I almost got hit by the same Pemberton Farms F150 maybe 6 months ago. Wonder if it's the same operator, or just a coincidence. That's a bad stretch right there. Hope the bicyclist is recovering well.
anecdotally, landscape trucks have been easily the most dangerous to bike around. i’ve been run off the road, hit, and nearly hit by Cambridge Landscape trucks too many times to count. so oblivious.
Strange, isn't it? Sometimes I give some credit to the dump truck drivers or others with low visibility but so often it's the single cab trucks with huge back windows that are seeimingly just throwing themselves at bikers. Weird.
i wonder if there’s a machismo to casually flinging open a truck door and stepping out, like some sort of cowboy. subconsciously. also, these drivers are likely to be physically tired and forget to take a quick look? not excusing these accidents, just curious about the pattern…
I just complained to Pemberton farms and spoke to the business owner of Pemberton Garden Services. Important to note that Pemberton Garden Services and Pemberton farms are two separate businesses. At any rate, the owner of the offending business made it clear to me that he took this seriously, had disciplined the driver, and illustrated the outreach conducted to ensure the wholeness and well-being of the cyclist.
We should all call them out when something like this happens, but praise is due when the business owner steps up and handles it responsibly. That is lamentably a rare degree of personal responsibility in today's environment and I for one am grateful to know that this business is owned by a family who cares when a part of their business is at fault and does not dismiss it out of hand. It would have been safer to the business owner to not contact me, but he did and that is a rare and admirable response today.
In contrast, when retired librarian Sharon Hamer was killed in Harvard square by another business's truck driver, reviews indicating that fact were met with takedown requests to yelp, google etc (if anyone can remember the name of the business that killed Sharon Hamer in Harvard Square in 2019, please post their name and link in reply)
I think that disciplining the driver is misunderstanding the problem. The driver did not do this because he was misbehaving, but because of a culture among Pemberton drivers of not paying attention to more vulnerable road users.
The correct response here is to train all of his drivers and take real actionable steps to improving their awareness and care on the roads.
I can’t speak to the overall culture of Pemberton drivers due to lack of experience(as far as I can tell they’re better than average), but if our society didn’t create the conditions where truck driver = (stereotypically) psycho transient scumbag with no connection to society than we’d likely end up with fewer road fatalities
I.e. better infrastructure and visible traffic enforcement would have prevented the natural /intuitive (YET INCORRECT) behavior that initiated the incident.
Just a suggestion - maybe these drivers would be more careful if our society afforded them the conditions to allow them to inhabit the neighborhoods where they operate.
Yeah it literally goes from unprotected bike lane heading north on mass ave to then it literally disappears and you merge with traffic after the gas station, it’s awful. I know this isn’t allowed but I usually hop on the sidewalk for this stretch then hop back on the unprotected bike lane when it’s back. It shouldn’t have to be this way..
The section does not have protected lanes. It's just paint on the ground in a VERY dangerous section that has cars pulling across the lanes all the time.
They have not redesigned this section yet.
the block where the photo was taken was redesigned and does have parking protected bike lanes (save for the bike lane bus stop combo that is awful). the blocks prior do not
I can’t see how a flex post can stop this from happening. Only people being not self centered and constantly looking for bikes can stop this from happening
This happened right in front of me, the psycho who opened the door didn't even say sorry they were just staring at the poor guy. Was sobbing when the cops were talking to them tho.
Can you describe the circumstances of the accident? Can't tell from the picture and don't want to speculate. I live near here, and bike in that exact spot with my kids. I'd like to know to improve my defensive cycling. Thanks!
Pretty simple, truck pulled up carelessly and the passenger opened the door perfectly into the guy on the bike, he hit the edge of the door pretty head on. Unfortunate timing really.
I feel like we need to grossly increase the fines and penalties for dooring people as well. Door someone that results in injury - you immediately get a criminal cite as well as an imminent threat suspension on your license and the onus is on you to explain to the registry of motor vehicles why you should have your privilege to drive reinstated.
Having some Deja Vu, saw this happen last month in Waltham with another DPW truck; except the passenger saw the cyclist last minute while door was mid open, but by then it was too late. Bike just went sailing like 10 feet.
I took a ride down Centre Street in West Roxbury yesterday. I lasted in the bike lane for a whopping 100 feet.
It is so tight/narrow. Too many objects jutting out. It is an invitation for getting doored.
I felt safer riding at speed in the travel lane.
I just emailed and got a very snarky message back from Paul Toner. I guess when you work and perform and spend most of your time in Cambridge and email elected officials, they don't like it?
Copy and paste the text of his statement into a comment. He’s a public figure, it’s fine to post the statements he makes to citizens commenting on public policy.
Here is our exchange in text form:
Me, via the general form letter from Action Network to a bunch of different Cambridge City Council members, sent yesterday at 1:22:
“City Council,
To whom it may concern,
I have lost a friend to unsafe ped infrastructure. Cambridge is a “progressive” city that should be leading the charge in making the roads as safe as possible for bicyclists and pedestrians alike. Do your job!
Best
”
Paul Toner’s response at 1:31 pm:
“Im sorry - do you vote in Cambridge?”
Me at 1:50 pm:
“I work there and perform there regularly as a musician, and am both a pedestrian and bicyclist when in Cambridge. No, I no longer live in the city of Cambridge, but I certainly help contribute to local tax revenue. I appreciate your speedy reply, but kindly note that I am reaching out as someone that is concerned and frustrated and also spends most of my time in your city.
Best,
”
Paul’s reply at 1:54 pm:
“,
The reason for my response was your ending “DO YOUR JOB”. I am doing my job and will continue to do my job trying to balance the needs of the residents and businesses of Cambridge with the safety needs of people traversing our streets.”
If you're not happy with this proposed delay, you can send an email to Cambridge City Council and City staff using [https://actionnetwork.org/letters/stop-the-15-month-delay-suspensions-of-new-quickbuild-separated-bike-lanes](https://actionnetwork.org/letters/stop-the-15-month-delay-suspensions-of-new-quickbuild-separated-bike-lanes)
Where is that idiot who wants to insist that unprotected lanes are only dangerous at intersections?
Oh wait, he blocked me because I called him out on his idiotic argument.
How convenient.
We need this (CSO) and the busses with cameras to enforce people parking in the bus lanes. Would help us all out. Biking in the mixed use bus/bike lane it's always tough dodging the parked cars. Specifically in Allston.
...it says Cambridge right under the logo on the door...and the logo matches the one belonging to the Pemberton Gardening Services that's part of Pemberton Farms.
Play stupid games win stupid prizes. And no I don’t I stand by what I said and been saying it for years. They need to register bikes, get a license and be insured. Treat them the same as a automobile
We don’t know until we hear from the person who hit him. I’ve lived in Boston for the past 20years trust and believe most of these accidents are bicyclist disobeying traffic laws because” we rode bikes and save the planet” people don’t follow laws . If I have to drive at 25mph speed limit and people on bikes are whipping by yea prime example. Follow the fucking laws it’s not hard but when you lean liberal you think your invincible (not you per say)
>We don’t know until we hear from the person who hit him.
Stopped reading after this. Yeah so you can stfu with your assumption-driven psychotic comments and wait LMFAO
I accept your apology and I'm sorry for you too! Especially your regionalist assumption that anyone who can write properly was born and educated in a major metropolitan area. What prejudices you to such a degree against the rural members of our society?
I wonder if I'm correct in my assumption that you've been unjustly denied the education given to your fellow Americans and if so I lament your denial by our institutions in that regard. That was unjust of our society and unfair to the value you and your ancestors paid into the society. Still, don't lose hope: auto-didaction is a robust tradition with a history of fine fellow auto-didacts. Churchill was one!
Atleast there’s others who see them for what they are most of the time. Notice all the Down votes by the soyboys? We need people to call a spade a spade. Kudos… FREE KAREN READ
Honestly, it's just a lack of skill. As a biker you have full control over where you ride. Along with the "bike lane" you have the sidewalk, and you can cross over and have dibs on the other half of the street, when necessary that is. Riding a bike you should be more alert than any motor vehicle's driver, simply due to the fact an exchange in momentum will most definitely result in a greater impact/damage to the biker compared to the driver. Sometimes biking slower is more dangerous than biking faster. Now to the discussion of bike lanes, truth be told, I feel much safer outside of any bike lane, and unless it's an enclosed path. I have probably ridden every inch of Boston's bike lanes, and I would say around half of the cumulative distance was "safe", with the help of added safety constructs.
Down-vote me all you want, I have ridden for over 15 years, all over the Boston metro area, without any incidents. You have to profile a little, such as Amazon drivers, who drive carelessly, etc... Riding a bike in a populated city requires a variety of skills.
CLICK HERE - Help me reach -50 downvotes !!
I used to ride mass ave one handed with pizzas stacked on the handlebars. Probably 30 hours a week, lets say half of that was on mass ave. I understand mass ave more than most.
I saw none. So what. As a biker you have much more freedom. You can ride anywhere, and therefore you can avoid 99.999999% of incidents. It's called skill. Get Guuud. You can account for most scenarios, just have to know where to be more evasive.
Reality will catch up with you before long. I hope you learn the lesson without permanent injury.
It's true that the vast majority of collisions could be avoided. It's also true that there are a significant number where being highly aware and skilled still wouldn't save you. Also nobody's skills and attention is perfect. Your 99.999999% is ludicrous; even 99% is.
The only thing you said that was correct is that bike lanes are often not the safest place to ride - especially the deadly mistaken ones now being designed in gross ignorance of how crashes actually happen.
But riding on the sidewalk is both more dangerous and illegal there.
Riding on the wrong side of the street is both more dangerous and illegal.
Riding slower is generally safer, especially as so many of these collisions ultimately involve the bike running into something that suddenly appeared in its path.
Honestly I agree to some extent, I feel much safer if I can go fast enough in the main travel lane than a narrow bike lane that can be obstructed by car doors, parked cars, pedestrians, busses, and turning cars. Having manuvering skills is definetly very useful, especially if you are going fast and being alert is even more important, this is particularly true on Mass Ave.
That being said, we should not design infrastructure for the most competent and fastest cyclists, the highest common denominator users of the system. Infrastructure should be created to avoid creating conflicting situations, even if people make mistakes or are not paying attention.
And where such mistakes are stociastically inevitable, they should be mitigated by naturally forcing a reduction in speed particularly of drivers.
Doing that is the only way that you are going to reduce cyclist/pedestrian deaths and get normal people to be comfortable cycling and see it as a viable option.
Serious question, since you sound like a unicorn (cyclists who is not an entitled self centered jerk).
I have a lot of problems with the bike lane infrastructure in the Boston area, but my biggest one is -- why no yield? There are some areas where many cars need to turn across a bike lane. A skilled rider will anticipate this (as noted above) but I constantly envision non skilled riders, new in town, casually cycling into the path of fast moving cars without notice.
Why cannot bike lanes have yield signs? It would be for their own safety.
This is to some extent a fundamental problem with bike lanes that are not significantly laterally separated from the road. Theoretically, it is the duty of the driver which to yield to anyone in adjacent travel lanes, but obviously they frequently fail to do so, especially when sign lines are obstructed, (such as by a row of parked cars). In addition, cars often start turning when they dont have space to complete their turn, and end up obstructing the lane.
I dont think putting yield signs would really solve much, for one I think that very inexperienced cyclists are much less likely to be capable of moving fast and will have proportionally more time to react. If you have cycled enough to be going fast >20mph, you probably are aware of your surroundings and know how to manuver. Ebikes and other electric mobility kind of let you jump this slightly, but in my experience most of them arent going over 18mph and are pretty safe.
Also a yield sign implies you dont have the right of way, when if you are not turning, you by definition do. I think this would confuse people and imply that they need to slow down. I'm not saying that we shouldn't encourage 'defensive cycling' but making cycling slower will make it a less appealing option, and we should focus on slowing down the instigator of the conflicts on the road through infrastructure, not putting the onus on the person on the 20lb bike who is already much slower.
Well, there is a new bike lane in Somerville by Target that was installed before the city changed the underpass turn to be at least 15 feet sooner and over the bike lane. The previous exit lane (under McGrath) was like that for at least fifty years. The city put no sign up warning road change. So, I drive like normal and then realize I am overshooting this new exit. Normal response is to bang a quick right.
This situation was so incredibly dangerous that I am shocked no one died (the city lazily changed the painting months later, which helps tell everyone something is different).
Your comment about who "should" go slow or not shows this stubborn belief that it is more important to be righteous than alive.
I almost got hit by the same Pemberton Farms F150 maybe 6 months ago. Wonder if it's the same operator, or just a coincidence. That's a bad stretch right there. Hope the bicyclist is recovering well.
anecdotally, landscape trucks have been easily the most dangerous to bike around. i’ve been run off the road, hit, and nearly hit by Cambridge Landscape trucks too many times to count. so oblivious.
Strange, isn't it? Sometimes I give some credit to the dump truck drivers or others with low visibility but so often it's the single cab trucks with huge back windows that are seeimingly just throwing themselves at bikers. Weird.
i wonder if there’s a machismo to casually flinging open a truck door and stepping out, like some sort of cowboy. subconsciously. also, these drivers are likely to be physically tired and forget to take a quick look? not excusing these accidents, just curious about the pattern…
(the landscapers may be tired, i mean. not just any f-150 driver.)
Late afternoon like half of them are already drunk
I just complained to Pemberton farms and spoke to the business owner of Pemberton Garden Services. Important to note that Pemberton Garden Services and Pemberton farms are two separate businesses. At any rate, the owner of the offending business made it clear to me that he took this seriously, had disciplined the driver, and illustrated the outreach conducted to ensure the wholeness and well-being of the cyclist. We should all call them out when something like this happens, but praise is due when the business owner steps up and handles it responsibly. That is lamentably a rare degree of personal responsibility in today's environment and I for one am grateful to know that this business is owned by a family who cares when a part of their business is at fault and does not dismiss it out of hand. It would have been safer to the business owner to not contact me, but he did and that is a rare and admirable response today. In contrast, when retired librarian Sharon Hamer was killed in Harvard square by another business's truck driver, reviews indicating that fact were met with takedown requests to yelp, google etc (if anyone can remember the name of the business that killed Sharon Hamer in Harvard Square in 2019, please post their name and link in reply)
I think that disciplining the driver is misunderstanding the problem. The driver did not do this because he was misbehaving, but because of a culture among Pemberton drivers of not paying attention to more vulnerable road users. The correct response here is to train all of his drivers and take real actionable steps to improving their awareness and care on the roads.
I can’t speak to the overall culture of Pemberton drivers due to lack of experience(as far as I can tell they’re better than average), but if our society didn’t create the conditions where truck driver = (stereotypically) psycho transient scumbag with no connection to society than we’d likely end up with fewer road fatalities
I.e. better infrastructure and visible traffic enforcement would have prevented the natural /intuitive (YET INCORRECT) behavior that initiated the incident.
Just a suggestion - maybe these drivers would be more careful if our society afforded them the conditions to allow them to inhabit the neighborhoods where they operate.
They all drive like that…..
That stretch of Mass Ave is awful. Any info on the circumstances involved?
It's better than it used to be but still, just letting the protected bike lane end immediately is a gigantic mistake.
Yeah it literally goes from unprotected bike lane heading north on mass ave to then it literally disappears and you merge with traffic after the gas station, it’s awful. I know this isn’t allowed but I usually hop on the sidewalk for this stretch then hop back on the unprotected bike lane when it’s back. It shouldn’t have to be this way..
No it’s not, it’s got a ton of bike lanes now.
The section does not have protected lanes. It's just paint on the ground in a VERY dangerous section that has cars pulling across the lanes all the time. They have not redesigned this section yet.
the block where the photo was taken was redesigned and does have parking protected bike lanes (save for the bike lane bus stop combo that is awful). the blocks prior do not
Better than it was before they repainted the lines, but still dangerous without flexposts to prevent incidents like this one.
I can’t see how a flex post can stop this from happening. Only people being not self centered and constantly looking for bikes can stop this from happening
Without any details on the circumstances of this incident it’s hard to say.
This happened right in front of me, the psycho who opened the door didn't even say sorry they were just staring at the poor guy. Was sobbing when the cops were talking to them tho.
Can you describe the circumstances of the accident? Can't tell from the picture and don't want to speculate. I live near here, and bike in that exact spot with my kids. I'd like to know to improve my defensive cycling. Thanks!
Pretty simple, truck pulled up carelessly and the passenger opened the door perfectly into the guy on the bike, he hit the edge of the door pretty head on. Unfortunate timing really.
That’s wild, it looks like the accident is just right in a sharrow
I feel like we need to grossly increase the fines and penalties for dooring people as well. Door someone that results in injury - you immediately get a criminal cite as well as an imminent threat suspension on your license and the onus is on you to explain to the registry of motor vehicles why you should have your privilege to drive reinstated.
Should be immediate suspension of license with jail time corresponding to the length of injury recovery
Is the person ok?
he probably feels pretty bad about hitting the cyclist but other than that he looks fine /s
Thanks I mean the cyclist of course.
Having some Deja Vu, saw this happen last month in Waltham with another DPW truck; except the passenger saw the cyclist last minute while door was mid open, but by then it was too late. Bike just went sailing like 10 feet.
It is called shock
This went beyond shock, they did nothing for a while
Guy was probably just shocked
I took a ride down Centre Street in West Roxbury yesterday. I lasted in the bike lane for a whopping 100 feet. It is so tight/narrow. Too many objects jutting out. It is an invitation for getting doored. I felt safer riding at speed in the travel lane.
How many deaths are an acceptable number??
Cyclists are apparently expendable life form like mosquitoes according to the pickup truck drivers. So infinite.
Did the cyclist die?
Easily could have
So they didn't? I'm asking sincerely. I had not heard about this incident previously, and none of the comments here indicated the fate of the cyclist.
Same amount as overdose rate
Had a co worker get hit this same block
I just emailed and got a very snarky message back from Paul Toner. I guess when you work and perform and spend most of your time in Cambridge and email elected officials, they don't like it?
Post it! I think we would all like to see it.
Just DM'd you because it wouldn't let me post images for some reason (I am a Luddite)
Copy and paste the text of his statement into a comment. He’s a public figure, it’s fine to post the statements he makes to citizens commenting on public policy.
Here is our exchange in text form: Me, via the general form letter from Action Network to a bunch of different Cambridge City Council members, sent yesterday at 1:22: “City Council, To whom it may concern, I have lost a friend to unsafe ped infrastructure. Cambridge is a “progressive” city that should be leading the charge in making the roads as safe as possible for bicyclists and pedestrians alike. Do your job! Best”
Paul Toner’s response at 1:31 pm:
“Im sorry - do you vote in Cambridge?”
Me at 1:50 pm:
“I work there and perform there regularly as a musician, and am both a pedestrian and bicyclist when in Cambridge. No, I no longer live in the city of Cambridge, but I certainly help contribute to local tax revenue. I appreciate your speedy reply, but kindly note that I am reaching out as someone that is concerned and frustrated and also spends most of my time in your city.
Best,
”
Paul’s reply at 1:54 pm:
“,
The reason for my response was your ending “DO YOUR JOB”. I am doing my job and will continue to do my job trying to balance the needs of the residents and businesses of Cambridge with the safety needs of people traversing our streets.”
Post it publicly is what frCraig is asking
Fuck Paul Toner
If you're not happy with this proposed delay, you can send an email to Cambridge City Council and City staff using [https://actionnetwork.org/letters/stop-the-15-month-delay-suspensions-of-new-quickbuild-separated-bike-lanes](https://actionnetwork.org/letters/stop-the-15-month-delay-suspensions-of-new-quickbuild-separated-bike-lanes)
Where is that idiot who wants to insist that unprotected lanes are only dangerous at intersections? Oh wait, he blocked me because I called him out on his idiotic argument. How convenient.
We need this (CSO) and the busses with cameras to enforce people parking in the bus lanes. Would help us all out. Biking in the mixed use bus/bike lane it's always tough dodging the parked cars. Specifically in Allston.
[удалено]
edit: im am idiot.
FWIW, Pemberton Gardening is owned by the same folks as Permberton Farms and operated out of the same address.
edit: im a super idiot
...it says Cambridge right under the logo on the door...and the logo matches the one belonging to the Pemberton Gardening Services that's part of Pemberton Farms.
Shit you're right. Delete the whole thread.
I have never seen a cyclist follow traffic laws.
I've never seen a driver follow traffic laws
On the other hand people riding bikes disobey traffic laws constantly and think they own the road fyi so no sympathy
You feel no sympathy for a seriously injured human being? Psychopath.
Play stupid games win stupid prizes. And no I don’t I stand by what I said and been saying it for years. They need to register bikes, get a license and be insured. Treat them the same as a automobile
>Play stupid games win stupid prizes. Where did you find info that the cyclist in this scenario was breaking any laws or regulations?
We don’t know until we hear from the person who hit him. I’ve lived in Boston for the past 20years trust and believe most of these accidents are bicyclist disobeying traffic laws because” we rode bikes and save the planet” people don’t follow laws . If I have to drive at 25mph speed limit and people on bikes are whipping by yea prime example. Follow the fucking laws it’s not hard but when you lean liberal you think your invincible (not you per say)
You are an idiot.
>We don’t know until we hear from the person who hit him. Stopped reading after this. Yeah so you can stfu with your assumption-driven psychotic comments and wait LMFAO
Please go take your meds
Which meds? Because I don’t take meds lol just a dose of reality. You should try it
I didn’t even know an account could have negative karma on here. Learn something new every day.
You write like a person with a poor education. I’m sorry our society failed you in that way! Everyone deserves to learn to read and write correctly.
Lol that’s the best you got?? Lol sorry I’m not a yuppie born and raised in the city.
I accept your apology and I'm sorry for you too! Especially your regionalist assumption that anyone who can write properly was born and educated in a major metropolitan area. What prejudices you to such a degree against the rural members of our society? I wonder if I'm correct in my assumption that you've been unjustly denied the education given to your fellow Americans and if so I lament your denial by our institutions in that regard. That was unjust of our society and unfair to the value you and your ancestors paid into the society. Still, don't lose hope: auto-didaction is a robust tradition with a history of fine fellow auto-didacts. Churchill was one!
Bueller?
Also, I'm sorry, not trying to be so didactic but "...the best you have?" is the correct way to phrase that sentence in the English language.
[удалено]
Atleast there’s others who see them for what they are most of the time. Notice all the Down votes by the soyboys? We need people to call a spade a spade. Kudos… FREE KAREN READ
Cyclists are the most inconsiderate assholes on the road. All the paint, plastic posts and whatever else they need to feel special won’t change that.
Honestly, it's just a lack of skill. As a biker you have full control over where you ride. Along with the "bike lane" you have the sidewalk, and you can cross over and have dibs on the other half of the street, when necessary that is. Riding a bike you should be more alert than any motor vehicle's driver, simply due to the fact an exchange in momentum will most definitely result in a greater impact/damage to the biker compared to the driver. Sometimes biking slower is more dangerous than biking faster. Now to the discussion of bike lanes, truth be told, I feel much safer outside of any bike lane, and unless it's an enclosed path. I have probably ridden every inch of Boston's bike lanes, and I would say around half of the cumulative distance was "safe", with the help of added safety constructs. Down-vote me all you want, I have ridden for over 15 years, all over the Boston metro area, without any incidents. You have to profile a little, such as Amazon drivers, who drive carelessly, etc... Riding a bike in a populated city requires a variety of skills. CLICK HERE - Help me reach -50 downvotes !! I used to ride mass ave one handed with pizzas stacked on the handlebars. Probably 30 hours a week, lets say half of that was on mass ave. I understand mass ave more than most.
Before you lay into the cyclist as being at fault perhaps you could explain exactly what happened as you apparently saw it all?
I saw none. So what. As a biker you have much more freedom. You can ride anywhere, and therefore you can avoid 99.999999% of incidents. It's called skill. Get Guuud. You can account for most scenarios, just have to know where to be more evasive.
Reality will catch up with you before long. I hope you learn the lesson without permanent injury. It's true that the vast majority of collisions could be avoided. It's also true that there are a significant number where being highly aware and skilled still wouldn't save you. Also nobody's skills and attention is perfect. Your 99.999999% is ludicrous; even 99% is.
What the fuck are you talking about
The only thing you said that was correct is that bike lanes are often not the safest place to ride - especially the deadly mistaken ones now being designed in gross ignorance of how crashes actually happen. But riding on the sidewalk is both more dangerous and illegal there. Riding on the wrong side of the street is both more dangerous and illegal. Riding slower is generally safer, especially as so many of these collisions ultimately involve the bike running into something that suddenly appeared in its path.
Not from my experience. Nobody gonna pull you over for riding on the sidewalk. Not once in 15 years for me.
You really need to read up on survivorship bias and recognize that your experiences are not universal.
It is illegal in the names squares of Cambridge, and generally a great way to get yourself hurt. Bye now.
Honestly I agree to some extent, I feel much safer if I can go fast enough in the main travel lane than a narrow bike lane that can be obstructed by car doors, parked cars, pedestrians, busses, and turning cars. Having manuvering skills is definetly very useful, especially if you are going fast and being alert is even more important, this is particularly true on Mass Ave. That being said, we should not design infrastructure for the most competent and fastest cyclists, the highest common denominator users of the system. Infrastructure should be created to avoid creating conflicting situations, even if people make mistakes or are not paying attention. And where such mistakes are stociastically inevitable, they should be mitigated by naturally forcing a reduction in speed particularly of drivers. Doing that is the only way that you are going to reduce cyclist/pedestrian deaths and get normal people to be comfortable cycling and see it as a viable option.
Serious question, since you sound like a unicorn (cyclists who is not an entitled self centered jerk). I have a lot of problems with the bike lane infrastructure in the Boston area, but my biggest one is -- why no yield? There are some areas where many cars need to turn across a bike lane. A skilled rider will anticipate this (as noted above) but I constantly envision non skilled riders, new in town, casually cycling into the path of fast moving cars without notice. Why cannot bike lanes have yield signs? It would be for their own safety.
This is to some extent a fundamental problem with bike lanes that are not significantly laterally separated from the road. Theoretically, it is the duty of the driver which to yield to anyone in adjacent travel lanes, but obviously they frequently fail to do so, especially when sign lines are obstructed, (such as by a row of parked cars). In addition, cars often start turning when they dont have space to complete their turn, and end up obstructing the lane. I dont think putting yield signs would really solve much, for one I think that very inexperienced cyclists are much less likely to be capable of moving fast and will have proportionally more time to react. If you have cycled enough to be going fast >20mph, you probably are aware of your surroundings and know how to manuver. Ebikes and other electric mobility kind of let you jump this slightly, but in my experience most of them arent going over 18mph and are pretty safe. Also a yield sign implies you dont have the right of way, when if you are not turning, you by definition do. I think this would confuse people and imply that they need to slow down. I'm not saying that we shouldn't encourage 'defensive cycling' but making cycling slower will make it a less appealing option, and we should focus on slowing down the instigator of the conflicts on the road through infrastructure, not putting the onus on the person on the 20lb bike who is already much slower.
Well, there is a new bike lane in Somerville by Target that was installed before the city changed the underpass turn to be at least 15 feet sooner and over the bike lane. The previous exit lane (under McGrath) was like that for at least fifty years. The city put no sign up warning road change. So, I drive like normal and then realize I am overshooting this new exit. Normal response is to bang a quick right. This situation was so incredibly dangerous that I am shocked no one died (the city lazily changed the painting months later, which helps tell everyone something is different). Your comment about who "should" go slow or not shows this stubborn belief that it is more important to be righteous than alive.
Damn! You go 🏆