BU Bikes

Yes, that deserved all caps.  Now we may actually be able to use that bike lane they striped down Comm Ave.  FedEx trucks be warned…

The long and short is that the City Council just passed an ordinance prohibiting parking in bike lanes.  It empowers BTD and BPD officers to ticket any violators.  The tickets are for $100.  Wow.  The full ordinance is posted below.

This was passed with the help of a few influential bike organizations, namely LivableStreets Alliance, BU Bikes, Allston-Brighton Bikes, Bikes Not Bombs, Institute for Human Centered Design, Massachusetts Bicycle Coalition, Rozzie Bikes, JP Bikes, and Dot Bike.  Thanks to all the groups that helped push this badly needed legislation.

AN ORDINANCE PROHIBITING PARKING IN A MARKED BIKE LANE

OR MARKED SHARED LANE

WHEREAS: The City of Boston is lacking an effective method to ensure public safety as members of the public not only travel in motor vehicles in marked bike lanes and shared lanes but also park in said lanes; and

WHEREAS: This Ordinance shall establish the following guidelines for parking motor vehicles in marked bike lanes and shared bike lanes; and

Ordained by the City Council as follows:

1. Purpose. The purpose of this ordinance is to establish guidelines for parking motor vehicles in marked bike lanes and shared bike lanes.
2. Prohibition from Marked Bike Lanes and Shared Lanes. No driver shall stand or park any motor vehicle in a marked bike or shared bike lane in the City of Boston.
3. Penalties. Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be subject to a fine of one hundred dollars and no cents ($100.00) for each offense. This fine shall increase by thirty-three dollars ($33.00) if it remains unpaid at least twenty-one (21) days after issuance of a notice of the violation.
4. Exceptions. Nothing in these sections shall prevent standing or parking a motor vehicle in a marked bike lane or shared bike lane: (i) when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or pedestrians; (ii) in compliance with the lawful direction of a police officer or official traffic sign; or (iii) unless authorized to do so under existing regulations (including but not limited to designated residential parking lanes or parking meters).
5. Enforcement. The Boston Transportation Department and the Boston Police Department shall have the authority to enforce this section. The provisions of Massachusetts General Laws c. 90, s. 20A1/2 may be used to enforce these sections, and the adjudication provisions of this chapter and of Chapter 190 of the Acts of 1982 shall apply to this section. The Boston Police Department and Boston Transportation Department shall have the authority to impound any motor vehicle in violation of these sections.
6. Regulatory Authority. The Commissioner of the Boston Transportation Department and the Commissioner of the Boston Police Department shall have the authority to promulgate rules and regulations necessary to implement and enforce these sections.
7. Severability. If any provision of these sections is held as invalid, then such provision shall be considered separately and apart from the remaining provisions, which shall remain in full force and effect.
8. Implementation. The provisions of this section shall be effective immediately after passage.

Check out this article on Newbury Street becoming a pedestrian way during the weekends of July and August.  Mayor Menino is behind this, as are the stores who would love to see the increase of foot traffic and happy shoppers.  Look for expanded storefronts, possible street vendors, music and fashion shows, and good vibes all around.

One Newbury Street shopper had the complaint of :”Where are they going to park? That’s a big problem.”

Please, spare us.  When the choice is between a street that can be used safely and comfortably for the general public all the while increasing revinue (and space) for the stores, or used for leaving one’s oversized SUV tank next to the curb, I personally choose the pedestrian way.  Even if it means I have to get off my bike and walk down Newbury because there’ll be so many people.

This is a great idea, and I hope the city adopts more changes like this.  Here’s one: how about Comm Ave, from BU Bridge to Kenmore, closed to through traffic – which can be diverted through the top part of Brookline, down Park Drive, and channelled out to Beacon Street.  Imagine, students crossing with peace, biking, skateboarding, four-squaring, and socializing in the middle of their own campus?  How could that ever possibly be?!  How radical a thought?!

Or we could just leave that public space for people to park their cars.   I suppose it’s a toss up.