The Hubway bicycle share system has taken off in Boston in its first two seasons.
Boston’s popular three-season bicycle share system has done more than provide residents with a quick, cheap mode of transportation, it's taken a few cars off the road in the process. Nicole Freedman, director of bicycle programs for the city of Boston, said 13 percent of the 675,000 rides taken in the first two years of the Hubway system are “car replacement” rides, according to survey data collected by the city. In other words, those riders signaled that if not for their Hubway bike ride, they would be driving, Freedman said. That amounts to 87,750 rides that were taken on a bicycle as opposed to in a car. The Hubway system has been available to the public for about 240 days per year in its first two seasons, Freedman said. The system, …
While city officials are still eager to partner with MIT helmet vendors HelmetHub, a fix to the lack of helmets on the Hubway is unclear.
Boston’s Hubway bicycle sharing system provided 650,000 trips in its first 12 months of operation, and while the program appears to be a success there’s been one glaring omission: helmets. Kris Carter, interim director of Boston Bikes, said at a Jamaica Plain Business and Professional Association Meeting that a helmet system was supposed to be in place last fall but never came to pass. “The Mayor is aware of the need,” he said. Carter was at the meeting to pitch the idea of a Hubway station in Jamaica Plain, but a conversation on the system's lack of helmets erupted. He said Hubway officials are looking into teaming up with HelmetHub, an MIT-based company, which has created a helmet vending machine. Though the Hubway system has exceeded …
12:27 pm on Saturday, November 17, 2012
I think more education about where to get the subsidized helmets mentioned by Kristopher is very important--helmets should be mandatory. I have relied only on my bike for the past 27 years, and feel that helmets are essential--they will never be "not necessary," no matter how "safe" the city gets--just like seat belts are essential for cars. I have broken 3 helmets in accidents that had nothing … more ›
From the Southwest Corridor to the Emerald Necklace and on, JP riders breathe fresh air, stay fit, and get a close-up view of the city.
Green Jamaica Plain holds the crown of Boston bicycling. JP cyclists have many of Boston’s sweetest cycle-spots in their back yard -- the Arnold Arboretum, the Jamaicaway Bikepath along the Emerald Necklace, Forest Hills Cemetery and Franklin Park. JP is home to Boston’s international bike charity, Bikes Not Bombs, and to unnumbered bike events, ranging from JP Bikes’ annual Spring Roll to Ferris Wheels’ free pancake breakfast for bikers participating in Boston’s Walk/Ride Day the last Friday of each month. And it’s not just bikers out for a ride. JP is also a hub of activism; bicyclists are key players in urban planning and politics; led by JP’s Peter Stidman, the Boston Cyclist Union takes positions on issues like the Casey Overpass …
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2:03 pm on Monday, April 9, 2012
JP is ALL that except it wasn't the first neighborhood to have an organized grass roots presence. That honor is left to Dorchester! Dotbike led the way! more ›
The man got punched in the head by the bicycle thief, though, Boston Police report.
A man who had left his bike outside Alex's Chimis Friday at 6:09 p.m. while he went in to place his order noticed a thief taking off with his wheels. The man ran down Centre Street, following as the thief tried to get away, say police who saw the end of the incident, as the thief punched the man in the head. Police were able to run down the suspect at Estrella Street in Jackson Square. They arrested Carlos Tirado, 22 Lyford St. #3R, Dorchester and charged him with larceny of a bicycle ($200 and over).
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A West Roxbury man was riding on the sidewalk along Washington when he and a Nissan Maxima hit head-on.
A police report sheds little new light on a Wednesday collision between a bicyclist and car driver. A bike being ridden down the sidewalk by a West Roxbury man hit head-on with a Nissan Maxima driven by a Westchester Road man, according to a police report. The incident took place at 12:55 p.m. Wednesday at the exit to the Neighborhood Assistance Corp. parking lot at 3593 Washington St. According to police, the 53-year-old driver said the bicyclist was riding on the wrong side of the road over the sidewalk and collided with his 1998 Nissan. The bicyclist, also 53 according to the police report, suffered some injuries and was taken by ambulance to Beth Israel Medical Center. The police report did not indicate charges or citations had been …
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The following arrest information was supplied by the Boston Police Department. It does not indicate a conviction.
Police reports from Wednesday include:
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A helmeted cyclist apparently traveling on the sidewalk and against traffic struck a car exiting the parking lot at 3593 Washington St.
[Editor's note: The original headline was changed to reflect that it isn't clear whose fault the accident was.] Shortly before 12:55 p.m. Wednesday, a bicycle and car were involved in a head-on collision near the Forest Hills MBTA station at a parking lot exit. beside 3593 Washington St. in Jamaica Plain. According to the driver of the car, the cyclist said that he was riding on the sidewalk as he approached the Neighborhood Assistance Corp. parking lot at 3593 Washington St. The driver was exiting the lot in his Nissan Maxima. The driver, who was visibly upset by the incident, said that he did not see the cyclist until the moment of collision. The cyclist was traveling in the opposite direction of traffic. The helmeted accident victim lay…
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4:16 pm on Friday, August 19, 2011
It's been all over the news this summer that cops are cracking down on cyclists like never before. BPD began the campaign in July. Yes, they're issuing warnings most of the time, but that's because, according to the Globe, the law has a loophole. (See http://tiny.cc/zwrri). The Herald is weeks late and only providing half the story -- as usual. As for the schmuck from Arlington in the other … more ›
The event started with lots of bike decoration and culminated in a four-mile bike ride.
On Sunday, young bikers and their parents gathered for the JP Spring Roll down Centre Street and back through the Southwest Corridor Park. Here are some photos. If you've got photos from the event, feel free to add them via the link below the photos.
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Each week the JP Patch Moms Council discusses a parenting topic. This week: Bikes.
This week the JP Patch Moms Council discusses bike safety for kids. Please chime in below in the comments section with your own thoughts and questions. Casey Carey-Brown: It's tricky to be carfree here, but way more fun to be carlight. The minute our daughter our daughter was old enough to be on the bike (age one is the rule for wearing a helmet), we had her riding with us. We do have a car, but with a schedule so tight with work and daycare, we try to family bike commute as much as we can. It's a lot more fun than sitting in traffic through Forest Hills everyday and a great chance to spend lots of time outside. Even in the rain. Every year we look forward to the JP Bikes Spring Roll . It's great to see so many other families out on bikes …
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10:09 pm on Wednesday, May 25, 2011
more advice from my biking friend...teach them to: Stay out of the door zone. (car door) Encourage kids to decorate, put stickers on helmets (personalize it) Apply reflective tape or stickers to bike Use a retina-searing headlight even in daylight (like motorcycles do) When you get confident on a bike, you should become a "vehicular cyclist" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vehicular_cycling more ›
Sand Man
7:01 pm on Tuesday, May 21, 2013
I've observed Hubway cyclists riding on the sidewalk in city squares... Is this violation of public safety sanctioned by cyclists? more ›