State to shut parts of three parkways to cars so bicyclists and pedestrians can spread out more

By adamg on Fri, 04/10/2020 - 12:20pm

DCR announced it's shutting parts of Day Boulevard in South Boston, Francis Parkman Drive in Jamaica Plain and Greenough Boulevard at dusk today to make the asphalt available to pedestrians, bicyclists and scooter riders who want some fresh air while keeping six feet away from everybody else.

The roads will be shut to cars until at least Monday, but DCR says it will then take a look at keeping them car free even longer during the current Covid-19 emergency.

Day Boulevard will be shut between Farragut Road and Shore Drive; Parkman Drive between Perkins Street and the Arborway; and Greenough Boulevard between Arsenal and North Beacon streets.

DCR also announced it will be reducing parking spaces at many state parks starting on Saturday to try to decrease the number of people who can ramble around them at one time.

Neighborhoods:

Free tagging:

Francis Parkman Drive

Greenough Boulevard

pedestrians

Bicycling

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FINALLY

By spin_o_rama on Fri, 04/10/2020 - 12:46pm.

Memorial Drive and Storrow next, work with local municipalities and create a connected network.

Lets go.

Right?

By Pete X on Fri, 04/10/2020 - 12:53pm.

Opening Memorial Drive to human powered traffic seems like a no-brainer. Probably why they didn't think to do it.

They close Mem Drive on

By amanda on Fri, 04/10/2020 - 2:32pm.

They close Mem Drive on Sundays during the nicer weather anyway...

Not till May

By Pete X on Fri, 04/10/2020 - 6:37pm.

In normal times they do this May-November from 12-7 on Sundays and there's always plenty of room for pedestrians and cyclists (and yes, it is still used by emergency vehicles during that time.) There's absolutely zero reason they couldn't do this every day right now, especially with Storrow right across the river.

Certainly ambulances won't need to use them

By Waquiot on Fri, 04/10/2020 - 1:00pm.

The point isn't a network. The point is to give people spaces to exercise.

I'm going to be nice and leave it at that.

Spare me the concern trolling

By spin_o_rama on Fri, 04/10/2020 - 1:13pm.

Maybe you haven't seen my posts but there are precedents talking about emergency vehicle access.

https://www.minneapolisparks.org/activities__events/road_closures/

Emergency vehicles will be allowed on closed sections of parkways and streets at all times.
Service, delivery and sanitation vehicles will be allowed on closed sections of parkways and streets as part of their regular operations. Vehicle drivers will be required to move and replace barricades.

It should be about building a network, we're most likely social distancing for long period of time, we should ensure this is a connected network so all can benefit, not just those within walking distance of a few closed roads.

Next.

Okay

By Waquiot on Fri, 04/10/2020 - 2:12pm.

But this isn't about you and your love of bicycling, so stop being happy about this.

Already stated that, honestly maybe you missed it

By spin_o_rama on Fri, 04/10/2020 - 2:30pm.

https://www.universalhub.com/comment/774645#comment-774645

And this doesn't come from my usual war on cars, this is all about the war on cabin fever and giving people some space to social distance.

https://www.universalhub.com/comment/776498#comment-776498

Oh gee look at that, they restricted even cyclists in favor of pedestrian usage of parkways, emergency/delivery/sanitation access is addressed and spoke about two way pedestrian traffic. Does that address the complaints of the usual crowd opposed to measures like this?

https://www.universalhub.com/comment/776795#comment-776795

Required disclaimer that this isn't about bikes, its about providing adequate recreational space for people while maintaining social distancing.

Hard to believe but this isn't about me or cycling, I haven't had an issue with space for that. This is about public health and outdoor access for people besides myself.

Next.

Then why the repeated

By Rob on Fri, 04/10/2020 - 4:08pm.

Then why the repeated references to a "network"?
Public health and outdoor access in this matter means space withing walking distance of homes. Spaces - preferably not overlapping other spaces in the same mode of use, prefereably not a network of corridors that increases communicability between spaces.

Oakland, among other cities, are already starting to

By spin_o_rama on Fri, 04/10/2020 - 4:59pm.

https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/04/10/coronavirus-oakland-banishes-cars...

It’s an emergency measure Mayor Libby Schaaf announced during a virtual town hall Thursday night, held via Zoom video conference, that will banish through traffic from 74 miles of the city’s streets.

“Because of the reduction in car traffic, we will be closing off a number of streets so that bicyclists and pedestrians can spread out and take in fresh air safely on Oakland streets, free of cars,” Schaaf said.

The program will launch Saturday in four select locations, with the city planning to expand in the coming weeks. Cones and signs will be placed at “strategic intersections” along corridors, the director of Oakland’s department of transportation, Ryan Russo, said at a news conference Friday morning.

Officials stressed this was not a total closure of these streets, but rather that they were publicizing certain roads to be especially alert of cyclists and pedestrians. Local traffic, emergency vehicles and other essential traffic will still be permitted, but through traffic is not allowed. However, officials said they don’t plan to issue citations.

That and the fact that we are going to be doing this long term but I do recognize the communicability concerns and I have to imagine these same municipalities aren't going into it blind.

Maybe network is the wrong term but people should be able to safely social distance and walk for miles if they want, a loose network of some connections helps achieve that.

What's easier to move out of the way when needed?

By fungwah on Fri, 04/10/2020 - 1:27pm.

Cyclists/pedestrians or cars?

That depends.

By anon on Fri, 04/10/2020 - 8:45pm.

That depends.

I'd rather drive an ambulance on Mem Drive at rush hour than during the 4th of July fireworks.

If you care about ambulances

By Kinopio on Fri, 04/10/2020 - 2:39pm.

If you care about ambulances then you never drive a car, right? Because drivers are what slow ambulances down, not pedestrians. And drivers causing crashes are a major cause of death and injury that results in ambulances being used.

You can care

By cw in boston on Fri, 04/10/2020 - 5:22pm.

about ambulances and drive a car. One does not negate the other.

I don't know how many ambulance trips are made for car crashes and how many for personal emergencies--at home or out. Do you?

There are people who need vehicles to go out, either on a temporary basis or permanently. Most drivers do not crash into other cars and/or people.

Excellent idea

By Mark- on Fri, 04/10/2020 - 1:00pm.

A welcome alternative to closing the parks and keeping all the roads open for cars that aren’t using them.

And can we cut the Jamaicaway

By eherot on Fri, 04/10/2020 - 1:04pm.

And can we cut the Jamaicaway down to two lanes so that a) People stop driving on it at 60 mph and b) There's more space for people to recreate around the Emerald Necklace?

The road they are closing by

By Kinopio on Fri, 04/10/2020 - 2:42pm.

The road they are closing by Jamaica pond(Francis Parkman)should never have been made in the first place. It completely cuts off the pond from the park across the street. The pond would be so much more pleasant without cars speeding by 20 feet away.

Should be all of Day Boulevard, not just this small section

By Ron Newman on Fri, 04/10/2020 - 1:37pm.

This is just the part right next to Pleasure Bay. It would be better to extend it all the way along L/M Street Beach and Carson Beach to Moakley Park and Columbia Point.

I wish they would close

By HCL on Fri, 04/10/2020 - 3:42pm.

I wish they would close something in Eastie. With almost nobody taking the T and it being unwise to, we're all stuck here and it's crowded.

Eastie

By Ron Newman on Fri, 04/10/2020 - 5:08pm.

How are the Greenway and Piers Park these days?

Piers Park has not been good,

By HCL on Fri, 04/10/2020 - 5:16pm.

Piers Park has not been good, but mostly at sunset (for obvious reasons). A few people using the exercise bars that they closed off, but no kids in the playground. Tons of people on the Greenway with dogs off leash. Soccer still happening at LoPresti and at the Lamson St. court.

Big mistake

By anon on Sat, 04/11/2020 - 8:23am.

Just encouraging more unmasked people to go to these areas. Saw it first hand just now. Stay at home doesn’t apply to everybody, right Charlie?

State to shut parts of three parkways to cars so bicyclists and pedestrians can spread out more

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