Civic Engagement

I ride a bicycle to work every day. Many of my friends tell me, they would like to do likewise, but are scared on riding on the road - and the way things are now, for a good reason. I believe that if the bicycle facilities improve, if we get more, safer bikeways, the ridership will increase dramatically. And more bicycle means less congestion on the roads, which is good for everyone, even the die-hard motorists.

Boston, and Massachusetts as a whole, needs to but environmentally-friendly modes of transportation like walking, bicycling, and public transportation above other modes.

Boston needs to get with the program. Cities all around Boston, around the country, and around the world have recognized the importance of bicycling as an essential part of the transportation system. Promoting bicycling can reduce congestion, increase health, and increase the quality of life for everyone in the city. Boston needs plentiful bike racks (a downtown "bike station" would be an excellent addition as well) and roads that are designed with bicyclists in mind, to help keep bicyclists safe and provide an environment that makes bicycling as appealing as any other transportation option, perhaps even more so!

Bike parking facilities especially! All cities and towns need more well-designed and properly situated bike racks (not those horrible "dishwasher"-style racks). It's hard for even an enthusiastic cyclist to justify riding to work or the grocery store if there isn't any way to lock up the bicycle once there!

My husband commutes to work by bike from Framingham to Waltham, and every day I'm scared for his life! A bike lane, or even just a shoulder would be peace of mind. By the way, bike paths and bike lanes are not mutually exclusive. We can have both, and I hope we do. We don't take away the city streets when we build the interstates for cars!

anything to offer car alternatives ! Promote healthy living for all.

Boston is a tightly packed city that lends itself to being bike friendly. It's surprising that our roads are still so dangerous.

I am mainly concerned about traffic behavior. Cyclists and pedestrians don't follow their respective traffic rules and motorists don't pay attention. The police on bikes definitely don't follow traffic laws. Cops think that cyclists don't belong on the road, but we aren't allowed on the sidewalks. Very dysfunctional and dangerous.

I have been hit by a car on the mass ave bridge. My back was broken from the impact. This bridge is inadequate for the amount of traffic that goes over it. I still ride in this city because it's twice as fast as driving or the T. I would like to see bikes and pedestrians considered in the initial planning of roads and transportation instead of being an afterthought.

With more motorcyclists on the road these days, this is a must!

Most certainly! People are dying all over the city because of hits by motorists. On Huntington Ave you can see the white 'ghost bike' for a fellow named Gordon who was recently hit there while riding his bike. Many others are being injured and seriously impaired. Sorry to be so fire and brimstone about it, but I am just so tired (and depressed) of heard of friends of my friends get hit, and benifit nights being held for hospital fees. We need regulations for vehicles, and campaigns for helmets to be worn! not enough people are wearing helmets. And, I have to say this because it still baffles me, tell people when they're wearing them backwards. I had to yell out at this woman who had no idea it was the wrong way to wear it.

We should have been doing this years ago...lets not wait any longer

More trails = less pollution. Do it!

I'm a daily bike commuter with a fairly safe route, but I ofter bike to other parts of the city that are much less safe. Until space for biking is built into the fabric of the city, motorists will continue to treat us like second-class citizens who don't belong on the road. Bike lanes are simply the civilized thing to do. It's time for Boston to begin making changes.

I was run over by a motorist once. I still have limited use of my left arm. I am now left as an SSI recipient because of this injury, and have awful headaches and recurring nightmares. I support this wholeheartedly.

I'm in favor of real bikeways (not bike lanes on the street that make you ride in the "door zone"), but I think it's a long way off. Boston is old and set in its ways. In the meantime, I'd like to make motorists aware of cyclists as legitimate roadfellows who have a right (by law!) to be there. I would like to see the RMV involved in a serious information campaign that reaches all motorists. As a bike mechanic and commuter, I talk to lots of would-be bicycle commuters who are terrified of boston streets and drivers. We have nothing to lose by making drivers friendlier to cyclists. It will make more people want to ride.

I have been riding less when I should be riding more - why? Because motorists are increasingly hostile to bikes and in most instances it is completely unfounded - perhaps they should really take a moment to read the Mass. driver's manual... After the death of the young woman in my neighborhood last week I began to think more and more about how vulnerable we are on bikes. I'd like to be able to ride my bike to work (the mass transit to my job stinks) but I'm afraid to ride during AM rush hour so I'm now looking for a car. Shouldn't this be the other way around??

The state has an onroad initiative program. It's purpose is to improve existing roadways to better support bike commuting. We should be doing more of this. It concerns me that Mass Highway is plowing millions into bike paths that are recreational in nature, rather that improving bike commuting on our existing roads.

I support this issue but would like to extend the idea to all cities in MA. In Attleboro my sons friend got hit by a car yesterday and was told by the cop that it was his fault for riding on the sidewalk (accident was at intersection on rte 123 near downtown). My son was nearly hit by this driver in this incident while she was oblivious to her surroundings while talking on her cell phone.

Another friend was hit by a car 2 weeks ago while riding a bike about 50 yards from the same spot.

A neighbor lost her son several years ago in the same exact area while riding his bicycle.

Cyclists need a safe place to ride. In my city they are planning a $61 million revitalization of the downtown. How about take some of that money and make the city safe for cyclists? There are nearly no sidewalks in the city and nowhere for bikes to share the road with cars.

Boston could be a starting point and then extend it to other cities.

I ride my bike everywhere in the city and there are no safety roads for bikes to ride on. I have lights when I ride at night but it is never safe, there are always cars that cut in front of you, or people who open their car doors without looking. Roads for bikes make the city also look healthy and clean of pollution even in a city not so well economically as Bogotá (Colombia) they have roads for bikes to prevent pollution why not us?.

safe, healthy and no pollution.

thanks