Commonwealth Avenue Improvement Project

[Ron Newman]

Before the bike path was extended west of the BU bridge, it ended at a crosswalk across Storrow Drive, leading to the existing stairway there. Perhaps this arrangement can be restored.

 

[jass]

The green was always part of the bike lane plan, as motorists merging over to enter onto the bridge need to be highly aware of bicyclists going straight along Comm Ave. It just took the city until now to actually paint it that way.

And heres what it looks like
Also, eveyr pic has a bike. I didnt stand around waiting for someone to show up, I was in a rush. Its just that a lot of people are using these lanes.


inbound

outbound
Used to end where Im standing, they both extended the lanes and added the green

Still not very safe

 

[vanshnookenraggen]

That whole interchange is a giant clusterfuck. Painting a green line that will be worn away in 4 months won't affect anything. They need Class 3 bike lanes to make it really safe, which they will only have the room for if they take out parking or bury the Green Line and use the median for the path (which would be a great idea honestly.)

It also doesn't help that Mass drivers are already terrible when it comes to bikers... or driving in general.

 

[cden4]

Upon closer inspection, the city decided to paint more of the lanes green than originally planned (yay!). It's also great that they extended the bike lanes to the west of the bridge as well at least until the lanes narrow down.

 

[ablarc]

Looks thoroughly dangerous. I predict those bike lanes in the middle of traffic will be found to actually INCREASE accidents.

 

[cden4]

ablarc, it may look that way but statistics say the exact opposite. The bike lanes are positioned exactly where bicyclists should be riding. Their presence plus the green paint actually makes motorists more aware that bicyclists will be there.

 

[mass88]

Are there any plans to increase street lighting in that area? For such a busy intersection is is pretty dark at night, with the street lights that are there not doing a good job.

 

[jass]

Are there any plans to increase street lighting in that area? For such a busy intersection is is pretty dark at night, with the street lights that are there not doing a good job.

The lighting has been increased. The new lights are brighter and closer together than the old ones were.

The bridge itself hasnt been updated. I think some other agency is responsible for the bridge, and nobody likes to work on bridges anyway

 

[ablarc]

ablarc, it may look that way but statistics say the exact opposite.

They might in general, but this is a specific instance that hasn't existed long enough for there to be statistics. And you know what they say about statistics ...

The bike lanes are positioned exactly where bicyclists should be riding.

Oh, I'm certain there's a theory that says that. You should hear some of the theories that have drifted my way about architecture ...

Their presence plus the green paint actually makes motorists more aware that bicyclists will be there.

I'm sure this is true ... but those cyclists are still where they are: in the middle of traffic. One of the photos even illustrates the potential hazards of that. Basically, if something makes you fall off your bike, you have the choice of falling into the path of traffic ... or falling into the path of traffic.

 

[czsz]

Yes, theories and statistics be damned, let's make transportation planning entirely empirical. We'll wait for a representative sample of bicyclists to be killed and then just paint the lanes to avoid the chalked outlines of their corpses. Jane Jacobs would be proud.

Seriously, though, what is the alternative to this, beyond some grade-separated scheme that's unrealistically expensive?

 

[ablarc]

...what is the alternative to this...

A better design.

 

[Lurker]

A more compact and vertically inclined university campus which inherently reduces the need for students to cycle long distances in brutal traffic?

 

[czsz]

A better design.

Uh, thanks.

A more compact and vertically inclined university campus which inherently reduces the need for students to cycle long distances in brutal traffic?

I thought BU already WAS that campus.

 

[BarbaricManchurian]

With the green paint, it's as safe as it can be with a limited budget and without removing parking. I actually think the execution is quite good, it's not just a random line in traffic which many people wouldn't know the meaning of, but a clearly defined space with a different color with cyclists actually using it! So the fact that it is being used already probably shows that most people won't consider their lives at risk if they use the bike lane, and besides, Boston traffic isn't that bad, it's mostly exaggerated, and the main problem area is downtown where slow moving crowds of tourists anger mostly taxicab drivers.

 

[ablarc]

^ I guess we can all rest easy --including the cyclists.



Next thing we need to fix is those angry cab drivers.

 

[atlrvr]

Next thing we need to fix is those angry cab drivers.

Done.

Next.

 

[mass88]

Does anyone have any updates on when the construction if going to be done down beyond Packards Corner? The new lighting from Chestnut Hill Ave to Warren/Kelton Street is great.

 

[bdurden]

The new lights and curbs are nice though I wonder why they did not make other improvements to the street scape (brick sidewalks, trees, etc.) like the area just completed in the BU neighborhood. This area of Allston/Brighton could use a few more trees.

 

[Lurker]

I think BU and local businesses paid for the 'pretty stuff' (i.e. the trees, benches, street name plaques) and the more infrastructural part of curb cuts, neckdowns, lighting, traffic controls, etc was paid by the city. Hence the disparity.

 

[jass]

Apparently, this summer someone decided that redoing the pedestrian crossings twice wasnt enough, and they dug it up for a third time to add red brick.

Sure, it looks nice...but why wasnt this done when the other bricks were put in? And of course, not all of them have been done...will the other be dug up next spring...or never?