[*BCM*] Stupidest Bike Lane

[thom3 at aol.com]

Actually there is a bike committee that tries to champion such issues. That said, most of these half done jobs (as I understand it) are because the road was only improved so far. In other words, if they repave 1/2 of Prospect Street, only 1/2 of it would be marked for bikes, and when the other 1/2 got paved....

Pretty much, bike lane improvements and markings go in as road/utility project get done. There is a long term plan.

Hope that helps shed some additional light.





-----Original Message-----
From: Jim Leonard <jim_bcm at xuth.net>
To: Boston Critical Mass <list at bostoncriticalmass.org>
Sent: Mon, 31 Mar 2008 1:45 pm
Subject: Re: [*BCM*] Stupidest Bike Lane



> This lane is going to hurt someone someday. The worst part (for bicycle
> advocacy) is that it will probably be a pedestrian, as someone merrily
> follows the bike lane at road speed --- onto the sidewalk. I almost hurt
> someone this way the first time I saw the new intersection. It's one of
> the few places that I think the road would be better with no bike lane
> at all. It's also shiny new construction... there's no hope of getting this
> changed, is there? Someone to write to?

you can send an email to Cambridge city council at council at cambridgema.gov.
This will send a message to all of the councilors and there are a couple
that are really sensitive to bicycling issues in Cambridge.  Sadly, they're 
less effective than I'd like about getting the city to actually do something
about the issues.  They know who I am.  They really need to here from more
people voicing complaints about the state of cycling in Cambridge.  Having 
your say at city council on monday nights would be good too.  Really, do so.

You might also try filling out the web form here:
    http://www.cambridgema.gov/TheWorks/contents/requests_123.cfm
which opens a ticket in the public works department for a very specific 
issue.

Regarding having your say at city hall.  You must speak on one of the issues
open for the evening.  It shouldn't be hard to get a coucilor to open an 
issue for you with any notice ahead of time.

The following comes from Craig Kelley regarding two issues on tonights agenda:

The City Manager's Agenda
(http://www.cambridgema.gov/cityClerk/cmAgendaList.cfm) has two items
concerning bikes on it.

#8 is about bicycle parking and where it is, and isn't, allowed and what the
City does about it (parking meters are illegal, but as I read the policy,
immediate removal is only done in instances of public safety, for instance a
bike locked to a fire hydrant).  It is worth a read, I think.

#12 is about the possibility of removing "do not enter" time restrictions
for bikes on some roads, and the MGR basically says cyclists have the rights
of cars and need to abide by those "do not enter" rules.  In actuality, what
he's saying is that if you find yourself by Whitimore Ave and the Grace Site
some day between 4 and 6 PM, rather than being able to legally enter
Whitimore and bike home, you either need to walk your bike down the street
or bike down Route 16, neither of which make much sense to me as these "do
not enter" restrictions are, I believe, aimed at curbing cut through traffic
that can two way streets like Whitimore or Cogswell or a bunch of others
raceways as people try to avoid the lines of traffic on our major roads.

Anyway, if you would like to speak on this issue at City Council, you may
call 617-349-4280 on Monday between 9 and 3 to sign up, or you may show up
at Council chambers between 5:30 and 6 PM.  Council public comment usually
starts a little after 5:30 PM and lasts until everyone who wishes has
spoken.  You have three minutes to speak and have to speak on some Council
Order, Committee Report, Resolution or Manager's Agenda item.

You may email the entire Council on any item by using
Council at Cambridgema.gov and the City Manager at Rhealy at Cambridgema.gov.  To
get something in the Council's packet, it needs to be at the Clerk's office
by 5 PM the Thursday before a meeting:  email MDrury at cambridgema.gov to get
something in the packet.

You may also see archived and ongoing Council meetings over the internet by
visiting http://www.cambridgema.gov/webcast-splash.cfmg.
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