tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36250316.post2766665484514280127..comments2023-11-05T01:50:47.040-07:00Comments on Bike Commute Tips Blog: Boston: Paths to safe cyclingPaul Dornhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03893190816290007375noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36250316.post-90034708215104519562012-09-12T17:54:52.679-07:002012-09-12T17:54:52.679-07:00For years I have parked at the large parking lot o...For years I have parked at the large parking lot on the Charles River on Soldier's Field Road near the park that is there. I take my bike off my car and ride into work near North Station. Today I found a ticket on my car saying I was over the 2 hour limit and I would be ticketed and towed next time (notice from the DCR--Dept of Conservation and Recreation). I want to change this policy--the parking lot is not near capacity during the work week and it is a shame people like me cannot part and commute. Any advice? I am so mad I want to start a campaign to change this!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07736665683068295178noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36250316.post-38305039855088645252011-10-09T08:42:29.083-07:002011-10-09T08:42:29.083-07:00My friend and I want to ride from NY state (Westch...My friend and I want to ride from NY state (Westchester County) to Boston. Wondering if anyone have any suggested routes? Thanks!Lester, Adult Tricyclehttp://tricyclesforadults.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36250316.post-22106311889640037512011-03-16T08:40:59.550-07:002011-03-16T08:40:59.550-07:00I'm a coordinator for North Shore Cyclists, a ...I'm a coordinator for North Shore Cyclists, a bicycle club north of Boston. Recently I built a site designed to help local cyclists find good quality rides from local bicycle clubs, fundraisers, etc. The rides are listed blog-style at my site http://cyclingnewengland.com , and I provide an interactive map to search for rides at http://ridemap.info .Gordon Harrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13229170416874970586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36250316.post-40913925142655066402009-09-04T09:22:51.362-07:002009-09-04T09:22:51.362-07:00Anonymous, we never see "full support from th...Anonymous, we never see "full support from the public" concerning anything. I think a reasonable majority is fair. <br /><br />I use some VC techniques to deal with the lack of infrastructure, but they're not a satisfactory replacement for true accommodation. They're a tiring countermeasure at best. I ride a 55mph highway with no shoulder, twice daily, and I can tell you that VC techniques are not convincing anyone else to get out there with me and ride. I feel safer from using my rearview mirror than I do from taking the lane on a highway with no shoulder. <br /><br />There is a bike lane in front of my house. It's cycled more than any other street in my town, and I've yet to see one motorist/cyclist accident on it, despite the awfully designed intersection at its terminus.hdraperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07264802489287129706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36250316.post-40441955385269189382008-06-18T06:38:00.000-07:002008-06-18T06:38:00.000-07:00I believe that bike lanes are a great idea only if...I believe that bike lanes are a great idea only if there is (almost) full support from the public. <BR/><BR/>There is a weekly television program dedicated to motorcycling that promotes safe riding and more. I believe this type of self-promotion not only supports the motorcycle industry but motorcycles become more visible and stay in minds of the public.<BR/><BR/>There needs to be a more visible presents of the benefits of bicycling using the media; a supportive culture for bicycling needs to be developed. There is work to be done.<BR/>RJAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36250316.post-11786889678280568512008-05-11T15:09:00.000-07:002008-05-11T15:09:00.000-07:00Paul,Hear ye! VC are not getting new riders out t...Paul,<BR/><BR/>Hear ye! VC are not getting new riders out there. Only innovative attempts to try some different things will. Only each city can decide what is best for each street, but buffered bike lanes, sharrows, separated lanes, traffic calming are all things that should be used to make the roads safer.<BR/><BR/>One note, I DO ride as a VC. But I am smart enough to know that I am far more experienced then the average cyclist, it isn't for everyone, it isn't the safest option for all users, and that there is no way to get new people on the roads. VC is just fine as a concept to teach people, but we need lanes and all the other innovations out there in concert with it.<BR/><BR/>Anyone who pushes VC as the main way to is living in a fantasy land and glad to see many of those folks finally being exposed.Clarence Jr.https://www.blogger.com/profile/00923960422881848649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36250316.post-91100057383929145552008-04-21T06:12:00.000-07:002008-04-21T06:12:00.000-07:00Vehicular cycling is fine for narrow roads where m...Vehicular cycling is fine for narrow roads where motor vehicles travel at 20 miles per hour or less, or for existing cyclists who cruise at 20 miles per hour or more.<BR/><BR/>To get people who are not riding now to start riding, you need barrier separted bike lanes.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36250316.post-58569409247358928062008-04-21T05:38:00.000-07:002008-04-21T05:38:00.000-07:00To VC proponents I suggest going somewhere with a ...To VC proponents I suggest going somewhere with a real bike culture. Amsterdam, Toronto or Copenhagen come to mind. Suggest to a few of the thousands of people on the bike lanes that bicylists would be better off if all the bike lanes were taken away.<BR/><BR/>I predict that they would get an interesting collection of strange looks and words along the lines of "les Americans sont fous!"Kevin Lovehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13186428862833389619noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36250316.post-61414852672231353582008-04-20T16:51:00.000-07:002008-04-20T16:51:00.000-07:00Ed: Thanks for your comment. For the record, I'm a...Ed: <BR/><BR/>Thanks for your comment. For the record, I'm a League Certified Instructor (<A HREF="http://www.bikeleague.org/cogs/programs/education/instructor_detail/1157" REL="nofollow">LCI #1237</A>). So not only have I taken Road 1 (and read <I>Effective Cycling</I> and been unpersuaded) but I am qualified to teach it. <BR/><BR/>Regarding research, I think it's fairly evident from the experiences in <A HREF="http://bikecommutetips.blogspot.com/2008/04/marin-bike-crashes-down-commuting-up.html" REL="nofollow">Marin County</A>, <A HREF="http://bikecommutetips.blogspot.com/2007/05/brooklyn-bike-lanes-save-lives.html" REL="nofollow">Brooklyn</A>, and the cities cited in this post. There is also the research of Jennifer Dill at Portland State University, and Peter Jacobsen in Sacramento: bike lanes increase bicycling which improves safety.<BR/><BR/>PaulPaul Dornhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03893190816290007375noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36250316.post-28639687467491032742008-04-20T16:17:00.000-07:002008-04-20T16:17:00.000-07:00"...bike lanes actually improve safety for cyclist..."...bike lanes actually improve safety for cyclists. Studies prove that bike lanes and other markings boost bicycle use, reduce vehicular traffic and speeding, and in many cases, decrease car-bike collisions."<BR/><BR/>Curiously, there's no citation for the source of these studies, Paul, neither from you or the author of the news article. Unlike bike lane advocacy, VC is not based on wishful thinking. It uses techniques and simple practices that actually benefit cyclists, where bike lanes are more for the benefit of motorists. Where cyclists are legally obligated to use such lanes, they're effectively second class citizens with inferior rights when compared to other road users. The public roads belong to all of us.<BR/><BR/>Please, Paul, take a Road1 course. Learn how to ride safely and confidently even in the absence of a bike lane, because all bike lanes eventually come to an end.Ed Whttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02661476789768156794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36250316.post-2503686889789955342008-04-20T15:43:00.000-07:002008-04-20T15:43:00.000-07:00VC proponents are often cyclists' worst enemy. Th...VC proponents are often cyclists' worst enemy. The "be-like-a-car" philosophy has tentacles that allow drivers, city planners and road designers to use VC as a convenient excuse. The end result is a cycling environment which is more dangerous and causes many potential cyclist to remain in their cars, compounding existing problems.<BR/><BR/>Just look at St Louis to see numerous examples of such advocacy. At state level, the idea of Complete Streets is rejected by MOdot's czar: <BR/>http://mobikefed.org/2008/04/modot-halts-complete-streets-bill.php<BR/><BR/>The bottom line is "trust us"...unfortunately elected leadership and advocates have.<BR/>JackAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36250316.post-82355124844396893462008-04-20T14:05:00.000-07:002008-04-20T14:05:00.000-07:00I think the main problem with "vehicular cycling" ...I think the main problem with "vehicular cycling" is that nobody ever told the cars. "Taking the lane" for safety is usually interpreted as "being a gratuitous bicycle road-hog".dr2chasehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16320828055999939449noreply@blogger.com