Biking in Boston

I was walking by Binney St. recently and is it getting grade separated lanes?
 
Arlington said:
Link?
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I have the plans because we're bidding the job. Putting the plans out there for everyone to see is a no-no in the City's eyes. But from the typical cross sections I've seen they're really cycle tracks separated by curb and/or grade difference. Very nice to see they followed through.


fattony said:
Does anyone have any experience with median cycle tracks? It makes me uneasy. I really hate the "wrong side" bike lanes on Comm Ave. They are fine while you are in them, but getting in and out is always awkward and uncomfortable.
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Yeah, and in the project you need to cross from the median along Causeway to the shoulder along Commercial (or vice versa). That crossing will happen in the very busy 5-way Washington St intersection.
There's already the issue of cars coming out of Endicott Street and trying to run the gauntlet since they don't have a signal facing Endicott.

Edit: from this link it looks like they're just ending the cycle track prior to the intersection. So there will be a weird gap in the cycle track between Causeway and Commercial (to accommodated turning lanes??). I'll check the plans to confirm that's how it was finally designed.
 
Scipio said:
RE Comm Ave it looks like it was resurfaced recently, last time I was on it there was nice black pavement but no paint on the segments closer to the Public Garden.
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It looks like they are resurfacing Comm Ave in the Back Bay just before the winter hits.

AmericanFolkLegend said:
Yeah, and in the project you need to cross from the median along Causeway to the shoulder along Commercial (or vice versa). That crossing will happen in the very busy 5-way Washington St intersection.
There's already the issue of cars coming out of Endicott Street and trying to run the gauntlet since they don't have a signal facing Endicott.

Edit: from this link it looks like they're just ending the cycle track prior to the intersection. So there will be a weird gap in the cycle track between Causeway and Commercial (to accommodated turning lanes??). I'll check the plans to confirm that's how it was finally designed.
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They are sending the cycle track north to an off-street path along the water. This is somewhat out of the way if you are in a hurry, but I guess is much more scenic and befitting the "connect historic" mission.

This issue did come up in the public meeting that I attended. The response from Vineet was simply: we'll put sharrows in for now and revisit the issue when redoing the whole mess of an intersection in a few years.
 
Matthew said:
They are sending the cycle track north to an off-street path along the water. This is somewhat out of the way if you are in a hurry, but I guess is much more scenic and befitting the "connect historic" mission.

This issue did come up in the public meeting that I attended. The response from Vineet was simply: we'll put sharrows in for now and revisit the issue when redoing the whole mess of an intersection in a few years.
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Interesting. Thanks Matthew. So are the putting cyclists on that little bridge that runs under Washington Street bridge and then bringing them back to Causeway via Lovejoy Wharf?
 
From another thread:
bigeman312 said:
The Fitchburg Line's October performance encouraged me to push my cold-weather biking limit, so that's a good thing!.
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I think cold is great--my limits are set by *wet* (rain or wintry or oppressive humidity). As long as it is dry, I'm good.

Anyone have any equipment they particularly like dealing with winter biking? Mine are:
1) Layers of thin synthetic shirts (bought at any Goodwill...only the "New Year's Resolution" crowd should pay retail; everyone else should buy their cheap & abundant castoffs). Compression inner layer, loose outer, fleece in-betweener only needed in acute situations.
2) Balaklava Hood. BlackStrap makes a great one.
3) Three Headlights. 1 flasher to be seen, 1 on pavement for potholes & tight maneuvers, 1 mounted low and pointing straight ahead.
4) Layered thin tights (bought new: Goodwill doesn't do underwear ;-)
5) Eyewear. Anyone like any particular kind of goggles? So far, I've always just worn an a cheap-but-frameless pair of AOS safety goggles to "shed" the wind and held in place by the balaclava and the helmet


And while not a "winter" thing, a bell is good. I like the CatEye Yamabiko Bell for its simplicity (1 moving part), small size, and very "here comes a bike" sound.
 
AmericanFolkLegend said:
Interesting. Thanks Matthew. So are the putting cyclists on that little bridge that runs under Washington Street bridge and then bringing them back to Causeway via Lovejoy Wharf?
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On the plus side, the Washington Street light cycle takes forever, so skipping it will save a lot of time. On the minus side, co-mingling with foot traffic on the harbor walk? Might kill your time saving and maybe some small children.
 
I bought some kind of scarf-like, turtleneck-without-the-shirt thing instead of a balaclava. It's more flexible, but I can still cover my ears, chin, head, even nose if I want. That plus gloves seems to be very effective. Warmth is no longer an issue. Although, some people have suggested mittens instead.

I wear glasses but I've heard ski goggles are an idea. I have some lab goggles that I might try.

I need to find a good set of waterproof pants or pant-covers for dealing with precipitation. And possibly boots.

I'm also wavering on whether to get studded tires or whether just to bike carefully whenever ice is present.

I have three forward-facing lights now but I'm thinking that maybe I should get an even more powerful one because my headlight beam doesn't penetrate enough to see potholes more than 10-15 feet in front of me.
 
Matthew said:
That plus gloves seems to be very effective. Warmth is no longer an issue. Although, some people have suggested mittens instead.
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I have so-called runner's gloves (with reflective finger tips and iphone-friendly thumb and index). So far I haven't done heavier mostly because I'm staying away from wet/snow/ice anyway. Anyone have a best handwear solution? The dudes with wind-guards on their handles look like they know what they're doing, eg:
the BarBra
bar%20bra.jpg

and the ol' juice bottle:
F48P7ZWHMMF58R4.MEDIUM.jpg
 
Arlington said:
From another thread:

I think cold is great--my limits are set by *wet* (rain or wintry or oppressive humidity). As long as it is dry, I'm good.

Anyone have any equipment they particularly like dealing with winter biking? Mine are:
1) Layers of thin synthetic shirts (bought at any Goodwill...only the "New Year's Resolution" crowd should pay retail; everyone else should buy their cheap & abundant castoffs). Compression inner layer, loose outer, fleece in-betweener only needed in acute situations.
2) Balaklava Hood. BlackStrap makes a great one.
3) Three Headlights. 1 flasher to be seen, 1 on pavement for potholes & tight maneuvers, 1 mounted low and pointing straight ahead.
4) Layered thin tights (bought new: Goodwill doesn't do underwear ;-)
5) Eyewear. Anyone like any particular kind of goggles? So far, I've always just worn an a cheap-but-frameless pair of AOS safety goggles to "shed" the wind and held in place by the balaclava and the helmet

And while not a "winter" thing, a bell is good. I like the CatEye Yamabiko Bell for its simplicity (1 moving part), small size, and very "here comes a bike" sound.
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Haha yes! Thanks for the quote and bringing it over here. Last year, I bike commuted until daylight savings ended. This year, I invested in lights, apparel, and other accessories, and am still bike commuting much of the time (including today).

I'm not in the "New Year's Resolution" crowd, but I generally buy new rather than used (just personal preference). I do, however shop around for the deals on new stuff, and never pay what the higher-end bike shops charge. Here is a list that has worked well for me:

  1. Fenders. This is not necessarily a winter-riding accessory, but rather a year-round all-weather accessory. For anyone who wants to bike as a serious mode of transportation, and isn't just a "fair-weather" cyclist, this is Numero Uno. Unless you really know what you are doing, I definitely recommend having a bike-shop install full-length fenders.

    Clip-ons do not do nearly the same job and aren't even worth the investment. Permanent, full-length fenders, on the other hand, are not much more expensive and make a world of difference for keeping your legs and back dry. They also have no downside, as the fenders today are nearly weightless and don't impede your riding in any way.
  2. Non-cotton base-layers. I find outer-layers are FAR less important than base-layers when biking through the cold (or when skiing). If you ski and/or bike, much of this applies to both activities. You never want cotton against your skin, whether it's tighty-whities, boxers, an undershirt, a T-shirt, it doesn't matter.

    Invest in wicking base-layers rather than absorbing ones. Once you make the switch, the difference is unforgettable. Even on hot days, a wicking base-layer rather than an absorbing one makes a world of difference.

    My preference is Hot Chilly's Performance Base Layers. Under Armour, Nike, and others make competitor versions, but Hot Chilly's is the cheapest. You can buy these at Olympia Sports for under $20 and they are THE most important piece of clothing for biking through the cold.

    The key is that they won't overheat you when you get going as well. I find that Hot Chilly's and athletic shorts alone are enough to keep your legs warm when cycling at temps under 30 degrees, like this morning.

    You may want to buy some compression shorts underwear for underneath to keep the boys in their place. No matter the weather, something like this (http://www.adidas.com/us/climacool-9-inch-midway-briefs-2-pack/H72672_360.html) is so clutch. Keeps everything in place, avoiding any painful moments, and as I'm sure the men who bike a lot on here can attest to, that is very important for both short-term and day-after-day use.
  3. Lights. This is less about cold and more about darkness, but they go hand-in-hand. I choose to invest in quality headlights, but quantity tail-lights. The most important light is your primary headlight. Shop for a deal, but don't skimp on quality too much. Steady to see, flashing to be seen.

    Tail-lights aren't ever lighting the way for you and should really just be, along with your reflectors, helping you be seen. Therefore, make sure your headlights are strategically placed so you can be seen from many angles: one on the backpack and one on the seat-post is a good start. Back of the helmet and anklet are nice touches as well.
  4. Gloves, Wool Socks, Balaclava, in that order. I'll throw on a pair of gloves if it's 50 degrees (having a pair for 55 degrees and a different pair for 35 degrees can be helpful, but not a necessity). Some form of gloves are must, though. Usually gloves that are marketed as "glove liners" for skiing (to be worn under ski gloves) are cheaper and work well for biking in the 30-50 degree range.

    Wool Socks are a VERY nice to have item. The ROI is absolutely worth it. I'll always wear wool socks if I'm cycling in temperatures at 40 degrees or less. They make a world of difference on the shins - buy wool socks that are longer (i.e. ski socks) and pull them up to just below the knee. That's the stuff.

    A balaclava is really nice on the very cold mornings like this week. I almost never wear one if it's over 30 degrees, but once the mercury drops into and below that range, you need something for your ears, chin, cheeks, and neck.

My outer layers I find to be less important. If you are wearing the right base-layers, just throw shorts and a T-shirt or long-sleeved shirt over them and you should be all set in the torso and legs. Waterproof equivalent if it's raining.
 
Matthew said:
I'm also wavering on whether to get studded tires or whether just to bike carefully whenever ice is present.
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I had a couple conversation with bike-experts and the consensus seemed to be NOT to get studded tires. You could get well grooved tires which are going to perform pretty well through snow and ice and but you would also be able to ride them effectively on paved surfaces, unlike studded tires.

Unless you know you will be riding mostly on un-plowed, snowy, icy surfaces, or you can devote a back-up bike solely to this situation, it's not worth it for studded tires. Apparently they suck on dry road.
 
I have a studded front tire on a garbage rim I swap on if there is ice. I hit a patch of black ice and wiped on a turn a few years ago and barely got out of the way of oncoming traffic; scared the crap out of me. Otherwise i find my Panasonic panracer front and gatorskin rear more than adequate in most conditions.
 
bigeman312 said:
I had a couple conversation with bike-experts and the consensus seemed to be NOT to get studded tires. You could get well grooved tires which are going to perform pretty well through snow and ice and but you would also be able to ride them effectively on paved surfaces, unlike studded tires.

Unless you know you will be riding mostly on un-plowed, snowy, icy surfaces, or you can devote a back-up bike solely to this situation, it's not worth it for studded tires. Apparently they suck on dry road.
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I biked commuted through the winter for the first time last year without many issues (I ride a hybrid, so I have a bit more traction than a road bike).

The roads around here are so heavily salted and sanded that ice isn't as big an issue as one might think. It's really only a problem if it's actively snowing or has just snowed.
 
I think I am more cold tolerant than most people, but here is what I wear in the winter. I bike in work clothes every day:
- Wicking undershirt
- Cotton button down shirt
- Khaki pants
- Winter coat
- Thin hat under my helmet
- When it's very cold (< 20 F), ski face mask
- Thick gloves
- Regular socks
- Sneakers
- When it's snowing, I pull rain pants over my regular pants

Basically, it's what I would wear anyway, with the addition of the rain pants and the face mask.

For the bike, I have fenders and generator lights, so they serve me well in the winter. Standard tires.
 
bigeman312 said:
I had a couple conversation with bike-experts and the consensus seemed to be NOT to get studded tires. You could get well grooved tires which are going to perform pretty well through snow and ice and but you would also be able to ride them effectively on paved surfaces, unlike studded tires.

Unless you know you will be riding mostly on un-plowed, snowy, icy surfaces, or you can devote a back-up bike solely to this situation, it's not worth it for studded tires. Apparently they suck on dry road.
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As long as you only ride roads that are regularly plowed and salted (most roads in the Boston area) there isn't much need for studs.
But, if you ride any DCR maintained path (Southwest Corridor Park in particular especially the section south of Stoney Brook Station with south of Green Street being even worse) studded tires are a very pleasant item to have. No need to get the super aggressive versions, low tread and lots of studs (such as Schwalbe Winter Marathons) work very well, even on bare pavement. Yes, they are a bit slower (they actually weigh less than the Schwalbe Marathon Plus tires I have on for the rest of the year) but not by that much, even for an out of shape rider like myself I just ride one gear lower than I normally do. They are fantastic for refrozen snowmelt that so frequently covers portions of off-street paths. I do have an old Innova studded tire with deep lugs - it feels like riding with a flat tire while pulling a trailer even when on bare pavement.
 
The striping on Cambridge St in Allston will be completed in the coming days.
 
I rode through the winter last year and plan to do the same this year. The one thing that killed me during the most vortex-y days was that my hands got so numb I couldn't take my helmet off when I got to work. I experimented with mittens but that made me feel unsafe.

So my solution was an expensive one, but it has worked great these first few cold days: http://www.amazon.com/Venture-Heat-Collection-Heated-Liners/dp/B007A5N0D2

Heated glove liners with a thin second pair of gloves over them. I validated the purchase when I considered how much I was saving on car gas, parking, and insurance.

I can vouch that they are, so far, an excellent purchase -- and will come in handy for skiing too.
 
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