Wednesday, October 14, 2009

What I've learned about biking in Boston

Between cruising the streets on my scooter through all temperature and weather for the last 3 years, and now riding around on my new road bike, I've learned quite a bit about biking, traffic, pedestrians, road markings, safety and of course, the selfish nature of drivers once they get behind the wheel.  I will be sharing some little things bit by bit.

Starting with something that all beginner commuter bikers might form a variety of opinions on: Bike Lanes, which are (thankfully?) popping up more and more throughout Boston and Cambridge.

Boston Biker has provided me with plenty of great information and insight to begin thinking about these lanes from the perspective of a biker and a driver, and does an excellent job of explaining HOW to use them.

Good advice from How to Use a Door Zone Bike Lane (a bike lane that has cars parked next to it):

You are going to have to trust me on this, but having two predictable vehicles (car and bike) interacting in a predictable and planned way (bike stays in a straight line, car moves over slightly passes then resumes position) is MUCH MUCH safer, than a car door randomly opening and breaking your face, collar bone, or worse. People get tossed into traffic and run over by doors opening, people swerve into cars and are run over when doors open. There is no easy way to predict when a car door will open, and getting doored is horrific (even at low speed) so the best method of dealing with it is to STAY OUT OF THE DOOR ZONE.
So far once of my confusions is when roads have bike lanes and then don't, and then do again, like when crossing over the Charles at N. Harvard or Western Ave.  I witnessed an argument between biker and driver about the biker taking a lane (a "driving" lane) after the bike lane disappeared, to get over the bridge.  There are signs on Rt. 28 near Storrow Dr about how the biker CAN take a lane, and I'd hope that maybe more signs like this will be put up around the city.

That's all for now.

p.s. New website coming soon with lots of fun stuff!








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