Bike Friday

[jodi.livejournal.com]

Are there any other Davis people taking part in this month's Bike Friday? Davis Square is one of the points of origins for the various convoys of bike commuters. Last month's Bike Friday was rainy and I chose to skip it so I've not actually participated before (and riding in a police escorted group may prove more annoying than my regular commute) but the timing and the location are right and there are snacks at Gov't Center when I get there so I thought I would give it a try.

http://www.cityofboston.gov/bikes/bikefridays.asp
http://www.bikefridays.org/

Comments

I did one once...

[jimmyfergus.livejournal.com]

Sorry to be a wet blanket, but I decided it wasn't for me.

I helped escort one: rode to city hall and had some free food, in a gaggle of bikes with police bike escorts. We cruised at a leisurely pace through red lights (with police support), taking entire non-bike lanes, and generally aggravating and holding up commuters. Most of the people there were fairly committed bikers, with one or two people who weren't really skillful or experienced enough to be on the roads on their own. I suppose it may have been nice for them, but I'm not sure how they got home.

I'm afraid I couldn't see the point. Annoyance for car drivers, and some (very) light communing among cyclists. I wish they'd spend the money (police time isn't free) on repainting the cycle lane markings in something other than house-paint or whatever they use that wears off in months (e.g. Willow Ave - though that's Somerville, and this is a Boston thing).

Sorry to be a downer. I'd be happy to be involved in helping people get set up bike commuting, which is why I volunteered to help (once). I don't think Bike Friday achieves this.

[ron_newman]

Anything that encourages more people to bike is a good thing, regardless of the time of day or season or how it is organized. I don't have any particular reason to be commuting downtown anymore (as I lost my job on June 2), but if I get up early enough I may participate in this anyway.

[boblothrope.livejournal.com]

In my opinion, the biggest obstacle to biking in the Boston area is poor pavement quality in certain places. The second is poorly timed traffic lights, for bikers who wait for red lights. (I can't imagine how long it would take to bike from MIT to Porter on Mass Ave, waiting for all the lights that are red for no reason.)

We should focus our energy and tax spending on fixing these two problems first.

[blyssfulchaos.livejournal.com]

fyi, there are no more police escorts for these rides.

tomorrow will be the first time i haven't done this ride this year. i usually help lead the belmont convoy. the other leaders and i make it a point to encourage single file riding and the obeying of all traffic laws. it depends on what group you're in. seriously, say something if it bothers you, because it bothers the hell out of me, too.

[ron_newman]

I went to Seven Hills Park behind Davis Square station around 7:40, awaiting the group that was supposed to be coming from Arlington via Alewife station. After 15 minutes, I saw no sign of the group, so I went to City Hall on my own. Anyone know what happened?

[cden4.livejournal.com]

I joined the Davis Square convoy this morning as they went through Porter Square. There was no police escort today, although there were 2-3 people who were acting as ride leaders. The group obeyed all the traffic laws and had a very nice ride into Boston. (It also reminded me how crappy the Charles River Paths are in some places.)