Allston-Brighton bikes

see http://www.mass.gov/dcr/projects/pdf/BU%20Craigie%20Follow%20Up.pdf for DCR’s presentation about it’s current plans for the bridge renovations/rehab.

From Chris Porter of MassBike Metro Boston: Thanks to those of you who attended the BU Bridge hearing last Thursday.  There was a great crowd of bicyclists there, including some MassBikers.  Also, we heard some very heartening news from the DCR – they have committed to putting bike lanes on the BU Bridge!  They will be analyzing a variety of lane configurations while reconstruction of the bridge deck itself takes place over the next three years (it’s scheduled to start next spring).  They will also be looking at improvements to the bike/ped crossings at both ends of the bridge.  In addition, DCR is revitalizing its bike/ped advisory group, and the DCR Commissioner is committed to looking at other improvements up and down the Charles River Basin.  All this wouldn’t have happened without the efforts of MassBike and other advocacy groups!

DCR is planning to reconstruct the bridge as-is. This is your chance to advocate for improvements to the bridge such as bike lanes and better bike/pedestrian crossings at the Cambridge and Boston ends!
Boston University Bridge Rehabilitation Project – Public Meeting
Thursday, October 16, 2008, 6- 8 p.m.
BU College of General Studies
871 Commonwealth Avenue
Jacob Sleeper Auditorium (room 129 on lower level)
http://www.mass.gov/dcr/news/publicmeetings.htm

check out http://boston.mybikelane.com/

Hello everyone,

I want to direct your attention to today’s Freep articles that talk about biking on campus.

On the front page is an article about a biker who was hit on Comm Ave:
http://media.www.dailyfreepress.com/media/storage/paper87/news/2008/09/17/News/Cyclist.Hit.Near.Bu.Bridge-3435662.shtml

And an article about the bike lanes:
http://media.www.dailyfreepress.com/media/storage/paper87/news/2008/09/17/News/Bike-Lanes.A.Mixed.Blessing.For.Bicyclists-3435661.shtml

Then the editorial:
http://media.www.dailyfreepress.com/media/storage/paper87/news/2008/09/17/Opinion/Staff.Edit.Not.An.OpenDoor.Policy-3435674.shtml

and a student letter:
http://media.www.dailyfreepress.com/media/storage/paper87/news/2008/09/17/Opinion/Letter.Concerns.About.Cyclists.Safety.Cannot.Be.Ignored-3435678.shtml

Thanks to the Freep for making this such a big issue, and we all need to pressure BU to promote biking on campus. The fact that BU passes the buck saying that it’s the City’s job to monitor the bike lanes on Comm Ave frankly is unacceptable. It is their campus and their students who use the lanes, so it should be their concern to make sure they actually work and are safe by keeping cars from parking in the lanes and enforcing safety on all accounts, for bikers, drivers, and pedestrians. I hope we can continue this discussion with the administration, and I urge everyone to add their voice.

thanks for the consideration.
best,
mook

A group of BU students plans to submit an application for a new BU student organization with a mission of working toward making Boston University a more friendly, safe and supportive campus and community for cyclists. BU requires that the officers be undergrad students, ideally ones who will be around for more than just one year. Many of the students in the current group are grad students, so they’re looking for some interested and qualified undergrads…

If you’re interested, please post here and we’ll get the message to BU bikes…

and if you’re not an undergrad who wants to be an officer, please just SPREAD THE WORD!

We’ve created a “(friends of) BU bikes” Google group to provide an online forum for those in our community interested in working toward a more bicycle friendly, safe and supportive Boston University Campus. Whether you are a supporter of the concept of bike lanes or “not so much”… completion of the bike lanes on Commonwealth Avenue provides an opportunity for discussion and to promote further awareness, educate cyclists, pedestrians and motorist about etiquette, laws and safety, and to work toward making Boston University a better place for cyclists and all members of the community.

If you are interested in participating, please invite yourself to the Google group (link appears under Google groups at right) and START POSTING!

CITY OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS

Office of the Mayor

Thomas M. Menino

For Immediate Release: August 5, 2008

For More Information Contact: Press Office, 617 635-4461

Mayor Announces New Benefits for Bikers

Makes good on Boston Bikes’ promises

Less than a year ago, Mayor Thomas M. Menino stood alongside the City’s new Bike Coordinator Nicole Freedman in front of members of the biking community and explained how Boston would soon become a better biking city. Today, he proudly announced bike lanes have been put down on Commonwealth Avenue in Allston and American Legion Highway in Roslindale, with more planned, and that 250 bike racks have begun to be placed across the city, per resident recommendations. He also announced that the City has released a request for information (RFI) for bike sharing, where one can rent a bike and tour the City using multiple pick up and drop off locations. “Today, we continue to fulfill our potential,” Mayor Menino said. “As you ride in Boston – through our diverse neighborhoods, in our great parks and past our historic buildings – you feel closer to our city. It’s a connection that extends to people, because biking brings people together. Riding a bike is a fun way to deepen your relationship with this great city.”

With gasoline reaching $4 a gallon and possibly more, Boston becoming a more bike-friendly city is even more important. Biking is not only a low-cost mode of transportation; it is great exercise, great for the environment, and can help generate revenue.

A former Olympian, Freedman has since led a mapping project, asking commuters, couriers and other bike enthusiasts about where they ride in the city, using that information to help the City plan bike routes. She also works with several City departments and local business owners to find appropriate locations for bike racks. She also creates events to welcome commuters and will soon begin an education series.

Mayor Menino also took the opportunity to thank Mass Highway, Livable Streets, Walk Boston, the Institute for Human Centered Design and Mass Bike for their contributions to these projects.

            This summer, Boston is hosting “Bike Fridays,” where the Boston Police Bike Unit escorts commuters to City Hall Plaza where there is free food, information and activities. The events help new commuters feel more comfortable riding downtown and also promote the health benefits and ease of biking in Boston. The next such event is Friday, August 22^nd. Riders can register and find more information by checking out www.cityofboston.gov/bikes/bikefridays.asp.

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