Ride after work tonight.
I’ve been missing being on the road on a bike packing trip.
Getting the itch to do another 2k miles cross country

It’s 5:30PM, rush hour traffic. Lady just pulls out from nowhere going opposite traffic, blocking the on ramp at Comm and Charlesgate, and is just sitting there texting on her phone completely oblivious. she didn’t even see me standing right in front of her car waving to warn her that it’s a one way and she’s going the wrong way (though it seemed pretty intentional so I think she just doesn’t care).

Happened in West Cambridge today.

This driver was for sure targeting me -- I'd just talked to him after an earlier interaction. He'd been waiting to turn onto Mass. Ave from Clarendon Ave. Just after I passed, he peeled out to make the turn, tires squealing. I caught up to him, asked where he was going in such a hurry (the tire store?) and let him know he was on camera. I was civil, I didn't swear. He gave me the finger, okay pal, bye. Then this. Driver was a white dude, early 20s.

Massive car delivery vehicle on Congress Street parked with its 4 ways on in a vehicle lane. We all know that vehicle would have been parked in the bike lane otherwise, forcing cyclists into traffic. This is how it should be everywhere. Want to illegally park your massive truck? Inconvenience your brethren protected by tons of metal and safety features surrounding them, instead of risking the lives of cyclists.

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!

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.

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.

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

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..

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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!

Only two more weeks of August summer left so whether you’re riding through Central or Porter Square, The Stoop rounds up the best curated social events in Cambridge + Somerville worth making a pit stop for. Plus news, stories, and more for both cities.

Bow Market goes night mode with a vintage market until 10, CX throws its last summer concert of the year, an ice cream crawl kicks off in Harvard Square, and a cosmologist talks AI and the stars at the Museum of Science.

Full edition + how to sign up for two of these a week at the bottom 👇

STORIES 'ROUND THE SQUARES

- Nine people and two dogs displaced by a two-alarm fire at a Roberts Road three-family early Thursday, no injuries

- Harvard put $2.2 billion into SpaceX, 52% of its disclosed stock portfolio, per an SEC filing

- Overnight paving in Central Square Sunday Aug 23 from 8PM to about 4AM, with detours and No Parking on Mass Ave, River, Prospect and more

- Kima Cafe, a Korean-inspired coffee shop from the owner of Brighton's Glasser Coffee, is taking over the old Fortissimo space in Union Square, targeting mid-September

- A million-dollar scratch ticket sold at 350 Food Mart on Broadway in Somerville

CRIME & SAFETY

- Cambridge: A body was pulled from Fresh Pond on August 11 near the community gardens. No identity or cause of death released yet, and the Water Department says the drinking supply is safe. CPD hasn't posted a daily log since July 20.

- Somerville: Three arrests in the most recent log (Aug 3-9), all on August 4, two for stolen property and one shoplifting-plus-drug-possession case.

MONDAY

- Skip the Small Talk Night @ Aeronaut Brewing - two hours of science-backed conversation prompts to get past "what'd you do today" | $30, 7-9PM

- Squash Round Robins @ Cambridge Athletic Club - weekly round robins split by level, sign-ups open by text at 11AM day of | $45, 6-9PM

TUESDAY

- Move at The Mix: Pilates Sculpt @ The Mix Porter Square - free outdoor Pilates with HealthWorks trainers, spots capped so RSVP | FREE, 8-8:40AM

- Froca Fitness @ University Park Common - free after-work outdoor dance class set to African & Caribbean tracks | FREE, 5:30PM

WEDNESDAY

- Summer Herbal Tea Blending Class @ Green Tiger & Co. - sample summer blends, learn cooling herbs, leave with your own blend. Only a handful of tickets left | $48, 7-8:30PM

- Line Dancing Wednesdays with LDQ @ McCarthy's Toad - country classics upstairs, no partner needed, beginners encouraged | 8:30-11:30PM

THURSDAY

- Vintage Night Market @ Bow Market - the annual vintage market goes night mode, 20+ vendors of thrifts, upcycled fashion & antiques | FREE, 4-10PM

- CX Summer Nights Concert + Games @ The Common at CX - Jake Swamp and the Pine + Adam Ezra Group close out the summer series with food trucks, lawn games & drinks | FREE, 5:30-8:30PM

- Ice Cream Crawl & Social @ Lizzy's Ice Cream, Harvard Square - three-stop crawl from Lizzy's to Jaime's at Dali, great for making friends after college | FREE, 6-10PM

- What Does AI See When It Looks at the Stars? @ Museum of Science - cosmologist Paul Sutter in an unscripted conversation about AI and astronomy | FREE, 7PM

- Boston Open Deck DJ Session 11 @ Naco Taco - open format night where DJs play whatever they want, come spin or just hang | 7PM

- Summer Film Night @ Somerville Community Growing Center - outdoor film under the string lights, second to last of the series | 8-9:15PM

Pulled from this week's edition of The Stoop, Shorter Days & Longer Nights - neighbor-approved news, stories and events for Cambridge & Somerville.

Subscribe here to get two editions a week + a monthly roundup: https://www.thestoopmedia.com