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Action Alert: Allston I-90 Interchange Project
Written by Boston Biker on Nov 20Lets make sure we don’t end up with just another highway, see below
From Livable Streets:
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| Imagine what could be done with this space! |
Attend a public meeting tonight, or write a comment letter.
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| Current allocation of existing space. |
The trends are clear: people are relying less on private automobiles and more on public transportation, biking, and walking. This project must invest in a future that improves the quality of life in our city and provides commuters/visitors transit options, and not just throughput of cars.
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| Do you want something like this? (From a Boston Society of Architects design charrette, team led by Kishore Varanasi from CBT Architects.) |
- Acres of new parkland along the Charles River called “Allston Esplanade.”
- A multi-use community path connecting Allston to Cambridge via the Grand Junction Rail Bridge crossing the Charles under the BU Bridge.
- A new ‘West Station’ transit station that provides rapid transit service (every 10 minutes) to downtown & Kendall Square.
- A deck over the highway and rail yard to cover these loud and dirty uses, protect residential quality of life and connect the existing and new neighborhoods.
- Existing roads extended to connect Comm. Ave. and Cambridge St. to reducing cut-through traffic on Harvard Ave & Linden St.
- New Mass Pike on & off ramps near Beacon Street to serve the Kenmore/ Fenway/ Longwood area to get those cars off Allston’s streets and Storrow Drive.
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Cut and paste into your email
bcc: [email protected]
Dear Secretary Maeve Vallely Bartlett:
I am writing regarding the MassDOT’s Environmental Notification Form for the I-90 Allston Interchange Project #15278. In the 21st century, this project is not worth $260 million of taxpayer dollars if it is not going to do anything more than rehabilitate a highway. The trends are clear: we are relying less on private automobiles and more on public transportation, biking, and walking. This project must invest in a future that improves the quality of life in our city.
PERSONALIZE WITH A FEW SENTENCES HERE. What kind of future do you want to see? Which issues are most important to you and why?
I urge you to require MassDOT include the following:
While I recognize the hard work MassDOT has put into designs so far, there are a significant number of critical issues unresolved. MassDOT needs to revise the project so it does more than just move automobiles.
Sincerely,
Your Name Address |
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Action Alert: Help Move Bill Before Legislative Session Ends!
Written by Boston Biker on Jul 31From MassBike:
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One of the bills we filed in the Massachusetts Legislature in January 2013 has a chance to move forward, but we need your help before midnight Thursday.
The Act To Protect Bicyclists In Bicycle Lanes (S 1640) protects bicyclists by prohibiting motor vehicle operators from parking in on-street paths or lanes designated by official signs or markings for the use of bicycles, or placing the vehicle in such a manner as to interfere with the safety and passage of bicyclists. Motorists frequently endanger bicyclists by parking in bicycle lanes, forcing bicyclists to merge into traffic. There is currently no applicable state law, and some communities are passing local ordinances that will result in inconsistent rules and enforcement unless statewide action is taken. (Click here for the full text of the bill.)
The bill was reported favorably by the Joint Committee on Transportation, and has been sent to the Senate Ways and Means Committee. We want to get it out of Ways and Means this week!
- Call or email your State Senator ask that he or she ask Senator Stephen Brewer, chair of Ways and Means, to approve S 1640.
- If your Senator is one of the sponsors of the bill or is on the Ways and Means Committee, it is especially important that you contact them:
Sponsors:
Committee Members:
Jennifer L. Flanagan, Vice Chair
Sal N. DiDomenico, Assistant Vice Chair
Gale D. Candaras
Eileen M. Donoghue
Benjamin B. Downing
Patricia D. Jehlen
Brian A. Joyce
Thomas P. Kennedy
Thomas M. McGee
Michael O. Moore
Marc R. Pacheco
Anthony W. Petruccelli
Michael F. Rush
James E. Timilty
Richard J. Ross
Donald F. Humason, Jr.
- CC [email protected] on your emails, or send us a message telling us who you contacted.
- Share this Action Alert with your friends!
We’re sorry to report that the other bill we filed in this session, the Act To Protect Vulnerable Road Users (S 1639) would have added legal protection for bicyclists, pedestrians, wheelchair users, and other vulnerable users of the road. Unfortunately, that bill was “sent to study” by the Joint Committee on Transportation, which means it is effectively dead for this session. A new legislative session begins in January, and we will decide whether to refile the bill or take other action at that time.
Sincerely,
David Watson
Executive Director
MassBike
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Action Alert: Comm Ave Needs You!
Written by Boston Biker on Jul 16From Livable Streets:
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My name is Matt and I’m a BU grad student, active Allston community member, and
LivableStreets Commonwealth Avenue project lead. I’m writing to you for the first time today to ask for your help making Commonwealth Avenue safe for everyone to use. The City of Boston is redesigning a section of Comm Ave, between Packard’s Corner and the Boston University Bridge. We need your help to make sure that the City takes advantage of this opportunity to create a model street that serves the large and growing population of people who bike, walk, drive, and use transit.
My fear is that the current designs for the Comm Ave project actually make the street less safe – and less enjoyable – for people to use. The plans widen street lanes (which encourages speeding), narrow the already overcrowded sidewalks, and do not improve the bike lane (which has already been the site of many injuries and at least one fatality in recent years).
Tell the City of Boston that the designs for Commonwealth Avenue must protect people who bike, walk, drive and use transit.
LivableStreets, Boston Cyclists Union, WalkBoston, MassBike and many other advocates, students and people from the neighborhood are working on this project because it impacts all of us around the City that use Comm Ave. Thanks for your help,
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Matt
Matthew Danish LivableStreets Alliance Project Leader E: reply@livablestreets.info P: 617.621.1746
F: LivableStreets
T: @StreetsBoston/#
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Help Kids Get Get Healthy: Call Your Congress Critter Today
Written by Boston Biker on Apr 10From MassBike:
Mass in Motion is an important program that works with partners across Massachusetts to fight obesity in children and adults by increasing opportunities for walking and biking and access to healthy food. The program is crucial for bicycling across our commonwealth, and is a significant source of funding for MassBike’s Bikeable Communities Program. Right now, the continuance of this vital program is in question due to federal budget cuts, and our partners are working hard to secure state funding for the Mass in Motion.
State Representative Gailanne Cariddi of North Adams has filed an amendment to the state budget that would provide dedicated state funding for Mass in Motion, providing enough funding to maintain current investments. Representatives have until tomorrow afternoon (Friday, April 11) to sign on as co-sponsors. In order to be successful, we need to have lots of Reps, especially those from Mass in Motion communities, sign on in support.
What can you do to help secure state funding for Mass in Motion?
Please call your State Representative immediately and ask her or him to co-sponsor Rep. Cariddi’s amendment to restore funding for Mass in Motion. A fact sheet about the amendment is here that you can share with your Rep. A list of all the Representatives from Mass in Motion communities is here, and includes their email, phone number, and social media handles.
Not sure who your State Representative is? Visit this page to find out.
Once you’ve called your representative, please take a moment to email us and let us know you have. You can simply reply to the email to do so, or email[email protected].
Thank you for your support in this effort. By taking action, you are helping to ensure that our communities have the resources to continue healthy transportation and active living programs that are making a real impact across our commonwealth.
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WTF Congress, They Are At It Again Trying To Cut Funding For Bikes
Written by Boston Biker on Jun 13From MassBike:
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Action Alert: Yet Again Congress Threatens To Cut Bike Funding
A few weeks ago we sent an action alert out to contact your members of congress and ask them to support the Cardin-Cochran Amendment. Well, we’ve received word that the same transportation legislation is still being debated, with the Housestill pushing to eliminate our tiny slice of funding.
Will you call your US Representative and Senators to ask them – again – to save biking by supporting the Cardin-Cochran Amendment? The situation is very fluid, so we’re not sure this is the last time we’ll have to ask you to act. But the assaults on our tiny bit of funding seem to have no end, and so our action defending it must be equally unrelenting.
If you are a constituent of Representative Ed Markey (District 7, which includes much of Metro West), it is especially important for you to contact his office because of his involvement in this legislation. Let him know how crucially important biking is in your community and your daily activities. If you don’t know whether you’re in his district, click here and enter your address to find out.
Phone calls are best, but if you don’t have time, please click hereto send a message to your congresspersons. Here’s how to call:
1. Call your Representative and both Senators at the numbers listed below.
Don’t know who your U.S. Representative is? Click here and enter your address to find out.
And our two U.S. Senators:
Use the script below to ask your elected officials to preserve the Cardin-Cochran agreement:
2. Use the America Bikes tip sheet to report back on anything you learn in your calls.
Thank you for supporting biking and walking in Massachusetts and across the country! |
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The Word On The Street
Here is what people are saying
- Where bicycles are prohibited in Massachusetts August 16, 2023TweetThe 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, 2023TweetThe 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, 2021Welcome 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, 2021Made 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, 2021One 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, 2020TweetSometimes, 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, 2020TweetSometimes, 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, 2020TweetSometimes, 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
