Petition Urges Agreement, Compromise on Hubway Decision
Petition on Change.org aims to gather 100 signatories in an effort to get Hubway to come to Charlestown as soon as possible.
They don’t care who’s wrong, they just want to see Hubway come to Charlestown.
Charlestown resident Nathan Blanchet started a Change.org petition Monday night to urge the Charlestown Neighborhood Council, Boston Bikes and Hubway to come to an agreement on bringing stations to Charlestown next month.
Plans to bring the bike-sharing system to Charlestown this summer hit a snag last week when members of the council deadlocked on a vote to approve a second location in town. Council members were concerned that the location near the intersection of Warren Street and Chelsea Street would not appropriately serve the entire community.
Blanchet, in his petition letter, acknowledged those concerns.
“The two proposed locations are not perfect from all perspectives, and more will be needed in future expansions,” Blanchet wrote. “We understand and applaud the Charlestown Neighborhood Council representatives who voiced these fairness concerns. We also encourage Boston Bikes and Hubway to expand the subsidized membership program, and advertise that program when starting in Charlestown.”
By 10 p.m. Monday, the petition had already accumulated 29 signatures on its way to gather 100.
Blanchet, commenting on Charlestown Patch in response to our article covering the decision, called the outcome “very disappointing.”
“This should have been an easy decision in my view,” Blanchet wrote. “I hope Mr. Whelan and colleagues can find a way to reconsider, and quickly.”
Suzanne
6:00 am on Tuesday, July 31, 2012
How can people sign the petition? When do you need signatures by?
Erin McDonald
6:32 am on Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Why is a second station an issue? I want to support this and want to know how to sign the petition?
kelly
6:54 am on Tuesday, July 31, 2012
http://www.change.org/suggested?petition_id=533309
heres link to petition or go to link and put in charlestown hubway
diane shaw
8:26 am on Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Will Charlestown stations be on sidewalks or on street at curb (taking parking spaces!)
Alphanaut
8:44 am on Tuesday, July 31, 2012
OMG what is the freaking problem?!? CNC, stop being so obstructionist and just let SOMETHING happen around here, your foot dragging may have cost us all another year of no Hubway. Thanks so much for really serving the needs of the community. If you have to meet and you have an even number of people, perhaps someone sits out of the voting so this doesn't happen again, OR even more drastic, you don't leave until you have a majority vote. I'm starting to see a lot of parallels between the CNC and the House/Senate; just because you guys can't come to a compromise, don't make the rest of us pay for it.
Rob O'Brien
8:49 am on Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Here's another link that works: http://www.change.org/petitions/charlestown-neighborhood-council-boston-bikes-and-hubway-support-hubway-s-immediate-expansion-into-charlestown
Nathan Blanchet
9:15 am on Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Thanks for posting the link, Rob. If any one has trouble with it, just go to www.change.org and search for Hubway. The petition will pop up. We don't have a specific deadline, but I believe the city and Hubway may make decisions very soon. I will formally send the petition to the addressees either tomorrow or when it hits 100 signatures, whichever comes first. Thank you for all the support.
Matt M. Casey
9:18 am on Tuesday, July 31, 2012
The link was also in the article. Also, Nathan, way to blow my plan for this morning out of the water when I got home from a late dinner last night. :-)
Just a person!
11:41 am on Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Seriously ,
Are we that concerned about parking spots?
Are any other locations in the street?
All the ones I see are on a section of sidewalk that can accommodate them!
Next you will be complaining about losing the two spots at the 99 for the zip cars!
Please!! Get real! Stop living in the past.
Suzanne
5:14 pm on Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Just saw that there are 193 signatures. Way to take acton Nathan- congrats!
Matt, just saw the link in the article. That's what happens when I try to read the Patch in a pre-caffienated state. :)
Nathan Blanchet
6:10 pm on Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Wow! I'm amazed. We blew by our goal of 100 signatures at 9:30 AM (15 hours after first posting), and just got the 200th signature in under 24 hours. A few people have asked me to wait until tomorrow or Thursday before officially delivering this to the addressees (some of whom have actually signed it) so that more people have a chance to sign. Sounds good to me. Thanks for everyone's support, and keep sharing with friends, family, and neighbors!
diane shaw
11:01 pm on Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Just a person.. What do you mean stop living on the past? A question on parking is valid. I have seen a hubway spot on the street. I think beacon. And it looks like they lost a few parking spots. Do u drive a car and park in Charlestown?
Just a person!
5:31 am on Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Was there parking there before?
I find that hard to believe,that the city would allow that.
And yes, lived in c-town all my life, and I do drive, and I do park in Charlestown.
What is your point exactly?
Charlestown joe
6:16 am on Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Hey Diane,
While we are at it why not get all the bus stops removed, they take up an awful lot of parking spaces! Especially when they are not running all night!
They are valuable spots also.
Charlie Denison
11:16 am on Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Hubway would be a huge benefit for Charlestown. Residents AND visitors would be able to more easily get into, out of, and around the neighborhood without driving or waiting for the T. Even if the stations take up a few parking spaces, you'll have fewer cars in Charlestown vying for all the remaining spaces!
Plenty O'Toole
5:47 pm on Wednesday, August 1, 2012
If you seriously believe that Hubways will greatly reduce the number of cars in Charlestown,you are dellusional. Last time I checked, most tourists were on foot/or, utiizing "tourist-based" modes of transportation such as duckboats and trollys. As for local residents, I seriusly doubt anyone will be turning in their personal vehicles in exchange for a mountain bike. Who was the sponsor of the efficacy study, Schwinn?
Louise Ambler Osborn
10:07 pm on Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Hubway by itself won't get people to give up their cars, but you have to look at it as part of the big picture to help people be less dependent on cars. For example, we have three drivers in our family. We considered getting a second car, but a combination of bikes, the T, and Zipcar have made it possible for us to share one car and get where we need to go while saving a lot of money. I know a couple of other families who have made a similar decision. That's several cars off the road...go ahead and use the parking spaces we have freed up for a Hubway station!
By the way, I live right on the Freedom Trail and am seeing more and more tourists on bikes. It's a great way to see the city.
Erin McDonald
10:56 pm on Wednesday, August 1, 2012
I see Hubway as a venue for entertainment, alternatives to Duck Boats or on foot sightseeing of our city, and a way to offer (to those who choose to exert themselves.... imagine?) a means to get around in an alternative fashion. I am amazed at the threat of 12-18 square feet dedicated to a bike station can cause such a ruckus!