Biking in Boston

What on earth are these things. They won’t do anything as a car can drive over them so easily
From what I've read, these are far less comfortable to drive over than a flex post. I'll reserve judgement, but in general, I like the idea of something that the driver strongly feels if they bump into it.

As for the bike rider's experience, I think these are likely quite a bit better than concrete barriers, since they will be porous for easily moving in and out of the lane as needed.
 
I'm most appalled that these went back in the second the mayoral race was over. I hope we can just blame that on Kraft's agenda, and now that he's out of the way, Wu can push forward unopposed for infrastructure across the city.

And for separators, I too don't love flexposts or zebra bumpers, but these are a necessary intermediate step before a full-depth reconstruction can happen. Looking at Cambridge's build-out (which is highly successful by North American standards at increasing mode shift) they are almost exclusively using flexposts but emphasizing daylighting and smaller turn radius at intersections. Sure, I would love to have concrete and planters instead but having a connected, protected network is first and foremost the top priority. I'd argue cambridge is very very close to achieving that, Boston is like 60% of the way there with some routes still not possible to connect safely. Once we can achieve greater usage, the infrastructure can be upgraded later on.
I’m also assuming cast in place concrete can’t be used on bridges, so I’m curious if Seaport Blvd and other locations where 100% of the flexposts have been knocked over will get the Arlington bumps or something else.
 
Agreed, they appear easy to miss (compared to something bright yellow), and they are low to the ground, but high enough that if you hit one at decent speed on a bike you are likely going over the handlebars. Seems like the worst of all worlds here.
I really don’t know what it is about Boston and Massachusetts infrastructure design—it has always been perennially, and needlessly, dangerous. From four lanes that merge on highways into three with little warning, to zebra stripes on busy roads in dimly lit areas that are begging to leave a pedestrian dead, to curb “neckdowns” that are hidden by snowdrifts and cause hazards for drivers and cyclists alike, to bike lanes that just disappear precisely at the most dangerous intersection of a given corridor, we just seem to be cursed with thoughtless designs that any fool who paused for one moment would realize could be done better or differently.

Justifying this by saying it’s better for a car to feel a consequence when it unintentionally hits these, or that it is better than flying over a curb when you’re on a bike, is not a great rationale for what is simply bad planning. If there were any grain of truth in Kraft’s nonsensical claims about Boston bike lanes, it’s that they have indeed been laid out in a haphazard and thoughtless manner, and there really should be an organized guideline that governs high priority lanes—and one that is effective and safe. Time and again, we see the city lay down lanes on “low hanging fruit” roads, but flub plans when it comes to the busiest and most congested corridors—yet, this is precisely where real, non-negotiable bike infrastructure is most needed. This current plan is basically an attempt for the city to have its cake and eat it too: it doesn’t actually protect the bikes because it leaves space for delivery trucks (and ambulances, which makes zero sense), and it sets up hazards that are inevitably going to cause accidents in the winter. If I fly over one of the things in January and break a wrist I’m not going to be thinking about how worse it might have been if it had been a concrete curb. The city should decide to either make real, fully protected lanes here, or simply not do it so all, and route bikes on some other route. The half ass approach serves nobody and only introduces new and unnecessary risks.
 
From what I've read, these are far less comfortable to drive over than a flex post. I'll reserve judgement, but in general, I like the idea of something that the driver strongly feels if they bump into it.

As for the bike rider's experience, I think these are likely quite a bit better than concrete barriers, since they will be porous for easily moving in and out of the lane as needed.
If the bumps are uncomfortable enough for car passengers that they'll dissuade rideshare drivers from using bike lanes for dropoff/pickup, then that's huge.

The half ass approach serves nobody and only introduces new and unnecessary risks.
It takes space away from drivers, and that in itself is valuable.

Agreed that some lanes are worse than nothing. The gutter lanes on Comm Ave which switch between left and right shoulder are honestly terrible, and they give drivers justification to get pissy when cyclists make the only safe choice of taking a whole driving lane.
 
Last edited:
Boston just extended the underutilized right turn lane on Mass Ave eastbound at Magazine St (near UHaul and 1010 Mass Ave) by two BLOCKS. Not sure what the thinking was, but other than taking out a bunch of parking spaces, it doesn't appear to have any benefit. They DID however really tighten up the Glynn Way intersection.
 
Boston just extended the underutilized right turn lane on Mass Ave eastbound at Magazine St (near UHaul and 1010 Mass Ave) by two BLOCKS. Not sure what the thinking was, but other than taking out a bunch of parking spaces, it doesn't appear to have any benefit. They DID however really tighten up the Glynn Way intersection.

That was one of the recommendations from the so-called "30 day review" of bike lanes that the city did earlier this year:

 
That was one of the recommendations from the so-called "30 day review" of bike lanes that the city did earlier this year:

Remove parking on the right side of Massachusetts Avenue from Peirson Street thru Rusfield Street to allow greater capacity for vehicles to cue for the right turn onto Magazine Street.

Good catch! I guess so! Not sure if they ever spent serious time out there during rush hours, but aside from allowing an occasional driver an opportunity to bypass the line up at the light for the straight lane, the right turn lane is completely empty. It never itself has more than 2 cars waiting to turn right.
 
Brookline's Beacon St Bridle Path is having three site walks over the next couple of weeks!

St. Mary’s – Thursday, October 16, 5PM-7:30PM, BU Wightman Mansion, 43 Hawes Street

Coolidge Corner – Thursday, October 23, 5PM-7:30PM, Coolidge Corner Library, 31 Pleasant Street

Washington Square – Wednesday, October 29, 5PM-7:30PM, Driscoll School Multipurpose Room, 725 Washington Street

 
Brookline's Beacon St Bridle Path is having three site walks over the next couple of weeks!

St. Mary’s – Thursday, October 16, 5PM-7:30PM, BU Wightman Mansion, 43 Hawes Street

Coolidge Corner – Thursday, October 23, 5PM-7:30PM, Coolidge Corner Library, 31 Pleasant Street

Washington Square – Wednesday, October 29, 5PM-7:30PM, Driscoll School Multipurpose Room, 725 Washington Street

There is also a hybrid meeting tonight at 6:30

 
Wow, a completed Bridle Path makes Cleveland Circle look so much worse for bikes.

I also wonder if there is a better way to do the Beacon St westbound bike lane roughly between Westbourne Ter and Summit Ave. It has always been annoying that it appears and disappears, buffered out like that. Of course you have to consider the elevation change with a future Bridle Path. Maybe just remove the bike lane all together and direct bikes to the path via the new ramps?
Brookline's Beacon St Bridle Path is having three site walks over the next couple of weeks!

St. Mary’s – Thursday, October 16, 5PM-7:30PM, BU Wightman Mansion, 43 Hawes Street

Coolidge Corner – Thursday, October 23, 5PM-7:30PM, Coolidge Corner Library, 31 Pleasant Street

Washington Square – Wednesday, October 29, 5PM-7:30PM, Driscoll School Multipurpose Room, 725 Washington Street

 
Wow, a completed Bridle Path makes Cleveland Circle look so much worse for bikes.

I also wonder if there is a better way to do the Beacon St westbound bike lane roughly between Westbourne Ter and Summit Ave. It has always been annoying that it appears and disappears, buffered out like that. Of course you have to consider the elevation change with a future Bridle Path. Maybe just remove the bike lane all together and direct bikes to the path via the new ramps?
I like the separated bike lanes, I'm a bit worried the path is going to get too crowded like the SW Corridor or along the river. I think that bike lane could be extended a bit further if Brookline wanted to give up some parking. I'm not sure what the traffic volumes are like, but getting rid of the 2nd lane, which already disappears for the stretch you mentioned, could also do the trick.
 
I'm cross posting this in the 2025 Boston Mayoral Race thread, since it regards the upcoming city election, but it's also bike specific. Here's a link to the Boston Cyclists Union's candidate survey -- the mayor, and several council candidates responded and it's worth a look in my opinion.

https://bostoncyclistsunion.org/2025-candidate-questionnaire-responses
 
For Cambridge residents, early voting for the City Council begins this weekend. If you live in Cambridge and care about sustainable transportation and reducing congestion, please get out and vote for bike safety champions (Burhan Azeem, Marc Mcgovern, Sumbul Siddiqui, Ayah Al-Zubi, Dana Ray Bullister, and Ned Melanson), who have committed to finishing the CSO on time!
 
For Cambridge residents, early voting for the City Council begins this weekend. If you live in Cambridge and care about sustainable transportation and reducing congestion, please get out and vote for bike safety champions (Burhan Azeem, Marc Mcgovern, Sumbul Siddiqui, Ayah Al-Zubi, Dana Ray Bullister, and Ned Melanson), who have committed to finishing the CSO on time!
I think you skipped Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler, who should also be on that list.

I was just comparing the Bike Safety endorsements with the pro-housing endorsements from A Better Cambridge, here

I don't totally agree with A Better Cambridge, but their criteria seem pretty good, and the endorsements seem pretty good, too. The intersection of top bike supporters and top housing supporters from those lists is:
Burhan Azeem
Marc McGovern
Sumbul Siddiqui
Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler
Dana Bullister
Ned Melanson

Only Ayah Al-Zubi got the top bike endorsement but not the housing endorsement (and rightfully so).
 
I like the separated bike lanes, I'm a bit worried the path is going to get too crowded like the SW Corridor or along the river. I think that bike lane could be extended a bit further if Brookline wanted to give up some parking. I'm not sure what the traffic volumes are like, but getting rid of the 2nd lane, which already disappears for the stretch you mentioned, could also do the trick.
A crowded path is indicative of a need to build more/wider car-free infrastructure, not less. Though to your point, I'm a bit disappointed that despite the designers saying "there's plenty of room" in the ROW, there's no separated dirt walking/running path and dedicated cycle track. And instead reverting to the car-centric design of having everyone share a conflict-ridden 10 foot path.
 
A new apartment building is planned for Watertown Square in the 45-59 Mt Auburn St parcel, part of which includes the Watertown Branch RoW.

It's a bit unfortunate the City isn't doing a taking of the RoW part for stitching together the various pieces of infrastructure in the area. I think Patten Street still has a bridge over the RoW. Currently it's used as a parking lot for the Dunks.
The plans for the building make it clear that they plan to build in the RoW, so if you ever wanted to live in a railroad RoW this will be the place for you.

1761760453175.png

1761760578215.png

I forget if Watertown is supposed to be in the Boston or 'Burbs thread, apologies if this is the wrong one.
 
  • Like
Reactions: FK4

Back
Top