Comments on: Sound Familiar? http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/09/08/sound-familiar/ Covering the New York City Streets Renaissance Sun, 20 Jul 2008 00:02:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 By: d http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/09/08/sound-familiar/#comment-3645 d Tue, 12 Sep 2006 16:57:16 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/09/08/sound-familiar/#comment-3645 NYC might be ahead of Boston when it comes to political movement and advocacy groups such as TA, but having lived in both places, I will say that Boston is far friendlier to bicycles than New York and a better biking city overall. Why? 1. A huge student poplation in Boston means more cyclists. 2. Curving city streets, as opposed to long, straight, avenues, means that drivers can't speed as easily, and definitely can't time their driving so they hit every green light. 3. Boston proper is quite small. It's relatively easy to get to good bike paths for recreational riders and commuters. The Minuteman trail stretches from Lexington to Somerville, and lets off right at a T stop, meaning some commuters can bike most of the way to their destination, lock their bike, and get on a train. Compare this to riding in across the GW bridge. 4. Better bike security. Universities and business have more bike parking, both inside and out. That's far different from NYC office towers. 5. Memorial Drive. This major roadway on the Cambridge side of the Charles River is closed in sections during summer weekends. FDR drive is never closed, and even Central Park is open to cars a lot of the time. So, if Boston could have better cycling advocates it would be far ahead of NYC when it comes to safe conditions for cyclists. NYC might be ahead of Boston when it comes to political movement and advocacy groups such as TA, but having lived in both places, I will say that Boston is far friendlier to bicycles than New York and a better biking city overall. Why?

1. A huge student poplation in Boston means more cyclists.

2. Curving city streets, as opposed to long, straight, avenues, means that drivers can't speed as easily, and definitely can't time their driving so they hit every green light.

3. Boston proper is quite small. It's relatively easy to get to good bike paths for recreational riders and commuters. The Minuteman trail stretches from Lexington to Somerville, and lets off right at a T stop, meaning some commuters can bike most of the way to their destination, lock their bike, and get on a train. Compare this to riding in across the GW bridge.

4. Better bike security. Universities and business have more bike parking, both inside and out. That's far different from NYC office towers.

5. Memorial Drive. This major roadway on the Cambridge side of the Charles River is closed in sections during summer weekends. FDR drive is never closed, and even Central Park is open to cars a lot of the time.

So, if Boston could have better cycling advocates it would be far ahead of NYC when it comes to safe conditions for cyclists.

]]> By: Aaron http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/09/08/sound-familiar/#comment-3350 Aaron Sat, 09 Sep 2006 03:43:01 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/09/08/sound-familiar/#comment-3350 Just checking to see if any Bostonians are reading. Just checking to see if any Bostonians are reading.

]]> By: Sean http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/09/08/sound-familiar/#comment-3306 Sean Fri, 08 Sep 2006 16:36:44 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/09/08/sound-familiar/#comment-3306 A big Boston-based ouch! Now, is that the kind of spirit you want to foster? By the way, Boston's going to have a 'round Boston bike ride on October 1. See hubonweheels.org. A big Boston-based ouch! Now, is that the kind of spirit you want to foster?

By the way, Boston's going to have a 'round Boston bike ride on October 1. See hubonweheels.org.

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