Description
Waiting for bus at Concord and Huron Traffic backed up in all directions But that isn't exactly what I am reporting
In 10 minutes I have observed seven adults on bicycles riding on the sidewalk on either side of Concord and five riding against traffic on the westbound side of Concord
I think these bicyclists have by their actions demonstrated that the Garden Street changes are not what they want They are also not what the neighborhood wants
Two more on the sidewalk as I write this And my bus is late, undoubtedly stuck in traffic the Garden Street changes caused
If the bikes don't use it and the neighbors don't want it let's get rid of this failed experiment
25 Comments
City of Cambridge (Verified Official)
Concerned NC Neighbor (Registered User)
Capella (Registered User)
Blue Bike rental folks also ride the sidewalks... we need both signs and enforcement
that sidewalks are for walking not for biking!!
Eirene Kontopoulos (Registered User)
T Smith (Registered User)
T Smith (Registered User)
John McMahon (Registered User)
Seth Lucas (Registered User)
City Hall - FG (Verified Official)
Scf (Registered User)
It’s perfectly legal for bikes to be ridden on the sidewalks in most of Cambridge.
It’s generally safer also because there are fewer bikes going head-on in the bike lane.
It’s well past time people get used to bikes and start to appreciate that they REDUCE traffic and help protect Mother Earth.
Here are the rules if you’d like to familiarize yourself with the facts.
https://www.cambridgema.gov/CDD/economicopportunityanddevelopment/aboutcambridge/harvardsq
Scf (Registered User)
Here are all the rules and areas where bikes cannot be ridden on the sidewalk.
https://www.cambridgema.gov/CDD/Transportation/GettingAroundCambridge/BikesinCambridge/RulesoftheRoad
T Smith (Registered User)
My point was that bikes are using existing infrastructure despite the installation of bike only infrastructure. This suggests that the bike lanes on Garden are not appreciated or desired by the cycling public.
I will also note that given most of our sidewalk infrastructure is narrower than required under the ADA. Bikes on said sidewalks may be legal but they also create a safety issue for pedestrians of all ages.
Oh and my bus was almost 15 minutes behind schedule due to the streets being backed up by traffic.
T Smith (Registered User)
Bus travel reduces congestion. Bike travel creates a different form of congestion. Replacing 100 cars with 1.2 passengers each requires bikes that individually carry the same number of passengers. This results in bike congestion. 4 moderately full buses can carry the same number of passengers using less roadway thus less congestion. Backing up busses to build bike infrastructure only adds to congestion.
Also I again make the point that the City continues to ignore its federal requirements regarding accessible sidewalks under the ADA.
Scf (Registered User)
I guess I would say replacing 100 cars with 100 bikes would dramatically reduce congestion.
it seems you ride the bus and use the sidewalks, so you want those modes made a priority in Cambridge.
Those modes have always been made a propriety in Cambridge. Just look at al the new bus-only lanes (that people in cars are screaming about!)
Also, providing safe bicycle lanes does not impact ADA compliance, so I don't quite see your connection there.
The analysis and estimation showed there would only be 2 extra cars per minute outbound on Concord in the evenings, so your experience must be at odds with the official study.
you should take it up with the authors of the study and ask them if something is different than the study predicted.
https://www.cambridgema.gov/-/media/Files/Traffic/2022/gardenst/tooleanalysis/gardenstcommunitymeeting4presentationanalysisslidesupdated.pdf
https://www.cambridgema.gov/-/media/Files/Traffic/2022/gardenst/tooleanalysis/20220902_gardenstonewayanalysistechmemo.pdf
T Smith (Registered User)
Replacing 100 cars with 100 bikes reduces car congestion and creates bike congestion. The sidewalks have not been made a priority as miles of sidewalk have not been made ADA compliant since the law was enacted thirty years ago. The bus only lanes would be less controversial without the bike lanes. It would also be nice if busses were given signal priority at intersections.
I will also note that many Cambridge streets are undersized for their uses and have been for decades. This was a choice the City made.
The City of Cambridge has been trying to stuff ten lbs of infrastructure into a five lb. bag. That bag appears to have burst with the Garden Street experiment.
T Smith (Registered User)
Scf (Registered User)
Yes, I understand that you want busses to have priority over cars and for pedestrians to have priority over bikes. You've made that clear.
But sometimes other priorities than yours get implemented.
I hope you understand that there are other users of public infrastructure than busses and cars.
I hope you have a nice travel experience next time you're out using our shared resources.
Concerned NC Neighbor (Registered User)
Concerned NC Neighbor (Registered User)
Scf (Registered User)
T Smith (Registered User)
I want us all to share the infrastructure we have and understand the limits. The current bike lane building is being done on infrastructure inadequate for its current uses. Bikes are vehicles and can share the road with other vehicles. Separated bike lanes are a nice addition when they can be accommodated. Those location are scarce in Cambridge. Even the proponents know this as they show photos of six and eight lane roads in European cities with trams, cars lanes, parking, bike lanes and wide sidewalks. When asked where this would work in Cambridge the response is that it is representational of what is possible. Without adding is possible with 200 feet of right of way available (versus about 50 feet on, for example, Concord and Garden.
We have built two way bike lanes to accommodate scofflaws (see Brattle Street), forced bike lanes where roads and sidewalks are inadequate (and served by a parallel bikeway) see North Mass Ave. and now reduced Garden Street to one lane one way resulting in constant congestion on Concord, Garden, Huron, and many side streets.
As I stated before, stuffing 10 lbs of traffic into a 5 lb bag.
T Smith (Registered User)
Capella (Registered User)
are provided... I have been hit by bikes on Brattle street sidewalks which is a business district AND there is a 2-way bike lane! Also bike must obey driving rules when on the street/bike lane and stop
for pedestrians in crosswalks... they do not... they generally try to speed through! We need to think
about bike licenses to ride a bike in Cambridge! And tickets as well!
Scf (Registered User)
Traffic - SM (Engineering) (Verified Official)
This issue has been marked as a duplicate of issue 13644356.
If you are already receiving notifications regarding this issue,
you will now receive updates regarding issue 13644356.