Submitted by plantboy97 t3_z2yvx8 in CambridgeMA
the city seriously needs to do something about cars driving in that new bike lane. I just rear ended a car driving in the bike lane that suddenly stopped. luckily I am ok and a bunch of people (not the guy in the car) came up to me and helped me to my feet. One of the witnesses said they live near there and see cars in the bike lane all the time. This seems like poor planning by Cambridge
I know the cones are temporary and will be replaced, but this was a car turning right onto Brattle from Mason St - if there was an obstruction in between the two bike lanes cars would not be able to enter there
Ah, so a right hook basically. They probably need to raise the crosswalks at that intersection and make it clearer where the bike lane is.
Probably worth a 311 report: https://www.cambridgema.gov/commonwealthconnect
plus a follow-up email to Cambridge's City Councilors: https://www.cambridgema.gov/Departments/citycouncil/members
and maybe CC Cambridge Bike Safety or try them first: https://www.cambridgebikesafety.org/join/
City Councilors Burhan Azeem and Patricia Nolan are pretty pro cycling; I've met both at events around the City and they would probably take this more seriously than some other City Councilors would. Cambridge Bike Safety is really well organized and the folks there would probably help guide you to the right people to fix that intersection.
thanks so much for these resources! ill be sure to write to them
I think I saw that! Greenish blue EV? You're wearing black sweatshirt and tannish brown pants?
Stay safe out there.
omg yeah! that was me
That area is always so full of Harvard Square tourists looking for parking, thru drivers who are following Google Maps and not paying close attention, visitors to Harvard admissions or the ART scanning for parking, etc.
And there's so much visual stimuli that people don't pay attention to signage or even painted lanes sometimes!
I think there needs to be more physical infrastructure to force drivers to stay out of cyclists' way, they can't just provide guidance and hope for the best.
> I think there needs to be more physical infrastructure to force drivers to stay out of cyclists' way, they can't just provide guidance and hope for the best.
> Beginning next week, the City will install Phase 1 of the Brattle Street Safety Improvement Project, between Mason Street and Sparks Street. Previously, we announced that we would delay installation to the spring, but we have adjusted our approach after re-evaluating the feasibility of using temporary materials.
> We plan to use tube-style cones to separate people biking from vehicle traffic until concrete curbing becomes available this winter. These cones are taller and have a heavier base than a typical traffic cone.
That's great news, thanks for sharing!
does anyone know if there is a way to contact the city to request a bollard there to prevent this in the future? I have never done anything like that but I am inspired. I wanna go to a city council meeting or something
They're planning on doing this; see the project page for details: https://www.cambridgema.gov/streetsandtransportation/projectsandprograms/brattlestreetsafetyimprovementproject
Concrete curbing is the ultimate plan but the City is dumb and didn't order them soon enough, so they've been delayed. It was decided, after a lot of pushback from Bike Safety groups like Cambridge Bike Safety, to use cones and other temporary dividers to proceed with the bike lane now vs in the spring.
I imagine concrete curbing would have helped you, but drivers are notorious for ignoring biking lanes in general so... who knows.
I saw them turn into the bike lane not weave through the temporary cones that are there. there needs to be concrete barrier along the road as well as a bollard at each intersection to keep cars from turning into the bike lane
Yeah I mean that's the ultimate plan... unfortunately due to the City's poor planning the concrete barriers aren't available yet. The alternative was to not open these bike lanes until the spring, which would probably have resulted in more vehicle conflicts.
Maybe a 311 report or such like I described above could expedite installation at this particular intersection. I think that's your best bet. Sorry this happened to you. :\
I hope that in the near future we can move past the flawed thinking that drivers just need information and encouragement, and have proper physical protective barriers.
seems like poor awareness on your part
You should be in control of your bike at all times using the road. Rear ending is your fault
You're not wrong. If OP rear ended the car, OP is at fault.
Thank you
thanks for your input 😘
Why would anyone downvote this? It’s correct.
Thanks. Cant reason with irrational
paperboat22 t1_ixj0zkx wrote
They will be installing precast concrete curbs to separate the lanes, the city is just waiting on them to be delivered.
That being said, never underestimate the stupidity of car drivers.