Parking in a bike lane? Boring, not worth mentioning anymore. But even a jaded Bostonian like our own roving UHub photographer AlisonO could only watch in amazement today when a guy in a pickup drovee down the protected bike lanes, the ones blocked off to keep people like him away, on Staniford Street so he could get to the parking lot on the corner with Merrimac that much faster.
Just when I thought Boston drivers couldn't surprise me.
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Question...
By ChrisC
Fri, 05/10/2019 - 6:55pm
When the day comes where you're forced to purchase a vehicle (a move for a new job, or whatever), can you give me a heads up so I can be there to watch you sign the paperwork and drive off the lot? I just want to get a snapshot of the look on your face. Also, I'll be reading aloud all your comments while you sign the dotted line and take possession of the vehicle.
Not until they actually
By DTP
Wed, 05/08/2019 - 3:18pm
Not until they actually quantify the cost per trip made on every city street in a car. Hint, it's probably a higher number.
The type of car someone chooses to drive says a lot
By Kapil
Wed, 05/08/2019 - 8:33am
Look out for drivers in pickup trucks that do not use their trucks commercially and tend to drive a truck mainly because they like it. Those are the ones that tend to intimidate other drivers and violate traffic rules. You will often see these drivers speeding down the highway in the passing lane, shaved head, wrap around sunglasses, maybe a goatee, etc. Lots of them are off duty police officers, hockey coaches, whatever..
Cmon now
By SuperChingon
Wed, 05/08/2019 - 9:17am
We don't need to start stereotyping folks based on what they drive now. As a bicycle commuter, brown person, and truck owner, I don't like when people do this to me either
We can say we won’t use stereotypes but we will
By Kapil
Wed, 05/08/2019 - 11:22am
The human brain uses pattern recognition continuously. It is the most highly evolved function we have and sets us apart from animals and computers (for now).
I am also Not White and subject to this often. Sure it may not be not be nice to discuss patterns based on immutable characteristics, especially negative ones, but good luck changing humanity’s brain chemistry.
Cmon now
By SuperChingon
Wed, 05/08/2019 - 9:26am
We don't need to start stereotyping folks based on what they drive now. As a bicycle commuter, brown person, and truck owner, I don't like when people do this to me either
I mean
By Michael
Wed, 05/08/2019 - 8:31am
Since there's no chance of ever getting a ticket, why not? Why should anyone do anything that will slightly inconvenience them, as there is zero possibility of consequences
Its really not a surprise
By me
Wed, 05/08/2019 - 8:39am
that one of the taillights is broken.
If you're one of the people
By Robert O
Wed, 05/08/2019 - 9:38am
If you're one of the people who incessantly complains about cyclists not following the rules of the road to a T but you think this is funny, re-think your priorities.
That's not a pickup
By Refugee
Wed, 05/08/2019 - 10:10am
It's okay because the pickup is actually just two bicycles with an engine, cab, and cargo bed attached.
The lane was empty, so what's the big deal?
By anon
Wed, 05/08/2019 - 10:40am
Boston is a very crowded city with f'ed up traffic and road system. You take short-cuts whenever possible. It's second nature to natives.
No, I am not a suburbanite. No, I am not anti-bike.
The lane was empty, so what's
By DTP
Wed, 05/08/2019 - 3:22pm
Yeah, until it isn't. Do you honestly think this driver would have hopped the median back out into traffic if they had come across a cyclist?
If a sidewalk doesn't have any pedestrians on it at the moment, is driving down it a big deal?
We can also flip the tables here. Is it a good idea to go take a stroll down the middle of Congress St because at one specific moment, viewed from one specific angle, there are no cars?
Okay
By SwirlyGrrl
Wed, 05/08/2019 - 6:02pm
So pedestrian take-over of I-93 is totally okay in your mind?
Road congestion & Rage
By markg
Wed, 05/08/2019 - 11:32am
Sadly , as traffic congestion increases this reprehensible behavior and road rage will become more wide spread. Lack of "real" traffic enforcement in Boston and Masshole tendencies don't mix well. This recent Mass Inc poll is instructive
https://bit.ly/2Y8Rn8S
You realize Massachusetts is the 3rd most densely
By anon
Thu, 05/09/2019 - 9:56am
populated state after NJ and R.I.? Take the rural part of the state out of the equation and eastern MA Greater Boston is very densely populated. MA also has the lowest traffic fatality rate in the nation.
Our public transportation may be pretty poor, but
By mplo
Thu, 05/09/2019 - 6:15pm
an awful lot of the car/truck traffic is due to the fact that people drive in from the suburbs every morning for work, school, or whatever, and then drive back out to the suburbs where they live, at the end of the day,
Some thoughts:
By anon
Wed, 05/08/2019 - 2:48pm
Some thoughts:
Further back, the signs allow parking after 8 pm: https://goo.gl/maps/WZ8DjaqDMCAJYFxq7 . Where are you supposed to park? In the right general lane, to the left of the cycle track curb? These signs went up *after* the cycle track.
In the original plans for Government Center, what was supposed to be at the corner of Staniford and Merrimack? Was it really supposed to be a parking lot with a chain link fence, or was there supposed to be a landscaped plaza or another building? https://goo.gl/maps/GyrpsDR4F7wAe5g77
I was always taught that the safest way to turn right when there's a bike lane is to merge into it in advance when safe. Of course cycle tracks with a curb make this physically impossible without doing something else illegal (like this driver did). But turning across a cycle track continues to be a problem, and I don't think they're a safe design for cyclists in places with a lot of driveways. At least in this case there isn't parking (before 8 pm) obscuring drivers and cyclists from seeing each other.
I was always taught that the
By DTP
Thu, 05/09/2019 - 12:13pm
Please don't do this. Stay in your lane with your signal on until you are clear to turn, and then turn across the bike lane, after confirming there are no cyclists coming.
Driving in the bike lane in advance of your turn just blocks cyclists trying to go straight. It's both frustrating and dangerous to come up behind a car that's blocking the bike lane while waiting to turn right.
Per the MA Driver's Manual:
The San Francisco Bike
By anon
Thu, 05/09/2019 - 3:43pm
The San Francisco Bike Coalition agrees with me:
https://sfbike.org/news/bike-lanes-and-right-turns/
"A right-turning car is supposed to move into the bike lane before the intersection — anywhere from 200 to 50 feet before — first signaling the lane merge, then merging right to the curb lane, and finally making the actual turn once it’s deemed safe (CVC 21717).
The guiding principle and law is to always make a right turn from the right lane — or “Turn from the Curb” (CVC 22100). Turning across lanes is a big no-no, since it can result in crashes and near-crashes, especially “right hook” collisions."
So does the Executive Director of DC Sustainable Transportation:
https://ggwash.org/view/68168/throwback-thursday-d...
"Of you want to turn right, when there is a bicycle lane on the right side of the road, you should signal right to change lanes, look to ensure there are no bicyclists in the lane, then move into the lane. You are then blocking the bike lane, so cyclists don’t pull up on the right. You can then signal again to turn right and make the turn."
So does BikeRaleigh:
http://bikeraleigh.org/home/index.php/blogbike/374...
Staying in the general lane right up to the intersection is a good way to right hook a bicyclist, if you're not careful.
While biking, I'd much rather come up behind a right-turning car that's in the bike lane, than a right-turning car in the general lane. I have no idea if the car in the general lane will see me and yield to me. If they're not signaling, I wouldn't even know they're turning right.
However, if the car is in the bike lane, signaling right, I can merge left and be on their left. Or choose to wait behind them if I prefer.
INteresting
By ElizaLeila
Fri, 05/10/2019 - 9:21am
I don't bicycle, but I used to ride a moto (meaning I know what it's like to not be seen). But your train of thought here ^ is what I believed was the typical bicyclist's.
In addition, here's a study
By anon
Thu, 05/09/2019 - 3:52pm
In addition, here's a study of this issue in Cambridge:
http://www.truewheelers.org/cases/vassarst/insurre...
"Traffic law in the USA requires vehicles to merge right before turning right, even when the rightmost lane is a restricted-used lane such as a parking lane, bike lane or bus lane."
"Turning right from the left lane is hazardous. So is entering an intersection from concealment to the right of stopped vehicles."
This site points out that in addition to the right-hook issue, cyclists entering an intersection while passing on the right of a line of stopped cars are at risk of being hit by oncoming left-turning cars.
Don't put yourself in this situation, as a cyclist or a driver. If you're turning right, merge to the right in advance. If you're going straight, don't put yourself to the right of right-turning cars.
Inotherwords,
By mplo
Thu, 05/09/2019 - 4:53pm
whether you're a cyclist, an automobile or truck driver, or a pedestrian, be smart!
All of the evidence on this
By cinnamngrl
Tue, 05/14/2019 - 7:16pm
All of the evidence on this page points to truck drivers being the problem. What are you insecure about? why do you need to keep harping on cyclists?
Traffic markings
By ElizaLeila
Fri, 05/10/2019 - 9:19am
suggest otherwise. At least in this location: https://goo.gl/maps/gYWk6c2Nu8nC9pBf6
the bike lane is solid striped until it's not, indicating approval to cross over it to make the right turn.
As http://www.truewheelers
By anon
Fri, 05/10/2019 - 5:21pm
As http://www.truewheelers.org/cases/vassarst/insurre... says, road lines don't always suggest the safest course of action, or even the one required by law.
And you're allowed to cross a single solid white line. Otherwise it wouldn't be possible to use the legal street parking in your link. And cyclists wouldn't be allowed to merge left into the general lane, which is 100% legal and often necessary.
What about here? https://goo.gl/maps/rPJRVrCSBLcEQpZDA The dashed lines suggest that you can merge into the bike lane much further back.
both
By ElizaLeila
Mon, 05/13/2019 - 10:12am
you're both arguing against and making my point.
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