A film crew making a documentary about bike messengers and bike safety interviewed me today. They asked how Boston has become a safer place to ride a bike and if I see more people bicycling when I commute to work by bike.
About this all I can come up with is that a few of the major roads have been paved in the past few years (Western Ave, Everett St). Some of the bike path along the Charles as also been repaved. The media is writing a lot of stories about more people biking, but I don't notice any significant difference on the roads.
What are your observations? Have there been other improvements for biking near where you live or ride? Are you seeing more bikes on the road? Are you riding a bike more now than you were a year or two ago?
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I have definitely noticed more bicyclists on the roads this summer, particularly commuters.
ReplyDeleteSomerville has been installing bike lanes like crazy. I'm still waiting to see some bike lanes in Boston. I'm expected the new Comm Ave lanes to appear soon as construction starts to wrap up on that. Bike Friday was a big success, but Boston bicyclists are still anxiously awaiting for some new facilities.
I wonder if the increase is happening more in the city than in the suburbs. My commute is to the west through Watertown, Belmont, and/or Waltham where the number of bike commuters still seems pretty low.
ReplyDeleteI'm definitely seeing more bikes along the 57 bus route. I also am happy to say that the Comm Ave renovation from Kenmore to the BU Bridge looks very much like it is to include bike lanes. The chalk lines are out already and its looking good!
ReplyDeleteThere are definitely more bikers out and about. But I do suspect that the increased press coverage is not only due to that, but also because its easy news in a time of increased newsroom budget cut backs. I don't see many stories peeling back the layers of intrigue that surround the decisions that do or don't get made on bike facilities in the city. Things are better in Cambridge yes, and they are also a lot more open.
ReplyDeleteI'm not bike commuting to work yet, but hopefully will be soon. I just bought my first bike in many years, and I've been out and about in North Allston getting re-acquainted with cycling.
ReplyDeleteAlso, my girlfriend recently started bike commuting from her place in the Back Bay to her Watertown office, which takes her through A-B.
I'm really hopeful that our city is on the way to becoming more bike friendly. Paving roads and painting bike lanes is all well and good, but I think there needs to be a major public awareness/education thrust to remind drivers what rights bicycles have on the roads.
I have mixed feelings about Critical Mass events, since they often elicit more angst in drivers than support, but I think things like Bike Friday and Hub on Wheels can garner some good will if properly leveraged.
I live on Corey Road and I bike to work in Cambridge every day. I've noticed many more bikes on the road. I would not recommend my route to the feint of heart. I bike right down Cambridge St. by the Mass Pike on-ramp. If I don't run the red light at the intersection of N. Harvard, I get pinned to the side of the road by cars merging onto the onramp.
ReplyDeleteThis is just one example of the hazards of biking in the City. There are numerous hazards and no political will to make biking here better.
I see no difference now than a couple of years ago or more. Sure some roads are new paved, but that has nothing to do with increased bicycles.
ReplyDeleteBeacon St. bike lane is about it.