Take Back The Streets (...and alleys)

[ritchiew]

The killer is the fire station at 392 Hanover, Boston Fire Department Engine 8 Ladder 1.

Thanks. Yeah, I've heard that before about the fire station, but I haven't seen a good explanation why that is actually a problem. It looks like you could have 10 feet on each side of the street for café space, and leave a 30+ foot wide path down the middle for pedestrians and emergency vehicles. If a firetruck needs to come through, pedestrians get out of the way. Just like cars do now, except the pedestrians can get out of the way faster than gridlocked cars.

What am I missing here?

 

[Justbuildit]

A pernicious and deeply cultural status quo bias that looks for any reason to NOT do something rather than picking a vision and committing to it. I love your idea, sounds great. Someone is going to complain about parking and mention how long they’ve lived in the neighborhood and that’s it.

 

[ritchiew]

Cambridge City Council recently voted to open part of Memorial Drive as a park for full weekends this year. But it looks like Mass DCR, which controls the road, isn't actually closing the road, at least on Saturdays.

Traffic or Parkland? State Stonewalling Leaves Riverbend Park In Limbo - Streetsblog Massachusetts

A crucial lawmaker – Rep. Marjorie Decker, whose district encompasses the Riverbend Park area – has been conspicuously silent on the issue, at least in public, and advocates suspect that she may be the reason why the state agency in charge of the program won't make a commitment to a 2023 park...

mass.streetsblog.org

 

[ritchiew]

Mass DCR, which controls the road, isn't actually closing the road, at least on Saturdays.

Just a note that this fight to keep Memorial Drive open to bikes and pedestrians is still going on. There's a rally in the park this Saturday.

News Briefs: Rally For Riverbend, Street Project Screening, WalkMassachusetts - Streetsblog Massachusetts

Activists in Cambridge are planning a rally this Saturday to restore the city’s popular “Riverbend Park” events on Saturdays.

mass.streetsblog.org

 

[Delvin4519]

Open Streets pilot program expanded to more neighborhoods, Copley to be extended longer. (Good news)

Boston Open Streets returns with expanded dates and neighborhoods

This year, Boston Open Streets will feature five neighborhoods and an expansion of the long-standing Open Newbury Street program.

www.boston.com

 

[Blackbird]

Open Streets pilot program expanded to more neighborhoods, Copley to be extended longer. (Good news)

Boston Open Streets returns with expanded dates and neighborhoods

This year, Boston Open Streets will feature five neighborhoods and an expansion of the long-standing Open Newbury Street program.

www.boston.com

Amazing that there isn’t already one in Rozzie Square.

 

[HenryAlan]

Amazing that there isn’t already one in Rozzie Square.

Birch Street is already permanently pedestrianized. Usually Rozzie Village Main Streets sponsors a couple of events that close Poplar Street. I guess if it's already happening through local activism, the city doesn't need to get involved?

 

[BostonObserver]

Time to make the Blackstone block a showcase. How many other 17th century street paterns are left in the US?