Hubway Closed For The Blizzard

Like you were going to ride them anyway (although with how much they weigh it would be pretty fun to go skidding around on them).

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Hello Hubway rider,

Due to a forecast of inclement weather, Hubway will temporarily close at 11 AM on Thursday, February 9th, for the safety of our riders and staff. Once the closure has begun, no bikes can be rented at the stations, though any bikes in use at that time can be returned to any Hubway station with an available dock.

Following the storm, Hubway field staff will be working to clear stations, after which the Cambridge stations will reopen. Stations in Boston, Brookline, and Somerville, which are already closed, will remain closed for the remainder of the season.

We understand that forecasts vary and may change, and we will make sure to get updates to you. Closure and re-opening information will be posted to the Hubway website, Facebook, and Twitter. We will also send another email when the system is ready to reopen. For real-time station, bike, and dock availability, visit our station map, or call to speak with a Member Service Representative at 1-855-9HUBWAY (948-2929).

Thank you for your cooperation,

​The Hubway Team

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This Police Are Looking For This Guy, Think He Keeps Stealing Bikes From Stony Brook

Transit Police report they are looking for Carmelo Maldonado, 50, of points unknown, for stealing at least three bikes from the Stony Brook stop on the Orange Line.

If you see him (click the link for additional photos), contact detectives at 617-222-1050, or send an anonymous text tip to 873873.

via Uhub.

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Cyclist Bernard Lavins Killed In Porter Square

Via:

A male cyclist was killed after a crash with an 18-wheeler truck in Porter Square during rush hour this morning, according to police. The incident happened around 8:08 a.m. on Massachusetts Avenue near Christopher’s restaurant, at 1920 Mass. Ave., in the direction of Harvard Square. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Both sides of Mass. Ave. near the crash will be closed for some time as investigators reconstruct the crash, according to Jeremy Warnick, communications director for the Cambridge Police Department.

1st vids fatal bike Ax investigation underway #Portersquare. Avoid area #CambMA pic.twitter.com/eLqJEddbsC

— Scott Tetreault (@BostonNewsMan) October 5, 2016

My heart goes out to his friends and family. It is very sad to see another fatality with a large truck, perhaps its time to think about banning them from the city during certain hours, or making it mandatory that they have more safety equipment, or in any way addressing this problem.

We can’t keep fixing problems AFTER someone dies.  We have to fix them before it happens.

Personally I would love to ban large trucks from the city, either during certain hours, or totally.  This is a problem that is solvable, we just currently value money over human life, so we have not fixed it yet.

More info when I get it.

EDIT:

The cyclists has been identified as 60 year old Bernard Lavins of Lexington.

There are also details emerging about the gruesome nature of the accident.

via:

Richard Fries of the advocacy group MassBike came upon the scene during his commute to downtown Boston.

“Suddenly I saw the aprons where they tried to conceal where the victim was, and then the moment you see that,” he said, speaking later in the day. “So many bike riders go through there.”

Fries estimates three out of 10 commuters in Porter Square are cyclists — and the intersection can be treacherous.

“This truck hit this cyclist square on … the body was 60 feet behind and the bike was wedged under this guy’s truck,” Fries said.

We must take proactive action on improving intersections and policies BEFORE these deaths occur. We can not allow cyclists to die in dangerous intersections before we take action.

Every time we hear about these things we learn that EVERYONE knew how dangerous a specific intersection was, and yet we did nothing until someone was killed.

Cycling is the future of transportation in this city, not single occupancy cars, and large trucks have no place in the city during most of the day (or ever). We must develop our policies and intersections accordingly.

EDIT:

Seems the safety record of the trucking company involved in this crash is pretty bad.

Porter Square cyclist death: Boston Globe whitewashes 4 Mitlitsky Eggs, mentions 2012 review not 60% inspection fail rate pic.twitter.com/fkj6tsTdz3

— Brett (@bikewazowski) October 6, 2016

An awful lot of violations for speeding, bad brakes, and driving while looking at your phone.

These things have real life consequences as we have tragically observed. I am really starting to think that large trucks should be banned from the city except during certain hours, and perhaps with an escort.

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Cambridge Police Searching For Man Who Pushed Cyclist Off Her Bike

Have you seen this guy?  He apparently shoved a woman off her bike while she was riding through Inman on the 22nd.

More here.

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Rally For Safer Streets Sept 29th!

From Livable Streets:

The program will start at 6pm sharp with City Council President Michelle Wu and Chief of Streets Chris Osgood. Show up early to meet with Councilor Wu and share your street safety concerns!

Streets are For People Rally
Thursday, September 29, 2016, 6-7pm
@ City Hall Plaza, Boston
**rally will go on rain or shine

Many of you have been helping us to spread the word via social media, thank you! Keep the momentum going so we can get the biggest crowd possible!

Together we can urge our leaders to prioritize safer options for people who walk, bike, and take transit. 

What you can do:

1. Share this email with your friends and neighbors and encourage them to join you on September 29th!

2. Invite 5 friends to the event:  https://www.facebook.com/events/1590398451256994/

3. Wear yellow to the rally. Yellow is a color of solidarity for those killed or seriously injured in crashes.

4. Spread the word via social media before and during the rally using #visionzero and #crashnotaccident

By participating in this rally you can show your continued support for Vision Zero efforts and making Boston’s streets safer to navigate — no matter how people get around.

We know that Vision Zero can save lives. We hope to see you at City Hall Plaza this Thursday!

Massachusetts Vision Zero Coalition

Event Co-Hosts: WalkBoston, T4MA, TransitMatters, USPIRG, Safe Roads Alliance, MassBike, LivableStreets Alliance, DotBike, Boston Cyclists Union, StreetsPAC Boston, Walk UP Rozzie, Green Streets Initiative, Cambridge Bicycle Safety, Mattapan Food and Fitness Coalition

Dear Boston City Council,

Yesterday, the Massachusetts Vision Zero Coalition invited Mayor Walsh to speak at a Vision Zero rally taking place on September 29th at 6pm at City Hall Plaza. (We’ve included the invite below). We would like to invite City Council President Wu to speak at the rally, and invite all of you to be there to show your continued support for Vision Zero efforts and making Boston’s streets safer to navigate — no matter how people are getting around.

Sincerely,

Massachusetts Vision Zero Coalition

WalkBoston, T4MA, TransitMatters, USPIRG, Safe Roads Alliance, MassBike, LivableStreets Alliance, DotBike, Boston Cyclists Union, StreetsPAC Boston

September 14, 2016

Mayor Martin J. Walsh
1 City Hall Square, Suite 500
Boston, MA 02201-2013

Dear Mayor Walsh,

On behalf of the Massachusetts Vision Zero Coalition we would like to invite you to speak at a rally on September 29th at 6pm at City Hall Plaza, where we will gather with our friends and neighbors in solidarity with those who have been killed in traffic crashes to call for swifter action to prevent these tragedies in the future.

Specifically, we hope you will recommit to Vision Zero, the pledge to eliminate fatal and serious traffic crashes in the city by 2030, and share what actions the City will take before the end of the year to achieve the goals it set forth in the Vision Zero Action Plan released in December of 2015. Additionally, we hope that you will commit more financial resources for additional staff and capital projects to ensure that the Transportation Department has the support it needs to reach these important goals.

Committing to Vision Zero was an important first step in improving safety on our streets. Unfortunately, in the wake of a series of tragic and preventable crashes, injuries, and fatalities, including 13 pedestrians who have died so far this year in the City of Boston, it is more important than ever to focus the priority of transportation policies and projects on safety.

The status quo is not working. We desperately need to invest in the infrastructure of Boston’s streets and sidewalks — and we need your leadership to show it is the mandate of city government to prioritize safer options for people to walk, bike, take transit and drive.

Thank you for considering this invitation. We hope to see you on September 29th and look forward to working with you to accelerate progress toward achieving Vision Zero in the City of Boston.

Sincerely,

Massachusetts Vision Zero Coalition

WalkBoston, T4MA, TransitMatters, USPIRG, Safe Roads Alliance, MassBike, LivableStreets Alliance, DotBike, Boston Cyclists Union, StreetsPAC Boston

The Massachusetts Vision Zero Coalition advocates for the implementation of Vision Zero in Boston and for the adoption of Vision Zero throughout the metro area and state of Massachusetts. The growing coalition includes community-based organizations, nonprofits, businesses, civic groups and individuals representing communities across the state.

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