Bike Lane Changes In Roslindale

A reader David sent in the following report about bike lanes in Roslindale/JP Area:

In the October 2009, bike lanes were added to Washington Street between Ukraine Way (just south of Forest Hills) and Roslindale Square. They added some convenience, and (some people feel) safety to the ride, and were generally perceived to be a useful development – an example of the city bringing bike facilities out into the neighborhoods.

In June 2013, the city added a handful of parking spaces on either side of Washington Street, just south of Ukraine, where previously there was no parking and just the bike lanes. They routed the southbound lane (the one in the video) around the parking spaces (you can still see the remains of the original lane). The northbound bike lane was replaced by sharrows when they added parking spaces to that side.

As you can see, to avoid the bike lane, vehicles need to make a pretty sharp swerve into a pretty thin car-and-bus-lane, and in the video taken at the time, almost none of them do. Same is true today, two months later, so there doesn’t seem to be any progress along the learning curve among the car-and-bus-enthusiasts who use the road. (Some might argue that without actual parked cars, there’s no need to respect the bike lane, but at the least, it means the paint will soon be worn off.)

The two buildings that the parking spaces were added for were built on MBTA-owned land, and (I thought) were considered transit-oriented development. Both buildings already have off-street parking, so there should be no need to put parking on the street.

This decision was made, I’m told, a while back, during the time that Boston had only an interim bike coordinator. I’m not aware of anyone in the bike community who was consulted, nor any public discussion of the change before it was implemented. Rumor has it that the decision to trash the lanes will not be changed.

I am not familiar with any of the facts surrounding the changes made to these bike lanes, or the people involved with them. But it is clear from the video that motorists have not “responded well” to the changes, aka they are driving in the bike lanes. This is a clear sign of poor planning, enforcement, or both.

If the car is truly no longer kind in this town, why do we continue to put on-street parking in? Especially considering this location is about a 3 minute walk to the T.

Anyone else have any information on these lanes, or how they got into their current configuration?

Add to Reddit.

Tweet

New Bike Lanes In Roslindale

Got this in the email, any got pics or can confirm? Thanks Robert for the tip.

——————

If I read the markings correctly, it looks like they are about to mark bike lanes on Center St, Roslindale, between the West Roxbury Parkway and Weld St.

ps. I am working on a project to allow all of us to work on a Boston bike map…does anyone know any collaborative mapping tools (other than google maps?)

Add to Reddit.

Tweet

Roslindale Open Studios Themed Rides

Once you are done with the DotBike open studio ride, you can continue your classy art biking with the Roslindale one.

———————
Saturday and Sunday, November 6 and 7, 2010: Meet at Adams Park at 11:00 am and 2:00 pm for themed rides to open artists studios all over Roslindale.

More info

Add to Reddit.

Tweet

RozzieBikes Hosts A Winter Biking Workshop

Got this in the email today, if you live in the Roslindale area check them out!

RozzieBikes Hosts Winter Biking Workshop Wednesday, December 10

A new Roslindale bicycling group for all ages, Rozzie Bikes, will hold its first event, “Winter Biking is Fun: Let Us Show You How”, on Wednesday evening, December 10th, at the at the Roslindale Community Center. Refreshments will be served at 7:00 p.m. and three Roslindale winter cyclists will talk about and demonstrate their winter riding tips from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Would you like to keep biking to work when it gets colder? Would you like to extend your fun rides further into this season? Do you want to know how to keep your hands and feet warm? What about riding on snow or ice?

We can be practice what we learned on Rozzie Bikes first bike ride on Saturday, December 13th at 11:00, leaving from Adams Park in the center of Roslindale Square.
After one hour and approximately five miles, the group will stop for hot beverages at a local cafe. In case of rain–even winter bikers don’t like riding in cold rain– we’ll try again on Sunday, December 14th at 1:00 p.m.

Rozzie Bikes will be organizing more events, such as a spring ride and barbecue for parents and children, an Roslindale Emerald Necklace Ride to explore the green areas in Roslindale, and a presentation to the Longfellow Neighborhood Association in March.

For more information about us or winter biking, or to join our email list, check out our web site at http://www.RozzieBikes.org or email Doug Mink.

Add to Reddit.

Tweet

First RozzieBikes Meeting

A new bike group is being started to work on improving conditions for bicycling in southwest Boston. The first meeting of RozzieBikes, centered on Roslindale, on Wednesday, October 22, at 7:00 pm at 28 Sheffield Road #1, just off Walter Street near the intersection of South Street. Refreshments will be provided. People from West Roxbury and Hyde Park are welcome, too.

For further information, contact Doug Mink, [email protected]

Add to Reddit.

Tweet