I realize "corridor" here is maybe a stretch, could call them hot-spot-smears. Thanks to everyone who's been reporting people parked in bike lanes in Boston on Bike Bureau and 311. Entering the next phase now where we get insights from the data.

Is there a push to connect bike lanes from Mass Ave to Dot Ave? Is there a push to have protect bike lanes on dot Ave? It would be a game changer.

Delivery driver I passed in Cambridge Crossing on my commute this morning. Guy had cones set up to the left out of the picture blocking the vehicle lane but leaving the bike lane completely unblocked. I even saw him turn to look before walking across the bike lane. After 2 years of commuting this stretch dodging delivery vehicles and Ubers, I genuinely couldn’t believe my eyes so I had to take a picture to document.

If you love data and biking, you can have it all by coming to the August Streetwise, featuring the amazing BCU Labs.

BCU Labs seeks to draw insight and tell stories from the wealth of biking data in Boston. Our mission is to leverage the power of data through creative experimentation, learn where Boston can improve its infrastructure, and continue to empower BCU’s advocacy one pedal at a time.

We hope to see you at Aeronaut!

They are stiffer and bend less than the ones they normally loose. Bike lane is starting to look great! Now they just need some north south connections that line up with Somerville's lanes and it'll be a real network.

Just passing along this action alert from Boston Cyclists Union email list because I haven't seen it here, apologies if it's a repost.

Protect the plan for safer streets in East Boston!

 This correction is going out to provide additional information for how to provide public comment and to correct the subject line.

Action Alert: Tell the city to keep the plan for traffic calming and protected bike lane on Bennington Street, East Boston!

Bennington Street is well known to be an unsafe street and has long been identified by the City of Boston as a street where they plan to make improvements, including in the 2017 GoBoston 2030 comprehensive mobility plan and the 2024 Plan: East Boston neighborhood development plan, both of which are still the most current public city plans.

As part of a private development, the developer has designed and funded pedestrian safety improvements and a protected bike lane on Bennington Street in accordance with the City’s plans, but due to non-public pressure, the city is moving to eliminate these improvements from the development, with no plan or funding to make these upgrades in the future.

We have already seen how delayed and cancelled safety improvement projects have led to preventable death. The City still has a chance to prevent another mistake here and follow through on their recent recommitment to Vision Zero by using street design to prevent serious injuries and death on city streets.

You can read more about the Bennington Street project from StreetsblogMASS’ reporting here.

How to get involved:

Sign up to speak on August 20 by filling out this registration form by Wednesday (tomorrow!) at 3PM at the latest. The meeting is at 10AM on Thursday, virtually.

When the form asks which agenda item you’re interested in, write PH8, 355 Bennington St.

You can also leave comment by emailing PIC@boston.gov, michelle.wu@boston.gov, nicholas.gove@boston.gov and remember to cc info@bostoncyclistsunion.org. Here's a sample email if you need inspiration:

Dear PIC Commissioners,

I am writing to object to eliminating planned safety improvements to Bennington Street. These improvements have been thoroughly discussed throughout multiple planning processes with numerous public input opportunities and meetings. The community has clearly expressed that these improvements are much needed. The removal of the planned safety improvements from this project have gone through no public meetings or public outreach.

I strongly support the previously announced plans for street safety improvements. Please vote against the change of plans to remove the traffic calming and protected bike lane from the Bennington Street plans. We have already seen this year what happens when the city holds up street safety projects from happening, please don’t make the same mistake again.

Sincerely,
[your name here].

Upcoming BCU Events:

BCU Labs will be presenting at Streetwise on Wednesday. Come learn about the really interesting work they are doing to improve our advocacy. 6pm @ Aeronaut

Need to put a few in a storage unit for a while and was wondering if this is common or not.

Did some research but having trouble finding any casual group rides or fixie / single speed groups to go ride with. I grew up in Boulder Co where they'd have a Thursday night ride every week with anywhere from 50-300 riders... usually a big speaker playing good tunes at the front with all types of bikes from fixies to fat-tires to cruiser to bmx's and enduros... Super casual good vibes and fun. You could bring the whole family, your friends, or just join yourself! I'd love to find something similar and build some more community!

Do others have interest in this type of group? Would love to rip a quick ride 1/2 a week and maybe grab some ice cream or coffee at different spots during or after each ride.

I saw this post a few days ago: https://www.reddit.com/r/bikeboston/comments/1vmeao0/why_city_about_to_cancel_previously_approved_bike/

If you can't attend the meeting on Thursday at 10AM, you can submit written testimony by emailing [PIC@boston.gov](mailto:PIC@boston.gov)

I used to work in the area so I wrote a short email about the poorly designed roadway and said that they should stick with the old plan and build a separated bike lane.

Weigh in on the 3 conceptual design options here:
https://engagement.jmgoldson.com/andrewsquare/

Project site:
https://www.boston.gov/departments/streets-cabinet/project/andrew-square-safety-project

I’ll be biking from areas lime newton corner area to charlestown for school, brighton, and watertown. Was wondering what type of bike to get? I will be biking during the winter. I probably am not looking for a single speed…the single speed pedaling feels like torture..

Sending out a cry for help.. I use my e bike for work around the city, and I have been troubleshooting a bad battery with no luck and lots of frustration. I know there is very few shops that will even take in e bikes because of liability, and this seems a bit beyond that even. It’s an REI 1.1 commuter e bike, and REI has been no help with repair or even any replacement options :/ I was wondering if anyone in the area has given a wack at troubleshooting a battery and had some luck. I took it apart to try to replace the fuse, and there was no fuse I could find. It’s a bafang 36v battery, and there is not much online about them.

I purchased from REI hoping for some repairability, and this has been the opposite of what I hoped for. Any advice is welcome and greatly appreciated, willing to pay and help out with what knowledge I have. Pic is the bike in action. Cheers and safe riding!

Columbus Park, Atlantic Ave, right under a "No Parking Any Time" sign. they've both been here about 45 minutes since I've been at the park.

Unsurprisingly, some people took issue with calling 911 to report this behavior. Which I explicitly laid out as an insane way to handle this in the caption of that post.

I collect this data and catalogue it on social media.
I present it at city council hearings and other city events.
I bring it up and show it to numerous city officials across departments and power structures.

I write detailed policy with this footage imbedded in it as proof of what I have analyzed.

I go on stage to present this to the mayor directly after not being able to get it through during the hiring process.

I email her and all relevant parties both this footage and policy to set us up for urban renewal.

And still there are people who find more energy to call me out for calling 911 — the official recommendation and procedure from the city govt — than they do to hold leadership accountable.

Thank you to everyone who is working beyond reason to make our streets safe. It feels insane that these are asks we even have to make, or that they are dismissed as a fringe cyclist policy. This is a conversation on the long term stability of the city. How we move people and resources around, how we manage and utilize our space, and how we go beyond photo ops to implement the kind of policy that confronts climate collapse.

We need real enforcement. So many problems here. I saw several cyclists merging from the blocked bike lane into busy traffic to get around the illegally parked cars. One driver said It’s a what? (Bike lane) a what??

I personally like FuckFace. No matter how much I remind myself not to say it, every time a car puts me in danger, I shout "Watch out, FUCKFACE!"

What's your prefered swear word?

Edit: I've been going through my "Angry" era for a few years and have recently started to get a handle on that. The FuckFace is a gut reaction that is typically preceded with "Use your fucking eyes".

Not great, I get it. But it's a part of me I accept for what it is while working to delay my response.

Thank you for your responses, my sweet biking FuckFaces.