What happened to April? Dotriderblog rode quite a bit last month through the showers in Boston as well as in Savannah, Georgia and Palm Beach, Florida. Savannah is starting to work it out and Palm Beach has an extensive bike path system, although not many road markings. Both places are flat though and we had fun.
We’re still waiting for the spring construction season to give us finished paint on Talbot Avenue and Columbia Road. The Dot to Dot Dot Ave project is slllooowwwwwwwwlllyyy getting underway this year. McCourt must have more business elsewhere this year and/or they’re realizing their low-ball bid is losing them money so they’re doing it at a slower pace (read less assigned to the task). Frankly we’re not expecting much in the positive way since the prevailing thinking is auto-centric despite our mayor’s strong verbal commitment…
I appreciate being out of town for the Bike Share announcement. Just thinking about the time and money wasted on this project gets my blood boiling. I do expect the anti-passion I feel must be matched or exceeded by those looking to implement this boondoggle. Just think how much MORE bike infrastructure issues, educational programs and local outreach might have been done had the effort to sign up sites for bike sharing, helmet rentals, etc. etc. etc. been redirected. Still no hearings and the City is committing to a $6 million deal with dim hopes of recovering the money. Doesn’t sound free to me. We’ll just hope I’m wrong here.
Ashmont Cycles is doing pretty well. Their sales have been building up slowly, but their repairs are off the hook. Every time I stick my nose in there I run into another Dotite that has dug out their bike and given it to AS for their restorative treatment. I just hope we see these folks out there for the biking season.
That said, the best day the first week of May I rode from Peabody Square to JP and I would say there wasn’t a moment that I didn’t see another rider out there on their bike. Even on the back roads I use. There was a steady stream of riders of all ilks (stretchy bike outfits to old dudes side walking, men and women of all races and ethnicities) out there doing it. I just wish I had my camera. My new cell phone is sooooooo slow that it isn’t an effective tool for catching folks on the move. It killed me today to miss the groover zooming down the hill on Columbia Road on the huge red girls cruiser. That and about 100 other photos.
Progress toward getting Mass Ave laned is good in town. Remember though that there is more of Mass Ave south of Melnea Cass Boulevard than north of it (in Boston) and that it originates in Everett Square in Dorchester. While in Dorchester it passes the largest shopping plaza in Boston as well as the building that houses the most city employees not to mention our last industrial area where you see bikes parked willy nilly near the food warehouses.. Why? Because like me there are a lot of folks who “bike to work!” Have fun, be safe and peddle on!
