Lawmakers Pass 50$ Fine For Parking In Bike Lanes

Don’t know if the governor is going to sign it…but he should.

Drivers across the state could be penalized with a ticket of up to $50 for stopping in a bike lane under legislation sent to the governor’s desk on Tuesday, the last day of the biennial session.

State and local officials have increasingly turned portions of roadways into bike lanes, and municipalities have imposed their own fines against drivers who use bike lanes for parking or stopping.

In May 2014, a new bike lane obstruction penalty went into effect in Cambridge, with a $35 charge, according to the city’s website, which says that previously vehicles obstructing bike lanes were ticketed for double-parking or other offenses. Boston also tickets drivers for stopping or parking in a bike lane, according to its website. (via)

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Dedicated Bike Lanes, Other Improvements On Comm. Ave.

From U-Hub

State transportation officials signed off today on a $20.4-million reconstruction project along a bicycle-unfriendly stretch of Commonwealth Avenue that will include dedicated bicycle lanes on both sides of the road and wider sidewalks on both sides.

Although only 0.63 miles long, the avenue between Alcorn Street and the BU Bridge is used by an estimated 30,000 pedestrians, 3,000 bicyclists, 27,000 Green Line riders who get off and on at the four stops along the way and 35,000 motorists.

State Highway Administrator Thomas Tinlin – who formerly served in a similar role for the city of Boston – sad in a statement:

This project is an opportunity to make major multi-modal improvements to one of the main arteries into Boston. The reconstruction will make traveling to and from work every day safer and easier for all types of commuters.

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Bikes Lanes At Fatal Mass. Ave. Intersection…Not Working

I noticed the same thing when I was looking at them a couple nights ago, but Reddit user Alltheacro noticed that drivers don’t seem to be paying any attention to them during the day either…

I read there was talk of Bollards?  It looks like they will be needed…we could also use some more bike lane markers, some targeted enforcement, and maybe that blinking sign should say “Right most Lane, Bikes Only” because these drivers don’t seem to care/understand.  This turn needs a curb bump out to slow down right turning vehicles, and something to keep them out of the bike lane.  Also shame on that city bus, I know they have had training on how to drive safely around cyclists, and yet they continue to pull dumb shit like this.

This intersection isn’t the most dangerous in Boston on accident, and its not going to fix itself, the city has started the process, but clearly its not done yet.

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State Trooper Doesn’t Care About You Locals With The Helmets

I got sent this shocking video today…honestly someone should be given a new assignment.  The longfellow has recently been reconfigured and its pretty horrible the way cyclists are funneled up onto the sidewalk, but with cops like this doing…something (this guy certainly isn’t protecting or serving anyone) I hope no one is in an accident because they certainly are not sympathetic to safety on that bridge.

The current bike lane situation on the bridge could be made better in so many ways, but having an officer literally parked in the lane and then having his buddy behave like this its only a matter or time before something bad happens.

Thanks Ben for sending this along.

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Tonight: Public Hearing For Game-Changing Cycle Track Loop In Downtown Boston

Greg Hum plays drums on his bike, gets people together for really big midnight and monthly bike rides, and smiles too much. He shares stories and more on his personal blog, The Humble Cyclist. Tweet at him, bro: @thehum. 
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Imagine being able to bike around the heart of downtown Boston on completely safe and separated from car-traffic bike paths, or cycle-tracks. This is the goal of the Tiger Grant-funded Connect History Boston Trail

Tonight is the public hearing to present plans for a protected bike path loop around downtown Boston to the public. Here’s the info about the hearing from the Boston Bikes event calendar, so definitely show up to voice support, comments, or concerns:

A Public Hearing will be held by the City of Boston Public Works Department to discuss the proposed Connect Historic Boston project that is being funded through a Federal Highway Administration Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) Grant.

WHERE: City Hall, Boston
One City Hall Square, Room 801
Boston, MA 02201

WHEN: Wednesday, February 26, 2014
Open House 6:00 PM
Meeting 6:30PM

The City of Boston Public Works Department will be holding a public hearing to present the City’s Connect Historic Boston Project at the location and time shown above. The public notice which provides additional information relative to the hearing and project can be found here.

The plans for this path sound almost too good to be true:

The Connect History Boston Trail will be a family-friendly bicycle loop around downtown Boston, providing access to major transit hubs, regional trails, and National Park Service visitor centers and National Park service Partner sites.

A loop that provites two-way travel will simplify navigating Boston’s complex one-way street system. The trail will make it easier to connect from North Station to offices in the Downtown or Seaport District, or between the two stations themslves. For people just getting to know Boston, the out and back nature of the trail will make it easy to go from site to site and return along the same route.

The trail will be separated from traffic, such as a cycle track or path, in order to appeal to the broadest range of people and abilities. Trail users will be able to ride comfortably in small groups.

The trail will be buffered from sidewalk path by street furniture, special paving, or a curb where appropriate.

Wayfinding will direct bicyclists from the Connect History Boston trail to NPS sites and the regional shared-use path system.

Bikeshare, bike rental, and bike parking will be conveniently located to the trail.

If these plans go forward, we can expect to see a very different landscape for bicycling in Boston once completed.

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