestrian desire lines? Could they have designed this worse if they tried?
Very interesting
But what you wrote bore little relation to the actual physical quality of the streets and sidewalks. In the images provided, the side walks were in good shape. The engineers at the BTD sited crosswalks at locations that were the safest. I could easily see the means to cross the streets.
I didn't claim otherwise.
I didn't claim otherwise. (But if you do want to see some terrible sidewalks, I have examples: https://goo.gl/maps/NNiUrxxhBjkVW17L7 https://goo.gl/maps/9ipEzEugwLj7rfAU8 )
My point was that, in addition to poor sidewalks in some places, there are also some terribly designed crosswalks which were obviously not designed with pedestrian convenience in mind.
And you seriously saw that Street View and the first thing you thought was "pedestrian safety"? When I get to be mayor and replace the senior leadership at BTD, remind me to hire someone other than you.
Those potholes are weak!
You want to see real potholes try South Huntington Avenue. Riding the number 39 bus up South Huntington is like riding inside Weird Al's accordion, Whole lot a shakin' going on.