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I'm considering moving back to Boston after a decade away. COL aside- I'm curious how much actual progress has been made with respect to proper bike infrastruct

I'm considering moving back to Boston after a decade away. COL aside- I'm curious how much actual progress has been made with respect to proper bike infrastructure. Last time I lived there you were really risking your safety. The layout of the city just isn't conducive to cycling from what I remember.

generalenvelope 5y ago
Cambridge has some really good bike infrastructure
Texasian 5y ago
I’ve moved here roughly when you moved away, it seems. For Boston proper, it seems like things are finally picking up again after kinda falling off a cliff during the Walsh years. Wu ran on a campaign that prioritized transit, biking etc so we’re seeing some big, quick projects implemented (the temp Mass Ave bridge bike lanes for one). Add that to the cycling ordinance in Cambridge and a cyclist mayor in Somerville and it feels like we have a chance for a comprehensive regional cycling network coming into reality.
- cbm-vic-20 5y ago
  The footbridge between the Charles River Bikeway and the Longfellow Bridge has make it a lot easier to get between Boston and Cambridge/Somerville. https://goo.gl/maps/1hSgt2Q6PRSqbH6Q7 https://goo.gl/maps/1hSgt2Q6PRSqbH6Q7 https://goo.gl/maps/AjdNAhQAjXeDcuTj8 https://goo.gl/maps/AjdNAhQAjXeDcuTj8
kibwen 5y ago
I am immensely impressed at the degree to which Boston and Cambridge have improved their bicycling infrastructure in only the past few years. It's not Dutch-level, but relative to the US it's a dream. Get on street view and check out the new bike lane around the Common, which when paired with the footbridge over Storrow and the car-free Washington Street means you can get from the Charles River Path nearly all the way to Haymarket without sharing a lane with cars: https://maps.app.goo.gl/LXHJaEcaqnWbzt9E9 https://maps.app.goo.gl/LXHJaEcaqnWbzt9E9 Or see the lovely separated lanes running past BU: https://maps.app.goo.gl/B6n5JyKd783wZjSv9 https://maps.app.goo.gl/B6n5JyKd783wZjSv9 Or the new Harvard Square intersection: https://maps.app.goo.gl/CPxaadsJnqfskyNs7 https://maps.app.goo.gl/CPxaadsJnqfskyNs7
- kitten_mittens_ 5y ago
  It's definitely improved noticeably since '16, when I moved out here. Which Washington Street? I live by North Station, and biking to the Charles River Path is a little scary, but once you're on the path, it's pretty easy to get to most of Back Bay/Fenway without too much of the way shared with traffic. There are still big gaps, but the number of grade separated paths in the West/North End, at least is heartening. Seaport could be much better if enforcement was there at intersections. I've tried to use 311 to report drivers sitting in their cars at them.
  - kibwen 5y ago
    The Washington Street between Chinatown and city hall: https://goo.gl/maps/J2ZmkdXu1MPPSYm39 https://goo.gl/maps/J2ZmkdXu1MPPSYm39 Agreed that there's a ton of spotty areas that make me wary to bike around, especially in your neck of the woods. I'm willing to go far out of my way to stick to the places with good bike lane coverage. If only there were any way at all to get to the airport...
    - alamortsubite 5y ago
      Yep. In Amsterdam it's an easy ride from Schiphol airport to the city center.
    - kitten_mittens_ 5y ago
      Ah, yeah, I cross by that in my route from the West End to Seaport (I think it's Winter/Summer Street?). About as much paint as grade seperated spots and a share row on Cambridge St. is the fairest spot until you get to South Station.
jpm_sd 5y ago
As others have said, it has improved a lot. I started cycling in Boston/Cambridge in 1997 and they've put a ton of work into infra since then. However I now live in a northerly suburb and the inattentive drivers combine with a near-total lack of bicycle infra to terrifying effect. I still go for long rides on the weekends in nice weather, but I don't let my oldest kid bike the 1.5 miles to middle school. Too dangerous.

generalenvelope 5y ago

Cambridge has some really good bike infrastructure

Texasian 5y ago

I’ve moved here roughly when you moved away, it seems. For Boston proper, it seems like things are finally picking up again after kinda falling off a cliff during the Walsh years. Wu ran on a campaign that prioritized transit, biking etc so we’re seeing some big, quick projects implemented (the temp Mass Ave bridge bike lanes for one). Add that to the cycling ordinance in Cambridge and a cyclist mayor in Somerville and it feels like we have a chance for a comprehensive regional cycling network coming into reality.

cbm-vic-20 5y ago
The footbridge between the Charles River Bikeway and the Longfellow Bridge has make it a lot easier to get between Boston and Cambridge/Somerville. https://goo.gl/maps/1hSgt2Q6PRSqbH6Q7 https://goo.gl/maps/1hSgt2Q6PRSqbH6Q7 https://goo.gl/maps/AjdNAhQAjXeDcuTj8 https://goo.gl/maps/AjdNAhQAjXeDcuTj8

kibwen 5y ago

I am immensely impressed at the degree to which Boston and Cambridge have improved their bicycling infrastructure in only the past few years. It's not Dutch-level, but relative to the US it's a dream. Get on street view and check out the new bike lane around the Common, which when paired with the footbridge over Storrow and the car-free Washington Street means you can get from the Charles River Path nearly all the way to Haymarket without sharing a lane with cars: https://maps.app.goo.gl/LXHJaEcaqnWbzt9E9 https://maps.app.goo.gl/LXHJaEcaqnWbzt9E9 Or see the lovely separated lanes running past BU: https://maps.app.goo.gl/B6n5JyKd783wZjSv9 https://maps.app.goo.gl/B6n5JyKd783wZjSv9 Or the new Harvard Square intersection: https://maps.app.goo.gl/CPxaadsJnqfskyNs7 https://maps.app.goo.gl/CPxaadsJnqfskyNs7

kitten_mittens_ 5y ago
It's definitely improved noticeably since '16, when I moved out here. Which Washington Street? I live by North Station, and biking to the Charles River Path is a little scary, but once you're on the path, it's pretty easy to get to most of Back Bay/Fenway without too much of the way shared with traffic. There are still big gaps, but the number of grade separated paths in the West/North End, at least is heartening. Seaport could be much better if enforcement was there at intersections. I've tried to use 311 to report drivers sitting in their cars at them.
- kibwen 5y ago
  The Washington Street between Chinatown and city hall: https://goo.gl/maps/J2ZmkdXu1MPPSYm39 https://goo.gl/maps/J2ZmkdXu1MPPSYm39 Agreed that there's a ton of spotty areas that make me wary to bike around, especially in your neck of the woods. I'm willing to go far out of my way to stick to the places with good bike lane coverage. If only there were any way at all to get to the airport...
  - alamortsubite 5y ago
    Yep. In Amsterdam it's an easy ride from Schiphol airport to the city center.
  - kitten_mittens_ 5y ago
    Ah, yeah, I cross by that in my route from the West End to Seaport (I think it's Winter/Summer Street?). About as much paint as grade seperated spots and a share row on Cambridge St. is the fairest spot until you get to South Station.

jpm_sd 5y ago

As others have said, it has improved a lot. I started cycling in Boston/Cambridge in 1997 and they've put a ton of work into infra since then. However I now live in a northerly suburb and the inattentive drivers combine with a near-total lack of bicycle infra to terrifying effect. I still go for long rides on the weekends in nice weather, but I don't let my oldest kid bike the 1.5 miles to middle school. Too dangerous.