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More Bikes Than Cars!

Written by Boston Biker on Aug 03

For the last 7 or so work days I have noticed that on my morning commute, there are significantly more cyclists than their are motorists.  The insane part of it is, the cars still take up vastly more room.

You will pull up to a red light and see 10 cyclists crammed into the tiniest little area, and next to them 3 people in cars taking up the entire road.  The light changes green and all the cyclists cram into a narrow bike lane (happily I might add), while the 3 or 4 cars struggle to find room on roads clogged with on street parking and construction.

There are two lessons I have learned form this.

1.  WE ARE WINNING!  Cycling is clearing a preferable form of transportation, this is due to many peoples hard work promoting cycling infrastructure and education.

2. Driving a car is about the dumbest way to get to work.  If you don’t have a really good reason, leave the 4 wheel vehicle at work, dust off that bicycle, and join the crowd!

Have you seen an uptick in the number of cyclists on your commute?  Have you noticed that you are outnumbering cars?  Let me know in the comments.


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EVERYONE IS BACK!

Written by Boston Biker on Mar 10

Urban-Cyclists

 

Oh man what a difference a couple degrees makes. Its like a someone pushed a button and all of a sudden all the cyclists are back on the road!  Welcome back everyone, we missed you, and are super happy you are back. Just an FYI, while you were gone the roads were destroyed by several snow-blastings. There are now pot holes, piles of sand/salt/rocks, still a lot of ice, and in general they are slightly more narrow.

All that being said, its been GLORIOUS riding these last couple days.  I actually got to wear actual bike shoes, instead of winter boots, and I feel like a million bucks.  HURRAH SPRING!

Have you started riding again? Do you remember what green plants look like?  Have you figured out what that glowing thing in the sky is?


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Posted in bostonbiker, Commuting, fun | 1 Comment »

Cyclist Hits Pedestrian, Cab Driver Punches Cyclist, Then Hits Cyclist With His Car

Written by Boston Biker on Nov 11

A cyclist hit a pedestrian, then asked a cab driver for help, the cab driver then gets into a fist fight with the cyclist and then tries to run the cyclist over…Oh Boston.

From UHUB:

A Brookline cab driver had bail set at $1,000 today on charges he wielded both his fists and his cab as weapons against a bicyclist who had just run into a pedestrian at Tremont and Avery streets Friday night, the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office reports.
According to the DA’s office, the incident with driver Sam Chandler, 45, began when a bicyclist ran a red light and plowed into a pedestrian as she was crossing the street.

He went to her aid, he said, and asked a nearby cab driver – later identified as Chandler – for help. Instead of assisting, however, Chandler allegedly became belligerent, exited his cab, and struck the cyclist with his fists. When witnesses separated the two men and the cyclist blocked his cab to call police, Chandler allegedly drove into him and fled southbound on Tremont Street.
Witnesses corroborated the cyclist’s account. He and the pedestrian he struck were transported to Massachusetts General Hospital. Both are expected to survive their injuries.

Seriously this entire situation is fucked, from the part where the cyclist ran a red light and hit a pedestrian (and not being charged with anything…come on!), to the part where the cab driver gets into a fist fight with the cyclist when the cyclist asks for help.

Boston, you have a problem. The problem is all of you act like insane people! Collectively we are a bunch of jerks who just don’t give a shit. We will never live in a city that is a joy to travel in, unless we all stop being such shits.

I think this comment from UHub says it best:

I’m not surprised. People who get around by [mode of transportation] are the worst. The other day, in fact, on [street], I saw a [mode of transportation] completely break the law about [something a law is about] and I was [synonym for ‘disgusted’] by how bad these [mode of transportation]ers are in this city. The [state govt agency] should do something about this before [number] people are killed in a [mode of transportation] accident.

The reason why this little mad lib works so well is because no one user group is blameless, everyone is constantly all the time being horrible. This is not the case in every city, in some cities there is a clear “bad guy” the problem is that in Boston, we are all the bad guys. The cyclists, the drivers, the bus operators, the pedestrians, hell even the train drivers get in on the act.

The only way its going to stop is through systematic education, enforcement of the rules, better infrastructure, and most of all, each of us needs to stop being an asshole when we use our roadways.


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Posted in Uncategorized | 8 Comments »

Cyclists Sited For Breaking The Law, But Also Given Helmets And Lights

Written by Boston Biker on Sep 13

This is the kind of thing I can totally get behind. These sorts of events are good for cyclists, and motorists alike.

Forty cyclists were cited for infractions, including red light violations, illegal turns, and not signaling, when police conducted a bicycle safety and enforcement operation near Commonwealth and Massachusetts avenues.

Boston, Brookline, State, Transit and Boston University police staked out the area at 8 a.m. Thursday.

Police chose the location due to its history of bicycle collisions and other incidents.

Police also conducted an operation along Commonwealth Avenue at 4 p.m. Results of that operation were not yet available, police said.

During the two operations, police also gave riders dozens of free helmets and bicycle lights donated by the university.
(via)

I would also love to see this sort of thing for motorists who drive dangerously.


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Posted in advocacy, education | 9 Comments »

Everyone Is Guilty

Written by Boston Biker on Jun 08

3-Way Street from ronconcocacola on Vimeo.

I have said a million times on this website, everyone is breaking the law all the time. If you ever hear anyone start complaining about just one group of road users be sure to remind them that basically its everyone’s fault, and that everyone is breaking the law in a rather rampant fashion.

One thing of note here is how much smoother the law breaking between the pedestrians and cyclists are in the video above. Not to say its a good thing, but at least when you are smaller you have a better ability to share limited space. Cars it would seem are just too big for their own good.


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Posted in advocacy, education, video | 3 Comments »

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