I'm curious: since the point of the shared street - at least in the short term - is to provide a space that allows "social distancing" -- and people in cars typically have the A/C on and the windows closed... and the potential delay to a car by a pedestrian not compressing into the sidewalk is about 15 seconds...

cars are supposed to yield the way to the pedestrians and cyclists, because they normally have the road to themselves.

I'm now going to pay particular attention to the signage, but I thought there was one of those symbols RIGHT ON THE SIGN that indicates who yields to who: i.e., cars yield to both peds and cyclists, and cyclists yield to peds, because of order of vulnerability.

Just saying, but I use that street as a *driver* too, not just as a ped. Worth a thought: it's about vulnerability, and when we're behind the wheel, that 1/2- to 3/4ton vehicle is no joke.

anyway, my two cents. cheers folks,

I don't think this issue here is simply a matter of who has the right of way. Even on a "non-shared" street, motor vehicle drivers generally must yield to bikes and pedestrians, and bikers must yield to pedestrians. The issue here is about sharing, not just about rights.

I would hope that blocking the way of motor vehicles *just because you can* doesn't become commonplace. I like the idea of shared streets because I like the idea of sharing, but that really only works when everyone is willing to embrace courtesy.

Agree with Robert. But I don't think it's a bad idea to have traffic people on site at least for now because I've seen lots of cars going way faster than 10 mph.

@Robert - oh, I agree there -- but I'm also factoring in a certain amount of perception bias too, y'know? I've seen drivers who act indignant that I am not literally RUNNING to get out the way, and I've seen pedestrians walk out into traffic without looking up from their phones. There's a certain level of hubris on both sides, but only one is in a 3/4 ton vehicle, so ::shrug::

And yes: agree @Nandrew that it would also be a good idea to have a few folks from traffic actually on site in a few places.
Here's a fun example: I came home (by car) Tuesday night, coming down the now one-way section of Cambridge St with the new restaurant seating etc. Light's green.
There's an oncoming car...hey, he's coming right at me, doesn't he see that there's only one lane and it's on the left, and has me in it? ::checks my headlights are really on, yep they are:: Hey, he's not turning...I'm going to slow down cause what are they... and at the last second they veered to take the LEFT TURN onto Springfield st that ... y'know, you've never been supposed to take, and since you would now have to do as this guy did, and come *head on* to oncoming traffic to take that turn, I don't think it's recently become magically legal so...
again, ::shrug:: a little observation during the evening hours there might go a long way: people I guess think the rules don't apply if it's not active "rush hour" maybe?

Yikes, Margaret!

@Nandrew -- I know, right? I was really awake after THAT little incident.

Cars don't belong on the shared streets. That's my view after two weeks of observing dangerously selfish behaviors by drivers.

I got curious what the language in the MGL was just for regular roads:

M.G.L. Part I, Title XIV, Chapter 90, section 14 provides:
"Upon approaching a pedestrian who is upon the traveled part of any way and not upon a sidewalk, every person operating a motor vehicle shall slow down."

Hey, when I'm just trying to load/unload my own vehicle on my own residential street [one way, parking both sides, strictly residential], drivers don't slow down, so... ::shrug::

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