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But can this be true? What could BTD (the Boston Transportation Department) have planned for "bike plan elements" on narrow, high-speed Lincoln Street? If the overhead wires were buried, the utility poles removed, and the road widened towards the Mass Pike to create space for physically seperated bike lanes that would be a great improvement. That would also be a multi-million dollar project that I haven't heard seriously discussed. If the plan it just to paint "sharrows" in the existing lanes then that really isn't going to accomplish much.
I disagree about the widening. Lincoln Street is a speedway because it is right next to the Mass Pike and feels like another lane on the highway. Widening the street would just invite even more speeding and reckless driving. Instead, I think BTD should investigate some traffic calming techniques.
ReplyDeleteMatt - I think we agree about reducing speeding and reckless driving. I totally favor effective traffic calming, though I think the cobblestone section near Royal Street is useless. The curb bump outs at Everett & Lincoln are good, and should be replicated elsewhere on Lincoln. It is dangerous turning onto Lincoln from Litchfield and other side streets because of the limited visibility.
ReplyDeleteMy suggestion for widening would be to make space for a bike lane or (even better) a physically separated cycle track.
What are the traffic calming measures that you would like to see?
It's a tough one because the highway occupies one side of the street. I would start with narrower travel lanes and investigate whether that frees up enough space for a separated cycle track. Then I'd look into techniques that slow down drivers that are using Lincoln Street as a bypass. More curb bump-outs, maybe a set of chicanes, or a mini-roundabout at certain intersections. There's also a question for the community: should Lincoln Street be a primary through-route or should it be entirely for neighborhood access?
ReplyDeleteBike plan elements do indeed include sharrows and share the road signs. The plan indicates they exist, not that theyre great.
ReplyDeleteMaybe the Mass Pike could replace those worthless walls they built several years back with something decent and in doing so give up some land between the side walk and the wall for a pedestrian and bike trail. It would never happen, but you would be able to connect the river by the ihop with the river by genzyme like drawn here
ReplyDeleteOkay, first of all, I like the "serpentine" brick wall. It was only put there to make the vacant building more receptive. It's just too bad with the economy, it wasn't used. Secondly, we are not NEWTON. The Mass Pike is not going to do anything at our end of the pike. I for one, would like to see the brick wall extnded. Maybe we should do a fundraiser, as in other towns, where everyone buys a brick. Hey, it was just a thought. As for a bike lane on Lincoln Street is a complete waste of funds and time. Pedestrians use the sidewalk and so do bikers. Anyone who would use a bike lane and not the sidewalk on Lincoln Street would have to be crazy. Maybe some speed bumps or a blinking red light at Litchfield would be better, especially with all of the traffic that will be coming from Charlesview.
ReplyDeleteI don't think they're talking about the serpentine wall. Maybe you remember the wooden fence they erected all along the mass pike maybe 10 years ago? It lasted until the first snow storm when the snow plows knocked it over. That's Allston smashed between the mass pike and Harvard and shown little respect by either.
ReplyDeleteOh ya. Now that you mention it, I do remember that crappy wooden fence. but I still like the brick. Especially if there were some maintenance free landscaping to go with it.
ReplyDelete