Cycling/Commuting FROM Davis Square

[on-reserve.livejournal.com]

I know many people commute FROM Davis TO day jobs elsewhere in the vicinity so I'm hoping this question will be deemed on-topic:

If you were to commute from Davis to the Back Bay/Copley area, what route would you take? Anecdotally, do you consider this to be a beginner, intermediate or advanced commute in terms of road savvy required? What sort of comfort-is-a-priority-but-price-is-less-of-a-concern bicycle would you recommend for a commute like this?

I suppose I could have posted to b0st0n but I'll admit that I prefer the less-snarky waters of davis_square when seeking advice/opinion.

Comments

[nonnihil.livejournal.com]

If you can commute at non-peak hours, check the bikes-on-the-T rules. T to Charles or Park Street and then bike from there could be a big time saver.

For peak-hour commuting, your route is going to be determined by where you cross the Charles. For Back Bay, that's pretty much going to mean Mass ave. Not a huge amount of room for cleverness there.

[anomie666.livejournal.com]

I don't take a bike, but if I were to do it, I would either 1) Take Mass Ave into Harvard and then take the bike path along the Charles into that area or 2) Keep on Mass Ave until you cross the "Smoot bridge" and then take that over to where you are going.

[ron_newman]

Elm Street to Mossland Street to Beacon Street, which becomes Hampshire Street in Cambridge.

Right on Windsor Street, left on Mass. Ave, through MIT and over the bridge into Boston.

Left on Back Street or Marlborough Street, then right on Exeter or Clarendon Street to Copley Square.

I'd get a reasonably sturdy bike because Beacon Street is in poor condition.

[rosiewoodboat.livejournal.com]

From Davis to Downtown, I take Elm St to Mossland to Somervile Ave to Beacon St, and take Beacon all the way through Inman Sq. to where it becomes Hampshire. Hampshire will dump you onto Broadway (Cambridge) and then right over the Salt and Pepper bridge. Depending on where you're heading, you'd probably hang a quick right on to Charles St. and then decide at the Commons where to go from there.

I actually really enjoy this route, but I'm a "lifestyle cyclist." If you are new to urban cycling, Beacon St. can be unnerving, but is a good direct route when you get the hang of it.

[ron_newman]

Mass. Ave. through Central Square is something best avoided unless you're a pretty experienced urban cyclist.

Oxford Street is a pleasant and quiet alternative to Mass. Ave for going between Davis and Harvard squares.

[ron_newman]

That'll work too, but it's a bit "hillier" due to the crest of the Longfellow bridge. Also note that if you reverse this route, you pretty much have to ride the wrong way on Charles Street between the Common and the bridge. That is not as bad as it sounds, as the street carries surprisingly little traffic.

[rosiewoodboat.livejournal.com]

1. Hillier? I haven't noticed.

2. Wrong way? No cyclist, like the operator of any vehicle, should ride the wrong way on any street. To do so is illegal (and stupid), and to advocate for same is irresponsible (and stupid).

[ron_newman]

Sometimes it's the best alternative, though, if you want to avoid hills and/or traffic. I would rather ride the wrong way on Charles Street than the right way on Storrow Drive, which is how the cars get from Beacon to the Longfellow.

[on-reserve.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I am asking primarily because I was driving down Mass Ave today and thinking, hey, I think I could manage this. It's good to know that you'd consider that a solid route.

[cnoocy]

Isn't the Esplanade the standard bike alternative to Storrow?

[rosiewoodboat.livejournal.com]

As I said before, that's stupid and irresponsible, both in terms of your own safety as well as the safety of other vehicle operators who share the road. That includes other cyclists, whom you put into jeopardy with this wrong-way stunt of yours.

If you have so much trouble that you can't get up a hill, perhaps you should reconsider your cycle's gearing. I'm sure many fine local shops would accommodate you.

[ron_newman]

That requires crossing not one, but two very narrow pedestrian bridges with sharp curves and "hill"-climbs. Not really what I'd recommend.

[ron_newman]

The OP will note that different riders have different styles of riding. I've ridden against one-way traffic on Mossland and Orchard streets for 16 years without ever causing any problems for myself or anyone else.

[rosiewoodboat.livejournal.com]

Tell me, Ron, do you consider riding in a manner that violates the vehicle code to be a "style"? What you advocate for makes no sense. I see plenty of "wrong-way Sams" on my daily rides, and they are a menace to the safe sharing of our roadway system.

[mrboboto.livejournal.com]

I take Beacon/Hampshire to work every day- a month in which I only get one flat is a good month. Broken spokes are not uncommon either. God I hate that road.

Once Hampshire ends and you're on Broadway it gets worse, because the cement trucks really chew up the road down there.

[mrboboto.livejournal.com]

A MENACE TO BIKE-RIDERS EVERYWHERE!

Relax. If you get this judgmental with everyone who has a differing opinion, you are going to have a very hard time of it on these here internets.

[ron_newman]

In the Netherlands and Germany it is routine for residential one-way car streets to be used (and signed) as two-way bicycle streets. This could work equally well in Somerville, Cambridge, and Boston.

[androidqueen.livejournal.com]

Yeah, but nobody says you have to take the same streets back.

When I was living in the Back Bay and working in Cambridge, I often took the Mass Ave bridge to work and the Longfellow bridge home.

[rosiewoodboat.livejournal.com]

Hee! Well, why don't you take a car the wrong way on Storrow drive and let me know how it works out for you.

Ron is advocating for an illegal and dangerous manner in which to operate a cycle. He also serves on the Somerville Bicycle committee. He should surely know better.

[ron_newman]

I don't have this problem, but I have a hybrid bike. Are you riding a 'road' bike with thin, smooth tires?

[rosiewoodboat.livejournal.com]

That is what I do as well.

[grapefruiteater.livejournal.com]

Well, speaking as someone who drives down Mossland in a car almost every day—headed in the right direction, I might add—cyclists riding the wrong way on that street are one of my biggest pet peeves about driving in this area (and I have many). It's a narrow one-way street, and especially when you turn on from Elm, it can be hard to see a cyclist coming from the other direction, and it's scary to realize that someone is headed straight at you on a bike. More than once I've also seen cars use Mossland in the wrong direction.

Bottom line? I really wish you wouldn't ride your bike the wrong way on Mossland or encourage other people to do so. It's stupid, illegal, and extremely irresponsible, and despite what you may think, you are causing problems for other people by doing it.

[rosiewoodboat.livejournal.com]

Show me where in the American Uniform Vehicle Code that is stated that bicycles may operate in that manner.

Hell, in England they ride on the opposite of the road! Cheerio!

[mrboboto.livejournal.com]

Yes, that is exactly the problem- when next I have a spare cash I'll probably beat up a beater for riding to work, but for now I'm riding my road bike.

[rosiewoodboat.livejournal.com]

Word. Plus grapefruit is tasty.