But basically, it occurred in one of the few places that a Somerville Cyclist can get across the Mystic River.
Very, very sad story. I feel awful for the cyclist and his family and friends, and frankly the motorist who now has to live with what he did. It was more likely a product of the road than the cyclist's actions or the motorist's actions, knowing the area. Here is my take on crossing I-93 and the Mystic River in this area:
This has posed a major problem to me when trying to bike to Everett/Chelsea/Revere. I always begrudgingly took public transportation or didn't make the trips.
My options, between Medford Square and the Logan Airport ferry:
- Alford Street, Charlestown-Everett. This was still under construction most of the summer (I think), but has since opened with apparent bike lanes and sidewalks (Alford Street Bridge Opens). I'll have to reserve judgement until I try it out, and I hope this was a big improvement, but it previously was a frightening place to bike that I always avoided.
- Fellway, Somerville-Medford. A 6-lane highway that I will not bike on for obvious reasons.
- Mystic Valley Parkway, Medford. A highway that has sidewalks. I would ride on the sidewalks, but not on the road. And I am an experienced cyclist who mostly refuses to ride on sidewalks, except where necessary.
tl;dr: I honestly hope Alford Street is bike-able now, as the next best option for crossing the Mystic is the sidewalk on the Mystic Valley Parkway (Route 16) near where this cyclist was killed.
The other problem, the one this poor cyclist faced, is that I-93 poses a barrier equal to the Mystic River. For example, getting to the sidewalks on the Mystic Valley Parkway bridge requires crossing I-93. Your options between the Mystic River and Charlestown are:
- Mystic Valley Parkway, Medford. Crossing under I-93 on the Mystic Valley Parkway is not something that should be done outside of a car. This crossing is dangerous by foot or by bike. Your options are to use the narrow sidewalk next to highway-speed traffic or seriously risk your life, as shown today, very sadly. The overpass that's farther north is even worse. I'm pretty sure non-motorized traffic is banned from that section. If it is not, it should be. This stretch is a high-speed, multi-lane tangle of interstate on- and off-ramps.
- Shore Drive, Somerville. Hard to get to on Mystic Ave (a quasi-highway). Once there, the underpass is unpleasant, but do-able, with short sight lines and blind turns.
- Temple Rd, Somerville. My go-to crossing. This is the only one I've used more than once. It's an unpleasant underpass that has short sight lines, but is easier to get to and the least of the evils.
- Bailey Rd, Somerville. One-way west bound and is treated mostly like a highway on-ramp. To be avoided on bike or foot.
- Assembly Square Dr, Somerville. There are token bike markings painted on in one direction. Speedy car traffic, little-to-no shoulders, multiple turning lanes for cars. Better than Bailey Rd, but I certainly didn't feel safe biking through the one time I tried it.
- Google maps shows one crossing under 93 that is a windy pathway. I've never seen this and am unsure if it actually exists, but seems like it would, best case scenario, amount to biking on a narrow sidewalk.
tl;dr: From Sullivan Square to the Mystic River, there is one, or maybe two
okay places to cross I-93 in Somerville (Temple, maybe Assembly Square Dr) and ZERO safe places to cross on bike in Medford.
THE BIG CONCLUSION: To get across both of these barriers (I-93 and the Mystic River) safely from Somerville, North Cambridge, or the southern part of Medford, one would need to:
A. Go down and around through Charlestown and over the Alfrod Street bridge.
B. Go under 93 on Temple and back-track a mile on the Mystic paths to ride on highway sidewalks on the Mystic Valley Parkway bridge.
C. Go up and around through Medford Square.
