An ultimate dream is to have a physical repository for this gear, but in the meantime, our nascent inventory ‘floats’ among bike newton members. I am in possession of the following for short term loan:

- Bike work stand
- 36 piece bike tool set (includes chain degreaser and other basic cleaning equipment)
- One Ortleib pannier that will fit most rear racks.

Contact me by posting to this web site or email me at nathan@bu.edu

- Nathan Phillips

-Nathan Phillips

One of the most important functions of this community web space will be to share dreams and visions of a bike friendly Newton. For now, as the site is just getting started, we don’t have the functionality for full community input, but that is a very short term goal. But in the spirit of getting creative juices flowing, for now I would like to contribute just a few ideas for a bike friendly Newton:

— An on-street parking space filled with bikes, in front of an ice cream shop, cafe, or bookstore in a Newton village center. Shop owners in Portland Oregon fight to get these coveted parking areas in front of their shops!
— The Commonwealth Ave carriage lane converted to a bike lane, from Rt. 128 all the way to Boston Common. Low hanging fruit!
— A bike library; loaning out bikes, burley trailers, trail-a-bikes, co-pilots, and bike tools for community tuneups/maintenance. Take a look at www.arcata.com/greenbikes/
— City-hall funded bike couriers delivering parcels and packages around town for city businesses and residents

- Nathan Phillips

What would a community look like if it were designed principally for bikers and pedestrians, and we were talking about accommodations for cars?
Tagged: Comprehensive Plan, Future, Goals, Newton, Planning ]]> http://bikenewton.wordpress.com/2009/08/05/envisioning-a-bike-friendly-newton/feed/ 0 bikenewton http://bikenewton.wordpress.com/2009/08/05/bike-sharing-bike-libraries/ http://bikenewton.wordpress.com/2009/08/05/bike-sharing-bike-libraries/#comments Wed, 05 Aug 2009 22:32:46 +0000 bikenewton http://bikenewton.wordpress.com/?p=151 Continue reading →]]> An example of a successful bike library can be found in Arcata, California (www.arcata.com/greenbikes). Could Newton have a successful bike sharing or bike library program? If a bike library program were adopted, it might suit Newton to loan, more than just bikes, accessory items like bike panniers and racks, burley trailers, trail-a-bikes, or co-pilot type kids seats. Kids bikes might be more popular items since the turnover for kids bikes is large. In addition, bike tools could be loaned out as well.

Traffic calming can result in dangerous situations for bicycles. Note fuller st. For parts of the street bicycles have clear going and then the sidewalk get bumped out and the bicycle lane disappears.

(This was a response to a general mention of traffic calming measures).

- Ruth Nemzoff

The innovations in cycle rikshaws are described here.

New Amsterdam Project is a great idea, and I hope the company is doing well. I called them twice to ask them to participate in the Bike Newton Rally last May, although Newton is beyond the range of their operations. How do we help someone start a project like this here? Perhaps New Amsterdam project will consider participating in the 2nd Bike Newton Rally on May 17th, 2009 and give the concept more exposure and also generate more interest here.

At the Auburndale Library meeting on 2/25, Riverside developers stressed their commitment to containing the development from spillover impacts to the neighboring community. They focused on isolating impacts from the community. We should go beyond an approach of “containment” and instead ask what would DRAW the local community to this development, by foot, bike or bus. Someone at the meeting asked “what’s in it for the community?” A token comment was made about “pocket parks”. This is a good start. How will pedestrians, families with strollers, bikers get safely to these pocket parks? What role does the Charles River corridor and DCR bridges and pathways play? The Developers touted their LEED credentials. Excellent! Can this development be a Green-themed Center – it is on the Green Line, by the way. Can the buildings be LEED certified, with prominent solar panels? Can we involve Green Decade Coalition to advise the developers on how to make this a Newton Showcase for sustainability? Can one of the pocket parks be an “energy playground” (energy generating see saws, bike generators, etc.), as an educational demo for local students and families? How is a sustainability ethic reflected in the treatment of traffic and parking? More pedestrian/ bike access from the local community means less cars needing to clog the streets and parking lots. This is a win-win solution. – Nathan Phillips

I’m amazed daily and especially on weekends when I see all types of cyclists in Newton blow through red lights and stop signs, ride on the side walks, and ride the wrong way down streets. These cyclists range from “in kit” club cyclists to commuters, weekend riders and students. Full disclosure: When I’m out between 4:30am and 5:30am on a weekday morning and stopped at a red light, no vehicles in sight, I ride through the red light. (My excuse: I need to get home to get to work.) I’m especially keen on doing this in the cold weather. Otherwise I wait for the light. Every cyclist I’ve had ride up behind or towards me in recent memory rides through the light often around moving cars.

Today I saw a teen riding West on Washington Street to Walnut Street and pause at the light before crossing Walnut. She was on the sidewalk and dodging pedestrians. I counted 11 adult cyclists blowing through red lights this past Sunday morning between 9:30 and 11:00 am riding West from Newton to Natick Center and back. Several of these riders were together and all were riding high end bikes.

I’m all for traffic calming and bike lanes, but what about basic traffic laws? How do the improvements we’re planning impact cycling safety and common sense (let alone citations?) You can bet motorists see you blow through those lights and fume. I think the police could issue tickets (not warnings) starting at $100 to start changing behavior. I’d support that. Nothing short of some stiff fines or carnage on the road will change this behavior.