June 4, 2013

 

Residents put on a show during Somerville's PorchFest

Photo courtesy of Boston.com

 

The Authority -- Why the Boston Redevelopment Authority Needs to Go Boston Magazine

Rachel Slade-- In this town, the Boston Redevelopment Authority rules supreme. Accountable only to the mayor, it exerts total control over zoning, planning, and development—an anachronistic concentration of power not found anywhere else in the country. As the Menino era draws to a close, it’s time for the agency to go.

 

New Anne Lusk report provides more ammo for cycletracks Science Daily

Bicycle engineering guidelines often used by state regulators to design bicycle facilities need to be overhauled to reflect current cyclists' preferences and safety data, according to a new study from Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) researchers. They say that U.S. guidelines should be expanded to offer cyclists more riding options and call for endorsing cycle tracks -- physically separated, bicycle-exclusive paths adjacent to sidewalks -- to encourage more people of all ages to ride bicycles.

 

The too-smart city Boston Globe

Courtney Humphries-- The smart city has become a buzzword in urban planning and university engineering departments, and a topic of breathless coverage in science and business magazines. Although today the vision exists more in the realm of promise than reality, cities such as Boston have begun to invest time and chunks of their budget to laying the groundwork… Behind the alluring vision, they argue, lurk a number of troubling questions. A city tracking its citizens, even for helpful reasons, encroaches on the personal liberty we count on in public spaces. The crucial software systems and networks that underlie city services will likely lie in private hands.

 

Driver who struck and fatally injured MIT visiting professor has been identified, officials say -- visibility is an issue Boston Globe

Maria Cramer-- The driver of a large truck that fatally struck an MIT scientist probably did not even see the 36-year-old when the vehicle collided with her bike near Kenmore Square Sunday afternoon, even though his truck dragged the bike for 75 feet, law enforcement officials said.

 

The Coming Bold Transformation of the American City Atlantic Cities

Enrique Penalosa-- In 40 years, 2.7 billion more people will live in world cities than do now, according to the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. Urban growth in China, India, and most of the developing world will be massive. But what is less known is that population growth will also be enormous in the United States.

 

Here's an idea: Force us to share one lane while driving on a two-way street Bike Portland

Jonathan Maus-- One of the many methods the City of Copenhagen employs to create safer streets is to force people in cars to share one lane — even on streets where two-way auto traffic is permitted. A friend at the Portland Bureau of Transportation says these are called "channelizers". I've seen two examples of them in Copenhagen and they're pretty awesome. Both examples occur on streets with a shared environment. That is to say there's no bike-specific infrastructure.

 

"Streets"

  • Yawkey Way
    • Editorial: Boston needs better deal with Red Sox on use of Yawkey Way​ Boston Globe
    • BRA seeking extension of Red Sox license deal Boston Globe
    • Yawkey Way -- The BRA gets cozy​ Boston Globe
  • There’s just no more road to share​ Boston Herald
  • CoUrbanize wants to bring the conversation about urban planning and real estate development online​ Boston.com
  • The too-smart city Boston Globe
  • As crashes mount, city must grapple with bike safety Boston Globe
  • Cambridge, Newton Bicycle Friendly Communities MA Transpo Blogs
  • Boston Calling music festival invigorates even City Hall Plaza Boston Globe
  • Students full of ideas for vacant Boston storefronts​ Boston Herald
  • 'Karma Commuting' campaign aims to boost safety in Longwood Medical Area Boston.com

Walking

Bicycling

  • Brookline Ave gets its bike on Cycle Style Boston
  • Bike advocates react to city’s crash study Boston Globe
  • Menino Poses All-Ages, Mandatory Bike Helmet Law BostInno
  • A 'Down Payment' on Greenway trail planned in Mattapan Sq. DOT News
  • Spaulding Hubway Station Opens Charlestown Patch
  • Help us pick where to put new Hubway stations in South Boston, Jamaica Plain, Dorchester, Charlestown Boston.com
  • New Anne Lusk report provides more ammo for cycletracks Science Daily
  • Pedal pushers Boston Globe
  • For Beacon St! Protected Bike Lanes = $$$ Fast Co
  • Biking To Work: Healthful Until You Hit A Pothole WBUR
  • Helmet vending machines set to debut, and a cycle track in the works for the Seaport District Boston.com, Boston Magazine, BostInno
  • Possible hit-and-run in Fenway kills cyclist; 2 women hit in South Boston in serious condition Boston.com
  • Cyclist Struck And Killed At Beacon and Charlesgate Boston Biker
  • Driver who struck and fatally injured MIT visiting professor has been identified, officials say Boston.com
  • Landmark study sheds light on Boston¹s bike crashes Boston Cyclist Union
  • Leading Boston bicycle advocates to study how to make city biking safer Boston.com
  • PHOTOS: Free wheelin' down Beacon Street in the annual Brookline bike parade Wicked Local 
  • Poor signage harms viability of the temporary cycletrack in Lexington Amateur Planner
  • Driver who struck and fatally injured MIT visiting professor has been identified, officials say -- visibility is an issue Boston Globe
  • City to roll out bike lanes, kiosks Boston Herald
  • Boston bicyclists flex political clout​ Boston Herald
  • Sometimes cyclists take greatest risks when they follow the rules Boston Globe
  • Annual Update and Report Boston Bikes
  • Can Boston be safe for bicycles? Boston.com
  • The More Innocent The Cyclist, The Greater The Number Of Deleted Comments Isolate Cyclist
  • New Somerville Bike Regulations, One Could Lead to Tickets Somerville Patch
  • Hubway Expansion Station Locations Not Always Optimally Located Amateur Planner
  • Death of Cyclist in Amherst Under Investigation WGBH
  • New Bicycle Ordinance in Gloucester: bike lanes are coming! Gloucester Times
  • Shifting gears - Diversity of cyclists growing in Boston Boston Globe

Transit

  • State to vote on plan for 'Boston Landing' commuter rail station near New Balance project in Brighton Boston.com
  • Op-Ed: A bridge to East Boston — in ferry form Boston Globe
  • Straus sees hope for Rail in conference committee T4MA
  • MBTA to Launch New T-Alerts Service in June JP Patch
  • MBTA to launch faster, more informative 'T-Alerts' system; old system to be discontinued Boston.com
  • Route 39 Bus Stop Improvements Coming JP Patch
  • Commutes Long, Slow After Train Derailment Mass Transit Mag
  • MBTA Offers Bicycle Amenities On Capeflyer Boston To Cape Cod Train Boston Biker
  • Singles-Only Subway Cars Come to Prague -- Should MBTA Be Next? BostInno
  • CapeFlyer embarks on maiden voyage Boston Globe
  • With daily commute as muse, artist evokes hidden beauty of MBTA stations and routes​ Boston Globe
  • Worcester Union Station Bus Hub brings better access, more transportation options Fast Lane

Cars/Parking

  • FlightCar brings peer-to-peer car sharing to Logan Boston Globe
  • Putting wheels in motion for cash-free tolls BizJournals
  • Revolutionize Toll Collection MA Transpo Blog
  • BHCA Supports Proposal for Parking Spaces on and Around Charles Street Beacon Hill Times
  • Real Time Traffic Displays: I-90, Route 3, Route 6 MA Transpo Blog
  • Key changes needed to drive safety message home to motorists Boston Globe
  • Message screens to display best routes​ Boston Herald
  • What Happens When a Nonprofit Car-Sharing Service Gets Bought By a Major Rental Company? Atlantic Cities
  • CIRCLING THE BLOCK: Saving Money, Time, and Aggravation Through Parking Reform LivableStreets
  • Sounding Off on the Future of the Foreshore Freeways, Cape Town¹s Unfinished Highway Next City
  • Minimum parking requirements in Boston Walking Bostonian
  • Proposed Traffic Improvements Everett Independent 
  • Route 1A Bridge is Deemed as 'Fracture Critical' Eastie Times
  • Cambridge start-up Split My Taxi slashing cab costs Metro
  • Frustrated drivers spinning their wheels​ Boston Herald

Transportation financing/Government

  • New transportation options considered for Arlington Wicked Local 
  • Green Line Extension moves toward key milestones Boston.com
  • State OKs plan for 'Boston Landing' commuter rail station near New Balance project in Brighton Boston.com
  • Roads to Be Repaved in Fenway-Kenmore This Summer Fenway/Kenmore Patch
  • LETTER: Transit needs adequate funding Wicked Local 
  • Former T Supervisor Had No License for 5 Years Mass Transit Mag
  • Infrastructure Commission to Hold First Public Meeting MA Transpo Blog
  • The Authority -- Why the Boston Redevelopment Authority Needs to Go Boston Magazine
  • State transportation agency takes steps to pursue private partners to help foot the bills Boston.com

Parks

Development projects

  • Developer eyes adding 220 housing units near BU in Allston after nixing plan for Sassoon beauty school Boston.com
  • Newton officials worry about tax status of Riverside development​ Boston Globe
  • Two hotels approved for convention center area​ Boston Globe
  • Towers proposed in front of TD Garden Boston Globe
  • Mayor Menino rolling out $1.8B plan to upgrade buildings, roads, parks Boston Herald
  • Boston OKs building with 104 apartments in growing 'Green District' near Allston, Brookline border Boston.com
  • Take 2 -- New Filene's groundbreaking set​ Biz Journals
  • Cambridge's Magazine Beach powder house to get facelift Wicked Local 
  • East Cambridge residents seek Redevelopment Authority help with Sullivan Courthouse Wicked Local
  • Op-Ed: Boston’s aggressive green-housing plan Boston Globe
  • NorthPoint Gets Busy Being Cambridge's Newest Neighborhood​ Curbed Boston
  • Developer to unveil latest proposal for 13-story, 195-unit apartment building in Jamaica Plain Boston.com
  • Massport objects to buildings Boston Globe
  • Northampton: I-91 Interchange 19 Design Work Begins MA Transpo Blog

Land Use/Planning

  • McGrath
  • Plan would add more 5-story buildings near Somerville's Union Square Wicked Local 
  • State transportation board postpones vote on key lease for $500 million Fenway Center​ Boston Globe
  • Asticou neighborhood gets Casey meeting, may sue JP Gazette
  • Letter: Overpass is the main Forest Hills traffic problem JP Gazette
  • Mass. DOT justifies Mass. Ave. design Word on the Street

Out-of-state

  • WI
    • Next Boondoggle From Wisconsin DOT: Double-Decking Milwaukee Freeway StreetsBlog
    • Wisconsin Using Inflated Traffic Projections to Justify Highway Projects DC StreetsBlog
  • NY
    • Neighborhoods Across NYC Prepping Applications for 20 MPH Slow Zones StreetBlog
    • World Trade Center May Be Isolated Again, This Time by Security Measures​ City Room
    • Why Is New York Picking on Ride-Sharing Startups? Good.is
    • New York's MTA Takes First Steps Toward Hardening Subway Against Future Storms WNYC
    • Imagining Syracuse Without Its Elevated Highway Atlantic Cities
    • Bike-Share System for New York Is Built With Ideas From Around the World NY Times
    • New York Street Vendors Displaced by Bike-Share Want Their Voices Heard​ Atlantic Cities
    • For New York’s Citi Bike program, a 10-point resolution Slate
    • Citi Bike Member Packets Include Cycling-Near-Trucks Safety Tips StreetsBlog
    • Should Penn Station Be Restored To Former Beauty?​ Here and Now
    • How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love New York's Bike-Share​ Atlantic Cities
    • Boston cyclists rave about first-ever Bike Party Metro
    • As Bike Share Begins in New York, Other Cities Scoff Over Fanfare NY Times
    • A Very Brief History of Why It's So Hard to Get From Brooklyn to Queens Atlantic Cities
    • A Prescription for Plazas and Public Spaces NY Times
  • UT
    • North of Salt Lake City, a 21st-Century Highway Revolt Next City
  • MS
  • CO
  • OR
    • Bicycling contributes $400 million to Oregon tourism, new survey says Oregon Live
    • From cycle track to green route to super highway Bike Portland
  • CA
    • “Street Fight”: The New Guide to SF’s Transportation Politics SF StreetsBlog
    • Nonprofit starts Complete Streets effort for Woodward Avenue Oakland Press
    • Planning Commission Approves Higher Bike Parking Requirements SF StreetsBlog
    • Neglecting Muni Costs the Economy at Least $50 Million Per Year SF StreetsBlog
  • DC
    • Church, Strip Club Don't Want M Street Bike Lane DCist
    • MARC to add weekend service on Penn Line Baltimore Sun
    • Capital Bikeshare Members Reduced Their Driving 4.4 Million Miles Per Year DC StreetsBlog
  • FL
  • RI
    • Providence Considers Plan for a More Pedestrian Friendly Kennedy Plaza​ Arch Paper
  • PA
    • For Philadelphia bicyclist, a cat is his co-pilot Boston.com
  • TN
    • Memphis to Add 15 Miles of Protected Bike Lanes StreetsBlog
  • WA
    • 'Like a Hollywood movie': Driver survives I-5 bridge collapse into Wash. river NBC News
  • IL
    • Chicago previews Divvy bike sharing program, launch planned for June Tree Hugger
  • TX
    • As Texas Goes for New Funding Sources for Highways, Some Advocates Want One Torn Down Next City

National Trends

International news

  • Nijmegen Cycle Bridge revisited Bicycle Dutch
  • Autobahn speed limits: Germany's love of the fast lane BBC
  • Bicycle Racks on Taxis in Denmark Copenhagenize 
  • Dutch roundabouts' could be seen in London next year BBC
  • A modern Amsterdam Roundabout Bicycle Dutch
  • Bicycle Culture by Design: Copenhagenize Index 2013 - Bicycle-Friendly Cities Copenhagenize
  • Why the war between drivers and cyclists? BBC
  • Cyclists call for 'strict liability' law to hold drivers to account BBC 
  • Car-sharing picking up speed in the developing world The City Fix
  • Hungarian Cycling Promotion Brilliance Copenhagenize
  • A Very Pedestrian Superhero Grapples With Mexico WSJ
  • Here's an idea: Force us to share one lane while driving on a two-way street Bike Portland
  • A look at two of Copenhagen's vibrant side streets Bike Portland