Just because there are a few anecdotes about bikers doing dangerous things, that doesn’t mean that we should condemn biking. First of all, we should look at the data, which someone posted in an earlier reply. Of course, there will always be bike accidents. The question is whether they are going down with these safety interventions, which they are. And second, if we vilify bikers, then we should just as well vilify drivers. I see drivers do crazy stuff all the time, putting at risk bikers, pedestrians, and other vehicles, while also polluting. Maybe we shouldn’t allow anyone to drive vehicles too , if we’re not going to provide good access for bikers. Let’s get rid of roads for passenger cars too, if a few people doing crazy things is a reason to get rid of a mode of transit.
On Thu, Feb 27, 2025 at 9:18 PM Jennifer Goodman <[email protected]> wrote: > On Tuesday, I saw a cyclist take off from a sidewalk in Harvard Square, > into a crosswalk where there were pedestrians with no protective equipment, > then cycle on through a red light and through another crosswalk with more > pedestrians. Minutes before that, I saw two people on a motorized > skateboard with no helmets going the wrong way down a side street, fast. > Not a great situation in Harvard Square these days. > > A few months ago, I was going down Brattle St and passed a side street on > the right where a cyclist was lying in the intersection waiting for > paramedics. It was where cars turn right and have to do it across the bike > lane, which is to their right, without a sight line of a potential cyclist > who may be coming up behind them. Sends chills down the spine every time I > pass by. > > So you interpret “false” how you want, but it’s super dangerous for > everyone out there in Cambridge these days. > > On Feb 27, 2025, at 8:36 PM, Lincoln Miara <[email protected]> wrote: > > I need to respond to this, because for some reason biking and bike lanes > are becoming a hot button issue in the Boston Mayor's race and it seems out > here as well. > > I can tell you, as someone who has biked for over 20 years in Cambridge > and Boston without bike lanes, and in recent years with bike lanes, it is > now a million times safer. You would put your life on the line every time > through Porter Sq, down Boylston St, around the common, in JP, etc.: just > look at all the white bike memorials. Presently, it's a joy to ride around > town. > > To say bike lanes are a hazard to everyone is *false*. If you don't trust > my anecdotal account, see data below > <https://www.cambridgema.gov/-/media/Files/CDD/Transportation/Bike/bikereports/20231023bicyclingincambridgedatareport_final.pdf> > from Cambridge showing decreased numbers of incidents, and of the > incidents, there are far fewer resulting in serious injuries. > > Biking is the best way to get around Cambridge/Boston/Brookline. You can > travel end-to-end in minutes compared to driving or most public transit. > There are bike racks for parking, so visiting stores and museums is cheap > and easy, far easier and cheaper than parking has ever been. There are many > forms of bikes now. You can use a scooter or e-bike, which is great for > hauling cargo and/or not arriving somewhere sweaty. > > For those who can't walk, jog, or bike and refuse public transit, > non-drivers take cars off the streets and allow taxis and buses to flow > smoother around town. As long as people drive, there will never be enough > room on the streets to prevent traffic, and never enough parking for all > the cars. We could try tearing everything down and paving the whole state, > but even then, I doubt there would be enough lanes to prevent traffic, so > it's better to provide a multi-modal transit approach. > > Lincoln > <image.png> > > <image.png> > > On Thu, Feb 27, 2025, 6:34 PM Jennifer Goodman <[email protected]> > wrote: > >> Other feedback… Under public transit, there’s nothing about the trains. >> Enhancing train service is better than adding more buses to the roads, >> right? >> >> And the question about bike lanes and walking paths fails to address the >> fact that bike lanes are a huge hazard for everyone. If they were safe, I >> would want more of them, but I work in Cambridge, and I can tell you that >> they’re not safe - for pedestrians, for drivers, or for cyclists. It’s been >> a huge hit to have bike lanes constructed. It would make me not move to >> Cambridge, the way people ride in the bike lanes. They act like pedestrians >> moving at 30 mph, swerving through cross walks with people in them, blowing >> through red lights and stop signs, crossing lanes of traffic regardless of >> right of way, and using the sidewalks at will. It’s the worst. >> >> It does seem like the survey has a certain view in mind and is looking >> for affirmation rather than information. >> >> On Feb 27, 2025, at 9:18 AM, Jennifer Glass via Lincoln < >> [email protected]> wrote: >> >> Good morning, Lincoln! >> >> The Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) has developed a Greater >> Boston Priority Climate Action Plan and is looking for feedback from >> residents. I am passing along the information in hopes you’ll take 5 >> minutes or so to respond to the survey. This is open to anyone in the >> “Greater Boston region” which covers almost 170 communities, so please feel >> free to share the links with friends and family! >> >> >> The Plan is here: >> https://www.mapc.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Greater-Boston-Prioirty-Climate-Action-Plan-March-2024.pdf >> >> >> The web page with the survey is here: >> https://www.mapc.org/resource-library/metro-boston-regional-climate-action-plan/ >> >> >> I have completed the survey and it really is pretty quick. >> >> >> Thank you! >> >> >> Jennifer >> >> >> -- >> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >> To post, send mail to [email protected]. >> Browse the archives at >> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. >> Change your subscription settings at >> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >> >> >> -- >> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >> To post, send mail to [email protected]. >> Browse the archives at >> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. >> Change your subscription settings at >> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >> >> >> > -- > The LincolnTalk mailing list. > To post, send mail to [email protected]. > Browse the archives at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/ > . > Change your subscription settings at > https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. > >
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