We covered why Dot doesn’t get the respect and attention it deserves. There is certainly plenty of evidence of long term institutional blindness that gives Dot second rate or incomplete jobs when the rest of Boston isn’t. Just to add one more, what ever happened to the portion of the Harbor Trail due to traverse along the edge of the Boston Gas Tank property. The state is set to get the discussion going, but instead we hear of plans to install solar panels with no talk of providing thru access to riders forced to traverse a dangerous section of Morrisey Blvd. But I digress…
Dorchester has over 750 streets. There are a number of major streets that would benefit from some accomodation for bicycles. For our great advocates (if you read this blog) here’s my list. Forgive the disorganized riffing here… Bowdoin Street (which is being paved from Washington to Quincy St’s). Park Street (which was #1 (over 2% of vehicles were bikes) on the BOLD Teen survey in terms of bike use which is being paved this summer. Washington Street is a major north/south route that needn’t wait for paving to get accomodation. Columbia Road mostly 4 lanes when it shouldn’t be could benefit immensely from bike accomodation. Geneva Avenue runs from Blue Hill to Park Street (a block from Dot Ave) Talbot Ave and Ashmont Street (Talbot is done but we got sharos on the most dangerous section zzzzzz) Blue Hill Avenue 4 lane raceway. Quincy Street runs from Warren Street in Roxbury to Bowdoin Street. Harvard Ave runs from Washington Street to River Street in Mattapan. Glenway from Blue Hill to Harvard (was paved last year could use sharos). Neponset Avenue from Adams to Gallivan Blvd is nice wide road where paint would go on easy. Adams Street from top of Meetinghouse Hill to Lower Mills (the old Lower Road is a snake path but well travelled by bikes). Some form of accomodation please. Hancock Street from Dot Ave to Columbia Road. Pleasant Street from Hancock to Cottage Street Cottage Street. Mass Avenue from Everett Square to Boston Medical Center (probably more distance there than the part that apparently will be accomodate. Plenty wide too. They’re painting Mass Ave. just keep going! Dot Ave (of course we’re getting sharos from Glovers Corner down even though there is probably room south of Fields Corner and/or Peabody Square (another lazy missed opportunity by our planners). Morton Street from Dot Ave to Blue Hill Ave (or even Forest Hills would be cool) Another wide 4 lane street… Norfolk Street from Codman Square (Washington) to Blue Hill Ave wide enough south of Morton for sure. Seaver Street (Roxbury dot line) from Columbia to Washington Street (in Eggleston Square) is a 4 lane ‘highway that could use some traffic calming. These are all major routes used by folks in Dorchester and/or wanting to pass through on their way in or out of down town Boston. We get enough extra traffic to make a number of intersections on these roads show up in the city’s top ten for accidents. So not only do they need attention for bicycles, they could use some major traffic calming no?
So where’s the city’s list? Are any of these roads being considered? Yes on some, but no on most. Why not? I believe we’ve opined enough on that!
