I now understand why the CNC did not want them - not enough community input. But rather than jump to the conclusion that they are unwanted and remove them, why not hold a meeting or two on the subject, adequately assess the community's opinion and go from there. Maybe the community would have supported the lanes - or some version of the lanes - and the expense to remove them would have been avoided. Or, maybe they'd be removed in the end. But, the way it was handled, we don't really know.

Fair point, Sean. The city took the Neighborhood Council's response as a representation of what the community wanted.

Thank you very much for the article. I normally commute home by riding my bike down the gutter of Rutherford Ave. Starting this evening I'll be riding down the center of Main St. Hopefully if enough cyclists exercise their right to take the whole lane, the Neighborhood Council will come full circle and ask that the lane be restored.
: )

It's just really sad that the Neighborhood Council made this extremely shortsighted and reactionary decision.
The bike lane wasn't going to take anything away from the cars, just adding a little bit of padding for cyclists who already ride on that road.
Still the same amount of parking.
Still the same amount of driving space for the cars.
I can't understand how the Charlestown Neighborhood Council and the City of Boston could justify spending money to remove the bike lanes.

I'm not a biker, but was in complete support of the bikes lanes. I don't understand why they were removed. If the CNC wasn't pleased, why not wait for more input before action was taken? How fiscally stupid will it be if the CNS finds out there is widespread support of the bike lanes and then need to be added (again)? I stop off at Dunkin' Donuts at least twice a day and park on Main Street. Even from a parking perspective, the bike lanes added a cushion of safety as I exited and entered my car.

It seems to me that two mistakes were made regarding the bike lanes. Although the City is installing the lanes in various neighborhoods, I suppose imput from the impacted community should have been sought. On the other hand, the CNC should not assume that it represents the voice of the community without any imput. Also, what are the "legitimate concerns" the Council Presidents insinuates concerning the bike lanes?

I'm outraged that the city would spend the money to remove the bike lanes and that the CNC would recommend this. The CNC complains that the city didn't consult the Charlestown community, but the CNC didn't ask the community whether they minded the bike lanes before they (as previously stated) had them removed in a reactionary way.

When I saw that a bike lane was being installed on Main St, my reaction was "oh, that's great". Then I was really puzzled about what happened next. Why go to all the expense of removing the lane before the CNS really did some research on the pros and cons of the bike lane. Yes, sadly, bike lanes are a little haphazard in that they are not continuous. But at least where they are there, they provide some protection for cyclists while allowing traffic to flow in the adjacent lane and cars to park where they always did.

Wow... I'm really interested in understanding why Main Street, according to the CNC, isn't an "ideal place for bike lanes". Besides Rutherford Ave, it's the busiest street in Charlestown, so it only makes sense to have bike lanes. This is a prime example of people needing to complain just for the sake of complaining.

I don't understand why the bike lane was removed. It did not take any space from car traffic (Main Street was and is a single lane each way), nor did it take up parking spaces.

I actually find most bike lanes (of the kind that was on Main Street) to feel more unsafe than no lanes at all. If there’s not enough room in Boston’s narrow rights of way for a cycle track or the like, then don’t cram us into an unsafe part of the street just for the sake of creating a lane. I bike on Main Street in Charlestown all the time and am frankly happy that lane is gone.

As a bicycler I want to say this pisses me off. People who drive today don't realize what a big privilege it is. I have lost my license and got it back for medical reasons more times than I can count. Acts like this prove to me that not just drivers but people in general today do not realize what a privilege it is to have the convenience of a car.
I know that people in cars don't like bicycles on the road, but any reason I have ever heard about people feeling this way is 100% illogical. I was always raised to believe in being respectful towards people who do not have the conveniences that I have in life. People in cars should be respectful toward people who get around by bike and not by car.

I am still trying to figure out why the MTA has bike racks, as I thought the whole idea behind biking was exercise. Now we have Bike Lanes on Main St. which is hard enough to get by on to begin with. I am not against biking but there is a time and a place for everything. Maybe next we could put a Pedestrian Lane right next to the Bike Lane, or has someone already come up with that idea. ;-)

Willy Donahue

Thank You Ethan, I am well aware of the sidewalk
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

Thank You once again Ethan, might I suggest using the sidewalk,
it is much safer. :-)
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

Ethan,
Some people have lost their license for acts of stupidity. Are you referring to Driving Under The Influence? Well let's put the Drunk Driver on a bike, wonderful idea Ethan. How long did it take you to come up with that brain storm?

Willam, there are many folks who choose to bike for all kinds of reasons: commuting, running errands, to visit friends or family, to exercise, etc, just as people have different reasons why they drive a car. Regardless of why people bike, it's important that we make our roads safe and accommodating for them. Just as we have sidewalks and curb ramps and crossing signals for people on foot or in wheelchairs, it's important to have bike lanes and other bike facilities for bicyclists. We are actually quite lucky that Main St is wide enough to add bike lanes without having to remove travel lanes or parking. Sometimes that is the case, and it's a careful tradeoff that has to be made.

Charlie,
Whatever Charlie, why not ride the bikes on the sidewalk and leave the roads for what they were designed for Motor Vehicles. I hope this does not happen with The Bike Lanes but Some people, do not stop for people in the cross walks ie our senior citizens. I hope and pray, I do not read in the paper or see it on the news, that some bike rider hits senior citizen in the cross walk.
Merry Christmas and Happy new Year to you Charlie

William, in the City of Boston it is illegal to ride a bicycle on the sidewalk. According to State Law, a bicycle is considered a vehicle, and a bicyclist has most of the same rights and responsibilities as motor vehicle drivers. It's actually safer for bicyclists to ride in the street than on a sidewalk. On the sidewalk, bicyclists pose a hazard to pedestrians, and at intersections are not likely to be seen by turning motorists.

I would recommend taking a look at the City of Boston's Boston Bikes website. There are section about bike safety and state laws regarding bicycling. Here is the section regarding the law as it applies to bicyclists:

http://www.cityofboston.gov/bikes/laws.asp

Hi Charlie,
Thank You very much for educating me, I was unaware of riding a bicycle on the sidewalk is against the law. With the information you have supplied me, I am changing my view on bike lanes. A lesson learned and I can admit when I am wrong.
Willy Donahue

Two wrongs don't make things right - First the biking community should have been involved in figuring out where the need for bike lanes and the CNC should have not asked the city to rub out the lanes before thinking things through.

We have different group of bike riders that use the streets in Charlestown: The first group being the general neighborhood shopper. As they are making a bee-line between their home and the stores in Thomson Sq. The second group are the tourist they tend to follow the freedom trail. The last group are the bike commuters who work downtown and bike in from Somerville & Medford areas thru Charlestown.

If we look at the commuter's going thru Charlestown. Main street is not the most direct pathway Rutherford Ave is. The problem here is Rutherford is too congested with cars & trucks to be safe even with a bike lane as it stands now. When Rutherford gets rebuilt I can see laying out a bike pathway isolated from the traffic. For now Main street is the only option for the commuters.

The other pathway often used is across the Gilmore bridge used by C-Town commuter's who work in Cambridge. The roadway is a little narrow at some spots and like Rutherford at times congested.

The tourist bikers could benefit having a lane marked off leading from the North End to the monument and to the Navy Yard following the freedom trail. The North Washington bridge is too narrow it's self but the roadway leading to it could be marked.

The local community need for bike lanes are very limited and the few pathways used more often don't warrant marking as they are on side streets less traveled and narrow.

Dan,
You have made some very strong points. Does anybody know on average how many bikers actually use Main St? Do the numbers suggest marking lanes for bike riders? I am 50 years old, I have lived in Charlestown all my life and never once saw bike lanes until recently. I am not against bikers but does it actually call for marked bike lanes. Main St. is narrow enough, why not Rutherford Ave? It makes more sense to me.
Willy Donahue

Hello Ron Newman,
I know the Bus travels over" The Mystic River Bridge", However if you ride your bike down Route 99 and cut through the Produce center low and behold you end up in Chelsea. The whole purpose of a bike is to ride it, not ride with it. " Exercise "

Merry Christmas & happy New Year
Willy Donahue.S. In case you are wondering The Mystic River Bridge is The Tobin Bridge. I would really hate to confuse you :-0

Hello Ron Newman,
Where there is a will there is a way, there are other routes to take as well. All I am saying is it is a waste,to put bike racks on T vehicles. The purpose of the bike is too ride it, not hop on The T and let the T do the work. It kind of defeats the purpose, don't you think.
Willy Donahue

I have lived in Malden for 20 years and regularly used Main Street on my bicycle commute into Downtown Boston.. Rutherford Avenue is two-wide and the cars go too fast.. Main Street is a joy.. Medford Street is out of the way if your heading Downtown and Bunker Hill Street is a too hilly..

Because of my regular bicycle commuting, I've come to enjoy Charlestown businesses and support them when I can... I 've also had a friend open up a business in Charlestown.. People have been very friendly as well..

We just worked to get bicycle lanes from Everett to Sullivan Square.. and those will be installed in the next year.. I certainly support and encourage bicycle lanes in Charlestown.

Steve Winslow, Malden

Has anyone noticed how bad Main street looks now? Half-removed lines - looks rather "polka dot." City says that when it gets icy out, it will gather in the crevices where the lines had been painted. This has been a mess from front to back.

ooh. that's potentially really bad Noreen. thanks for the tip. we'll definitely check in on that.

Thank You Ethan, I am well aware of The Drunk Driving Laws in The Commonwealth

Willy Donahue

It's obvious why the lanes were removed. The Town Council consists entirely of fat lard-arses who might have been impeded while driving their huge trucks on their way to the local diner for their daily intake of cholestorol by those annoying cycling fitness freaks blocking the parking lanes.

The bike lanes do look good. I think they slow the traffic down as well, which is a plus.

Just to remind people - This all happened last year.

The bike lanes down Main st have been repainted.

This offers the bike commuters coming from Somerville & Medford a safe route. It did not solve the bikes and Sedways coming across from the North End.