The Latest From BostonBiker.org

News, Events, Updates


Action Alert (x3!)

Written by Boston Biker on May 05

Via Livable Streets:

This is a busy week in Boston, despite the stay-at-home advisory. Here are three ways you can take action for safer streets and better transit:

1. Send an email to speak up for a people-first Northern Ave Bridge

The City of Boston is holding a virtual meeting this Wednesday, May 6th to share an updated design for the Northern Avenue Bridge project. Despite significant public support, the City has not committed to ensuring the bridge is reserved for people walking, biking and emergency use only.

Take 5 minutes now to let the project team and City Council know that this project should not be approved in the budget until the City commits to a Northern Avenue Bridge that prioritizes people and respects the historic legacy of this iconic structure — email the City of Boston and at-large city councilors by Wednesday, May 6th (see suggested template in the orange box at link). 

2. Register for our third Virtual StreetTalk this Wednesday at 6pm! 

Once jobs and businesses begin to re-open, how can the MBTA continue to allow people to be safe and feel comfortable getting back on transit? Join us for our third virtual StreetTalk as we explore what is happening globally as transit systems in other countries begin to welcome non-essential riders back and discuss what we can learn from their experiences. To explore this topic in depth, we’ll be joined by Heather Thompson from ITDP (Institute for Transportation & Development Policy) and Steven Higashide from TransitCenter.

Event Details:
StreetTalk: Keep Transit Moving
Wednesday, May 6, 6:00pm – 7:00pm
@ Virtual Zoom Conference
Register here 

3. Speak up for safe streets and better transit at the Boston Transportation and Public Works Departments budget hearing on Thursday.

Join us at the “streets” budget hearing to thank Mayor Walsh for proposing budget increases for Vision Zero programs and the bike network, and to comment in support of the City Council approving the proposal.

As outlined in our recent Go Boston 2030 progress report, we know the City needs to pick up the pace on critical projects, including the bike network and the Columbia Road redesign. Projects like the protected bike network and walk- and bike-friendly Main Streets are even more important in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, and we hope to see the City make significant progress this year. Check out our report and recommendations, and let the City Council know that Go Boston 2030 goals and projects are important to you. 

Event Details:
Boston Transportation + Public Works Departments Budget Hearing
Thursday, May 7, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
@ Virtual Zoom conference (Meeting ID: 359 230 088 | Password: 018142)

If you aren’t available during the hearing to testify live via videoconference, you can send in written testimony or pre-recorded videos to [email protected].

 

Sincerely,

LivableStreets

http://www.livablestreets.info


submit Action Alert (x3!) to reddit.com Add to Reddit.

Tags: ,
Posted in advocacy | Comments Off on Action Alert (x3!)

Livable Streets Update

Written by Boston Biker on Aug 20

from the email:

Double Your Donation For Tour de Streets

TDM Photography

Tour de Streets is Saturday, September 7th — less than three weeks away! This annual event is turning 10 this year, and will feature a 10-mile urban bike ride, a 4-mile family-friendly bike ride, and a 3-mile walk. Don’t care to bike or walk? Simply join us for the party! Your participation directly supports all of our programs, including Vision ZeroBetter Buses, and the Emerald Network!

We just launched our $15K in 15 Days Donation Matching Challenge! Every donation between now and August 30th will be matched up to $15K! Registerdonate, or become a member before August 30th to have your contribution double!

Event Details:
Tour de Streets – 10th Anniversary
Saturday, September 7th, 9:00am-2:00pm
@ Turtle Swamp Brewing
3377 Washington St, Jamaica Plain 02130


Check out the Cambridge Vision Zero Progress Report

Nicolaus Czarnecki

Last week, the Massachusetts Vision Zero Coalition and the City of Cambridge jointly released a Progress Report assessing the City of Cambridge’s implementation of its Vision Zero Action Plan. The report outlines the City’s accomplishments and challenges faced in the first year after the release of the Vision Zero Cambridge Action Plan, and provides next steps for implementation.

We are committed to reporting on the progress of Vision Zero initiatives and welcomed the opportunity to collaborate with the City of Cambridge on this report.

To read the report, click here.


Are You Ready To Vote in Upcoming Elections? Learn More About Local Candidates

LivableStreets and our Massachusetts Vision Zero Coalition partners distributed a people-centered streets questionnaire to candidates in Boston, Cambridge, and Somerville in order to help residents make informed choices in the upcoming election.

Here are three ways that you can use the candidate questionnaire:

  1. Read candidates’ answers to help inform your vote.
  2. Reach out to your local candidates to let them know that their answers to these questions matter.
  3. Forward this email to five of your friends. Encourage them to learn more and vote.

This election is an important opportunity to weigh in on the issues that matter most to you. The leaders we elect will make decisions that affect the livability of our streets. So if you’re able to vote in local races, please head to the polls this fall! Here are the dates for upcoming municipal elections:

Tuesday, September 10, 2019 – Somerville Preliminary Election
Tuesday, September 24, 2019 – Boston Preliminary Election
Tuesday, November 5, 2019 – General Election for BostonCambridge, and Somerville


Join Us For a Bus Priority Learn-A-Thon

The City of Boston and the MBTA are teaming up to improve bus travel experiences across Boston. These improvements can take many different forms. Come and learn about all the different tools that can be used to make bus trips faster, safer, and more reliable on Wednesday, August 21st.

Event Details:
Bus Priority Learn-A-Thon
Wednesday, August 21, 6:00 – 8:00 pm
@ Central Boston Elder Services
2315 Washington Street
Boston, MA 02119


Join Us For MOTHERLOAD Film Screening

Feeling inspired by Tour de Streets? Join us a few days later, on September 15th, at a film screening about cargo bikes and learn why people love them. MOTHERLOAD is a crowdsourced documentary about a new mother’s quest to understand the increasing isolation and disconnection of the digital age, its planetary impact, and how cargo bikes could be an antidote. Kids are welcome!

Event Details:
MOTHERLOAD
Sunday, September 15, 11:00 am – 2:00 pm
@ The Brattle Theatre
40 Brattle Street, Cambridge, MA


Opportunities

  • City of Boston, Director of Engineering: The Boston Transportation Department is searching for a Director of Engineering who is well versed in state of the art tools and practices to create sustainable and multi-modal transportation networks including bicycle, pedestrian and transit focused street design and cutting edge safety treatments. To learn more and apply, click here.
  • ITDP (Institute for Transportation & Development Policy), Public Transit Manager: The Public Transit Manager will play a key role in overseeing the conceptualization, design and implementation of sustainable transport solutions. To learn more and apply, click here.
  • MBTA, various:
  • WalkBoston, Intern: WalkBoston interns gain experience in transportation-related planning and design, community engagement, advocacy, and neighborhood revitalization efforts. If you have an interest in learning firsthand how walkability affects community health, civic participation and overall quality of life, then an internship at WalkBoston could be a career-enhancing experience for you. To learn more and apply, click here.
  • City of Somerville, Pedestrian and Transportation Advisory Committee Members: Pedestrian and Transit Advisory Committee members: The City of Somerville is accepting applications to fill 10 seats on the newly formed Pedestrian and Transit Advisory Committee. The committee’s input will support and guide city policies and plans to make improvements for public transit riders and pedestrians. To learn more and apply (deadline: 9/6/19),click here.
  • UrbanAdventours, various: Do you love riding bikes and being outdoors? Are you looking for an active, hands-on job that provides a livable income? Urban Adventours (UA) is Boston’s Downtown Bicycle Shop, and they are looking for hard working people who are passionate about bicycles to help grow their fast paced, dynamic business. To learn more about open positions and apply, click here.

 


submit Livable Streets Update to reddit.com Add to Reddit.

Tags: ,
Posted in advocacy | Comments Off on Livable Streets Update

Mass Vision Zero Coalition Posts Candidate Answers To Questions About Road Safety

Written by Boston Biker on Aug 20

The Massachusetts Vision Zero Coalition has posted answers to questions about road safety – for both at-large candidates and candidates in specific districts in the Sept. 24 preliminaries.

(from U Hub)


submit Mass Vision Zero Coalition Posts Candidate Answers To Questions About Road Safety to reddit.com Add to Reddit.

Tags: ,
Posted in advocacy | Comments Off on Mass Vision Zero Coalition Posts Candidate Answers To Questions About Road Safety

Boston Cyclist Union Update

Written by Boston Biker on Aug 05

from the email:

 

Mural Ride, Protected Bike Lanes, Member Discounts and more!
Mural Ride
On August 10th, come socialize, ride bikes and visit murals throughout Boston! It will be a slow, 10-mile roll to check out 8-10 murals in Boston, with the option to finish at Coppersmith in Southie for refreshing New Belgium Mural Agua Fresca Cerveza beer and food. Along the way, ride leaders will share a brief background of each mural and artist, so you can learn more about the interesting artwork lining our city streets.
Please note: We will not be providing on-site tools, like pumps or chain lube, so please make sure your bike is tuned up before the ride. If you need any repairs ahead of time, you can visit the Dudley Bike Workshop on Tuesdays from 3:30-7:30, or a Bike to Market event (full calendar on website).
Standing up for protected bike lanes. Literally.
This month, we sent a powerful signal that protected bike lanes (PBLs) save lives. More than 120 people joined us to stage people-protected bike lanes on Park Drive and Fenway to protest the Department of Conservation and Recreation’s decision against providing physical separation for cyclists on those roads. The following week, we helped organize a Critical Mass-style ride on Memorial Drive to demonstrate against another DCR plan, which fails to provide adequate, safe spaces for all modes along that parkway. Both actions received widespread, favorable coverage, elevating bike safety in the public consciousness, shaping the narrative around this issue, and building pressure on officials to act. In conjunction with these actions, we also testified at a DCR stewardship meeting about the need for the agency to update its approach to PBLs and/or cede control to agencies with more resources to handle road design. We’ve received encouraging feedback from both DCR and lawmakers, and plan to continue this conversation until PBLs are the norm, not the exception, on our parkways and greenways.
New Member Discount Partner!
We’re excited to add a new name to our member’s list: Cleenland! Cleeland is a Cambridge business and is a one-stop shop for low-waste, refillable personal and home care supplies ranging from clay masks to eco-friendly, compostable food wrap. Cleeland is now offering Bike Union members 10% off their purchases, so drop by and check them out!
Need to renew membership, or become a member?
Another Big Win: The Charles River Dam / Craigie Bridge Redesign
Protected bike lanes arecoming soon to the Charles River Dam / Craigie Bridge! This is an ideal outcome won through our collective action. Despite November’s fatal bike crash in this area, original plans called only for painted bike lanes. However, that changed after we mobilized a mass turnout to a December meeting about this project and placed pressure on MassDOT to develop a safer alternative. Thank you to everyone who spoke out on this project, either at that meeting or in written remarks! Your feedback is directly responsible for making this new, better design possible.
Make the Case for Better Ride-Hailing Regulations
Boston receives a flat $0.10 per Uber/Lyft trip that starts in the city. A bill under consideration at the State House would change that, setting a variable fee that accounts for distance, demand, and whether the ride is shared or solo. The result: A fee that better reflects the impact to our streets of so-called transportation network companies (TNCs), while providing cities like Boston with crucial revenue to reinvest in mass transit, street improvements, and new bike infrastructure. Mayor Walsh testified in support of this bill in July, and we stand with the mayor in urging state lawmakers to pass it this session. To help boost this bill’s odds of passage, we encourage you to write to your representatives and others with authority over this bill. You can find more info on how to get involved here.
Boston Presents an Ideal Plan for Tremont St.
After months of organizing and lobbying, we were thrilled to see the Boston Transportation Department announce a plan for Tremont St. that includes several key safety features, including parking-protected bike lanes and a road diet. This is a huge win for bike safety, and it was all made possible thanks to the many advocates who showed up and spoke up over the last year and a half of the planning process. Our work isn’t done until these changes are on the ground though, and with some mild pushback from pro-parking advocates emerging since BTD’s announcement it’s important that we remain engaged and encourage the city to make this design final. (Info on how to stay involvedhere.) The Tremont St. design includes so many of the complete streets elements that we are advocating for across the City, and it can serve as an example and inspiration to other planning processes underway. If this design is implemented, we are hopeful to see more like it!

submit Boston Cyclist Union Update to reddit.com Add to Reddit.

Tags:
Posted in advocacy, news | Comments Off on Boston Cyclist Union Update

Most Somerville Residents Surveyed Wanted Protected Bike Lanes On Powder House Blvd

Written by Boston Biker on Jul 26

From the email:

City staff just released their survey data and it shows that, according to online survey results, more than 70% of Somerville residents wanted protected bike lanes on Powder House Blvd as their most preferred option.

That’s right — not only did city staff decide against protected bike lanes on Powder House Blvd, they did so despite learning that more than 70% of surveyed residents wanted them. Somerville says that Vision Zero is a top priority, that they want to reduce the number of residents using cars, and that catastrophic climate change is an emergency. But when it comes time to make a decision, they choose to keep parking no matter how this impacts their other goals.

Please go to the meeting this July 31st at 6:30pm at West Somerville Neighborhood School and speak up for protected bike lanes on Powder House Blvd. Be vocal and speak your mind to city staff. Protected bike lanes save lives and we must show them why they made the wrong decision. Also, at the meeting ask city staff to share what they learned regarding the opinions of people living on Powder House Blvd.

Many volunteers and neighbors had reached out to others on Powder House Blvd to learn what people and organizations needed and how their needs could be met. However the city was somehow unprepared for the quick pace of road work, despite the lengthy public process, and had to scramble to choose an option. They chose a painted bike lane in one direction to test for the next 12 months instead of the safest option preferred by residents. It is sad to see Somerville throw away their volunteers’ hard work.

Mayor Curtatone replied to some emails saying that they need more public process to make a decision. Let us be clear: the city is in charge of its public process and whether they build protected bike lanes on Powder House Blvd. If the process ignores that more than 70% of surveyed residents were in favor of protected bike lanes, the process is broken.

The survey also says that more people who attended the May 22 meeting opposed protected bike lanes. Mayor Curtatone encouraged people to attend a different meeting for lowering the McGrath Highway at the same time as the Powder House Blvd meeting. That is a laudable goal and meetings sometimes conflict. But this highlights that safety decisions should not be made based on who can make a meeting.

These are difficult decisions to be fair, but these decisions need to be made. Somerville committed to reduce the number of serious injuries and deaths to zero and to reduce the number of people driving cars. That means making it safe and comfortable for people to bike to wherever they need to go. A parent should feel safe biking with their kid to West Somerville Neighborhood School. We need to make sure city officials remember how this decision went and how unhappy residents were with their actions.

Thank you to everyone who emailed city officials and told them how you felt about this earlier this week — this really makes a difference. If you haven’t yet, email transportation@somervillema.gov[email protected][email protected]and CC somerville@cambridgebikesafety.org and tell them how disappointed you are that they chose not to build protected bike lanes on Powder House Blvd.

You might have noticed that this email is coming from Somerville Bicycle Safety. We have created it to be a sister organization to advocate for protected bike lanes in Somerville. If you are interested in flyering or other advocacy, respond to this email and let us know.

Finally, there is an election fast approaching. The mayor and at-large city councillors all have competition. Let’s make the best use of it and demand activist leadership for building more protected bike lanes in Somerville.

Sincerely,

-your neighbors at Somerville Bicycle Safety


submit Most Somerville Residents Surveyed Wanted Protected Bike Lanes On Powder House Blvd to reddit.com Add to Reddit.

Tags: ,
Posted in advocacy | Comments Off on Most Somerville Residents Surveyed Wanted Protected Bike Lanes On Powder House Blvd

The Word On The Street

  • RSS Here is what people are saying

    • Where bicycles are prohibited in Massachusetts August 16, 2023
      TweetThe main issue you will confront if you get into a dispute with police over bicycle prohibitions is whether the prohibition is supported by law. Often it is not. Example: the ramp from Commonwealth Avenue to Route 128 northbound and … Continue reading →
      jsallen
    • Where bicycles are prohibited in Massachusetts August 16, 2023
      TweetThe main issue you will confront if you get into a dispute with police over bicycle prohibitions is whether the prohibition is supported by law. Often it is not. Example: the ramp from Commonwealth Avenue to Route 128 northbound and … Continue reading →
      jsallen
    • It’s Finally Happening! 5th Annual Hot Cocoa Ride Feb 12! February 8, 2022
      ... Continue reading →
      commonwheels
    • It’s Finally Happening! 5th Annual Hot Cocoa Ride Feb 12! February 8, 2022
      ... Continue reading →
      commonwheels
    • Hello world! June 9, 2021
      Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start writing! Continue reading →
      thecommunityspoke
    • Run The Jewels Lead Free Pewter Hand Carved And Cast Pin Set January 3, 2021
      Made these lovely RTJ fist and gun pin set. Hand carved in wax, and then cast in lead free pewter.  Because these are made by hand you can do fun things like add an extra small pin so that they sit just so (also means they have “customized” brass back plates to accommodate the extra […]
      Boston Biker
    • My Work In The Wild: Feather Head Badge With Chris King Headset January 3, 2021
      One of my customers sent me this amazing picture of my feather badge installed on their (awesome!) bike.   Check out Manofmultnomah (here and here), apparently Chris King took some interest in it as well.  Want one of your own?  Buy it here, or here... Continue reading →
      Boston Biker
    • Boston’s Invitation to Improve Biking in Boston: Draw on Some Maps! December 14, 2020
      TweetSometimes, the best way to gather ideas and feedback is to let people draw on some maps. Last night, at the Bike Network Open House, pedallovers unveiled a draft for their upcoming plans for a more connected biking network infrastructure … Continue reading →
      greg
    • Boston’s Invitation to Improve Biking in Boston: Draw on Some Maps! December 14, 2020
      TweetSometimes, the best way to gather ideas and feedback is to let people draw on some maps. Last night, at the Bike Network Open House, pedallovers unveiled a draft for their upcoming plans for a more connected biking network infrastructure … Continue reading →
      greg
    • Boston’s Invitation to Improve Biking in Boston: Draw on Some Maps! December 14, 2020
      TweetSometimes, the best way to gather ideas and feedback is to let people draw on some maps. Last night, at the Bike Network Open House, pedallovers unveiled a draft for their upcoming plans for a more connected biking network infrastructure … Continue reading →
      greg