[*BCM*] Storrow Drive Tunnel and Esplanade

[Thomas Vitolo]

I ride from west of Kenmore Square to MIT and back three times a week. 
When I ride to MIT, I ride along the Esplanade.  Not because I'm afraid
of cars, but because it's *faster* than riding along Comm Ave/Beacon St
toward Mass Ave.  Sure, I've got to ride over Storrow and then ride up
the ramp to the Mass Ave Bridge, but no intersections really boost
speed.  Plus, it's far more pleasant.

On the way home, I stick to the roads, because it's too much of a pain
in the arse to cross over 4 lanes of Mass Ave while on the bridge, going
from southbound to northbound so I can access the ramp.

If city planners want to keep bicyclists off the road, the best way is
with the carrot -- imagine a car-free intersection-free "Esplanade" a
block parallel to Mass Ave.  Cycling through the city would be much more
pleasant and quicker!


The Esplanade isn't in competition with road-riding for cyclists.  It
compliments road-riding.  Don't be a hammer and look at things like a
world of nails.  Choose the tool that best suits the job, and for
east/west riding near the river, the Esplanade is by far the best choice
as measured in terms of time, pleasantness, and safety.  My hope is that
the city and state continue to improve the Esplanade, and that cyclists
continue to choose the best path, which includes both bicycle paths and
city streets.



Be safe brother,
 - stomv



Ian Thistle wrote:

> Yep, get all those bikes off the roads, whre they don't belong.
>
> On 12/16/05, *Thomas John Vitolo* <tjvitolo at bu.edu
> <mailto:tjvitolo at bu.edu> > wrote:
>
>     I wouldn't be opposed to temporarily rerouting cars onto the
>     Esplanade, and I
>     doubt that there will be another solution, to be honest.
>
>     That said, what I suspect will happen is that when they look to
>     cut costs,
>     they'll do it in such a way that harm pedestrians, cyclists, and other
>     park-goers the most.  They won't put up enough Jersey barricades
>     during
>     construction.  They'll half-ass connecting paths for
>     cyclists.  They'll continue
>     to not clear the ice on the Esplanade paths.
>
>     When they're done, they won't restore things completely.  They'll
>     cut cost.
>
>     And, after non-car-users have given up use of a section of the
>     Esplanade for a
>     year or three or five, they won't even get things back the way
>     they gave them up
>     one or three or five years ago.
>
>
>     So, how it *should* work, in my opinion:
>     In return for losing Esplanade sections for a period of time, the
>     city/state should:
>     * Improve the area of the Esplanade near Charlesgate.  We're
>     squished right
>     next to the cars, and it's loud, full of exhaust and fumes, and
>     dangerous due to
>     dust and pebbles being kicked up at us.
>     * Improve other areas of the Esplanade to reduce the noise from
>     cars, or better
>     yet to use landscaping so that parkgoers don't even see cars on
>     Storrow.  It
>     would make the place more peaceful, more quiet, and more healthy.
>     * Replace the decrepit staired footbridge over Storrow near BU
>     with a new,
>     ramped footbridge.
>     * Fix the water fountains.
>
>     And I'm sure there's more.  The Esplanade could use an infusion of
>     cash to help
>     isolate it from Storrow Drive.  The citizens of Boston deserve it.
>
>
>     - stomv
>
>     Support a few technologists in Washington.  Go to:
>     http://actblue.com/list/stomv
>     _______________________________________________
>