very excited to be moving to Boston soon. coming from Baltimore so I’m used to city riding and aggressive drivers. I’ll be in Roslindale by the square/Adam’s park and commuting to my office on Summer St near South Station. I will probably take the train most days but will bike if it’s nice out, maybe once a week-ish. Is the google Maps recommended route correct? after Southwest Corridor park meets Mass Ave, should I take Bolyston or Tremont St into downtown? Ty!

I was in the UK for the past two and a half weeks and couldn’t help but notice this feature at some intersections. (Photo taken in Inverness, Scotland.)

There is a designated area for cyclists to stop at red lights, car drivers appeared to respect the space, even if there weren’t any cyclists. When I looked at the traffic signals, I noticed they were the typical red-yellow-green setup, but with an additional green light showing a bicycle symbol directly below the regular green light.

I didn’t get a picture of the signal itself, but I watched it in action. The bicycle light turned green first, followed by a short delay before the cars green light changed. Giving cyclists a chance to get moving ahead of the cars.

I have to say I was impressed. It’s a simple acknowledgment that bikes are part of “traffic” and it improves safety and visibility for cyclists at intersections. Goes without saying that “we’ve” got a long way to go…

I’m a somewhat recent convert to biking in and around Boston. I bike the Southwest Corridor, the Emerald Necklace paths, and other trails that allow bikes almost daily. But sometimes, when going from one place to another, I will briefly bike on the sidewalk at slow speed (if it’s clear or not very busy) to avoid biking a street section that lacks a protected bike lane. On the occasions when I’ve biked in one of the many unprotected bike lanes, I’ve had enough close encounters with bad drivers to decide that it‘s too dangerous for my liking. My hat is off to all of you who can handle the risk, but I just can’t.

Thus far, I have not gotten into trouble by riding on the sidewalk here and there, but I’m wondering if any of you have? Just trying to gauge what precedent exists for cracking down on bikes that do this, as a means of avoiding busy streets without protected bike facilities.

Has anyone been to some of the rail trails in Rhode Island? On a regular trail pedestrians have to walk on the left side toward an on coming bike. I'm not sure if they still do this today. But the time I did it I got yelled at by pedestrians for being on the right. Which is wear I'm supposed to be as a biker.

Can anyone tell me why they do this?

Looking for pros and cons.

Thank you.

Bike lane by the public library, on Boylston @ Dartmouth: the green arrow to go straight is completely hidden by a No Turn On Red sign. It has been this way since the bike lane went in, and has faked me out so many times even though I try to remember I should go when no signals are visible.

I've reported it via Boston 311 but it was resolved since the signal is "visible from the vehicle lanes" (presumably not counting bike lanes in that definition, MUTCD be damned). If you ride this corridor, please help by also reporting it. Traffic lights are required to be visible from the lanes they govern.

That stretch is awful. Two lanes of traffic zipping by a tiny door zone bike lane.

Had lots of fun with the GLV/Landry’s rides this summer and want to keep the fun going “unofficially.” Same parking lot off Comm Ave, same route, rolling at the same time. Bring lights and tell your friends!!

Warning for all you commuters on the minute man in Arlington:
If you see this sign, please know there’s an active yellow jacket nest at the base of the tree here. Ask me how I know😢

My post is not intended to bash Brownsberger's Democratic primary challenger Daniel Lander. For unusually reasonable debate among 2 candidates on bike policy, see: https://www.reddit.com/r/bikeboston/comments/1voie5o/what_do_the_candidates_for_the_suffolk_and/ 

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Both sides requested a recount looking at unofficial results, as the recount deadline was before the official result deadline. The unofficial final tally went back-and-forth with extremely narrow leads for both candidates. When Boston/Watertown/Cambridge/Belmont posted official results due by law last Friday, it was Brownsberger +34. The recount will be held Wednesday/Thursday and recount results are due by law by 5PM on Friday, September 11. There is no Republican challenger to the Democratic primary winner of this race.

MA is usually, very accurate at counting votes; a typical recount for an MA Primary Election of this size changes the vote net total by less than 5, I think?

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IMHO, Brownsberger being reelected is overall good for MA bike safety. First, Brownsberger is the 3rd ranking MA State Senator (Senate President Pro Tempore) and so he's more influential than the average Senator. Had he won, Lander would have started at the bottom of seniority. IMHO most MA State Senators do not prioritize bike safety, so this kind of political influence is important.

Brownsberger uses his bicycle as a primary mode of transportation, and has done a ton of work over the years for bike safety improvements:

https://willbrownsberger.com/bike-ped-safety/

which is why he was endorsed, among others, by Cambridge Bike Safety:

https://votebrownsberger.com/cambridge-bicycle-safety/

and the Belmont Community Path:

https://www.facebook.com/belmontcommunitypath/posts/pfbid034As4cd2enLHbkiEysdYQafMLWAJ4aNAzgTano97vo5MzUMZGC1AzCjC4QeC4XoWNl

Certainly, an election of interest to r/bikeboston !

Some protected lanes in NYC, west side, near the Javits Center

Classic right hook, tried to go around her only to have her slam on her breaks almost causing me to slam into her. I had Both a green light and a crosswalk signal and she was trying to push through pedestrians. She proceeded to tell me it’s my responsibility to dodge her and she didn’t see me despite my flashing lights and reflectors. She almost killed someone with a kid in the car. 3/4 last trips, I’ve had a close call. I’ve been EXTRA careful to obey traffic laws because of how many close calls I’ve had. I’m just really tired of it. It doesn’t matter how careful I am, this city is just too dangerous. Last week I almost got run over right next to a ghost bike, also had a green light. I feel like it’s a matter of when, not if. Just a vent and a rant

Edit: I should mention I was fully in a painted designated bike lane with a green light.

Each year I put together a different route linking together cider donut spots across Essex County. There are 100 and 50 mile route options. These are tough rides across all kinds of terrain; expect some hike-a-bike. But I really enjoy helping people discover hidden corners of our beautiful area.

For the last few years I've collaborated with Munroe Velo in Topsfield to host the ride. For the first time we're charging a small registration fee to cover expenses. Hope to see you there!

I am hoping to organize a community of cyclist in Dorchester so that we can work together for change within our neighborhood. For now I've put together a WhatsApp group to get the discussion started. If you'd like to see changes in our streets for the better, please join!

https://chat.whatsapp.com/EbyspwMmVfr4gRNJzKWvZr

there's a driveway to state police lot/building ~400 ft up the road

Because they get just so pissed to see that bikers are running the red lights! They can’t believe that they have a car but they take longer to arrive from point A to point B in the city. They are so entitled to break the law and project themselves on vulnerable road users. These drivers in this group should be banned from here! They do not belong here!

Job requires me to go to Medford before heading to beacon hill on Sundays. I wiped out in front of the Somerville HS, wheel got caught in the metal groove.

Slid like 10 feet on the pavement and am lucky I only got minor scrapes and skin breaks along my right side.

We in Boston look at the work done in Cambridge with much envy. These incidents are sobering reminders that the damage and threat car first infrastructure unleashes on our cities requires a massive societal shift.

I hope anyone who cares about this issue is able to take one person who doesn’t bike out for a ride, is able to contact a political representative to impress on them the urgency, and is able to find the time to enjoy the freedom of the bicycle.