Owner of Violette Gluten Free Bakery back with new deep insights about walking v driving in Cambridgemtmsm t1_j5t7yj5 wrote
If only there were a transportation option that allowed you to exercise, transport things, and was only 1-2x slower than driving. Alas.
albertogonzalex t1_j5t8uvm wrote
Riding a bike is almost always faster than driving in Cambridge.
niems3 t1_j5uaqd7 wrote
And Somerville, and Brookline, and most of Boston. And especially if you want to go east-west through Camberville or across the river.
elizag19 t1_j5tltdl wrote
In Cambridge. If you only need to ever do things in Camberville.
Master_Dogs t1_j5tpsol wrote
It's a good thing there's a whole system for getting around the metro without needing a car. A system which could be more reliable if business owners embraced bus and bike lanes rather than fight against them.
SheeEttin t1_j5vqb5w wrote
Shame it's often broken, early, late, on fire, or some combination thereof.
Master_Dogs t1_j5vwxcv wrote
Ah yes and Boston's roads are famously free of pot holes and traffic.
albertogonzalex t1_j5tqf3s wrote
In the context of this post, we're talking about the relative benefits of walking vs driving. Camberville is walkable with enough time. And bike able every time, right on time, almost always in less time than driving.
elizag19 t1_j5ur020 wrote
In the context of her original post, it’s not realistic for people who have responsibilities outside the city/area to change transportation methods immediately when they get back to the city. Mostly referring to her forth point.
albertogonzalex t1_j5utp8x wrote
It's absolutely realistic to manage all routine needs within a 10mile radius for most people by bike. I'm just an average person and I do so! Nothing special - honestly, like the post, I didn't realize it was realistic until I started doing it because of the oppressive cult of car culture. But, it's absolutely doable for nearly everyone.
Master_Dogs t1_j5vzbtg wrote
It's not even just about bikes. We have a damn transit system that covers all parts of the eastern part of the State. Plenty of people take the Commuter Rail or buses around. Does it require a wee bit of planning? Yeah. Fortunately most of us are capable of some basic time management. It's not like driving doesn't require factoring in travel time, traffic, etc either. Or the weather or costs or whatever excuse you come up with.
OH and if you do want to just use bikes, you can STILL bring them on most transit options when needed. Buses have bike racks on the front, all heavy rail trains allow bikes during off peak hours, many Commuter Rail trains have a bike car, and really just the Green Line is a hard "no bikes" area but that'll likely change in a few years once we get the new modern light rail cars with like 7 cars a train and completely level boarding with larger interiors.
albertogonzalex t1_j5vzjns wrote
Hell yeah. Walking. Biking. And all forms of public transit are all on the same team. They all have the same interests in terms of infrastructure improvement. And everyone gains when any one of them is focused on. It's just cars vs everyone out here.
Master_Dogs t1_j5vyw7l wrote
Yes, it's totally unrealistic that you consider alternatives. Obviously the Commuter Rail and the 170 bus routes that the MBTA operates throughout the State are unrealistic. It's not like tens of thousands of people within Cambridge do not own a car or do not regularly have access to a car (this site suggests 15,000 households are car free, and another 29,000 only own a single car). I'm sure ebikes and walking and transit are too difficult for people to figure out too. Cars are notably easy to get - you only need to throw $30,000 into the car, spend hours buying it, getting a license, getting registration, insurance, taxes paid, etc. A bike obviously is unrealistic since it's like $3/ride on Blue Bikes or a few hundred for a cheapo beater bike. And ebikes, oh my, so expensive when you can pick on up for like $1500. That's obviously unrealistic, I should go spend $10,000 on a used car with 100k miles instead.
^(/s)
elizag19 t1_j6j1xo0 wrote
That’s a long, sarcastic answer for something about convenience and transportation/responsibilities. I hope you find peace.
Opposite_Match5303 t1_j5tpcpi wrote
Counting parking, it's faster for any trips under 30min in greater Boston. Usually 2x as fast as the T.
bagelwithclocks t1_j5tef9i wrote
If only she weren't the leader of the business group fighting against bike lanes...
Master_Dogs t1_j5tpnnr wrote
And bus lanes. The bitching and moaning about parking in North Cambridge got those bus lanes turned into rush hour lanes and off hours they're parking and loading zones. The 77 bus could allow this business owner to live north of Cambridge, easily commute to her shop and walk around and catch the bus when they need to get somewhere faster than walking.
mtmsm t1_j5uld4n wrote
Exactly
ClarkFable t1_j5twi0m wrote
If only winter didn’t exist.
ik1nky t1_j5twzfc wrote
So far there have been 0 days this winter that I couldn't bike. A few days ago was close, but I also wouldn't have driven if it were any worse.
[deleted] t1_j5tycsm wrote
[deleted]
mtmsm t1_j5ul8ch wrote
I rode my bike to work yesterday.
Master_Dogs t1_j5uke1j wrote
If only there were bikes with wider tires. Idk why they wouldn't make such a bike... Maybe even stick an electric motor on one of those, some fenders and a rear rack so you could ride it year round.
Darkest_97 t1_j5vu0vv wrote
Lemme just store a bike for all occasions in my small apartment
FewTemperature8599 t1_j5vxk6j wrote
No room for a bike, better save space and get a car. Big brain thinking
Master_Dogs t1_j5vzlvc wrote
Darkest_97 t1_j5w6w5g wrote
Imma be honest there's more spaces for me to park my car than there is to fit another bike in my apartment
Master_Dogs t1_j5vwsvr wrote
Lemme just store a 4000lb car on the street for all occasions too. Total enough space for all (checks notes) 100k people of driving age to do so within a 7 sq mile City.
drkr731 t1_j5wa3u9 wrote
my SIL bikes to work every day here (doesn’t own a car). I commute solely on foot and by train as my SO uses our household car to get to work out of the city. We basically never use the car within the Camberville or Boston area…i’ve lived in Cambridge specifically for over 6 years and have never had an issue not having a car
ClarkFable t1_j5wfw4a wrote
So you’re telling me you are both lucky and don’t have children?
Master_Dogs t1_j5x6j3x wrote
Yes, famously children cannot walk, bike, or use transit. There's definitely no method of getting kids around without a mini van. It's fake news that they're capable of walking alongside a parent, riding a bike in a kids seat or even on their own once capable, and obviously teenagers never ride transit.
Actually, kids under 16 can't drive either, so maybe we should petition the State to let 10 year olds drive. Honestly some of them might be better at following traffic laws than many motorists I see around here. And yes, before you say bUt CyClIsTs RuN rEd LiGhTs!! I'll point out that literally no one follows or enforces traffic laws around here.
drkr731 t1_j5wh38z wrote
I mean, while I don’t have children, many of my fellow residents in my building/neighbors have small children and don’t own cars. it’s not that uncommon. My SIL doesn’t have children but is a teacher who bikes a few miles to work each day and works odd hours.
I have a good life and I’d like think i’m lucky to enjoy where I live and the people around me, but I don’t think that’s really tied to our choice to have previously lived without a car / currently choose not to use a car much of the time
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