BU Today

Last spring I attended a presentation given by Enrique Peñalosa, the former mayor of Bogotá, at Bikes Not Bombs headquarters in Jamaica Plain.

Peñalosa has become a celebrated advocate for more livable cities because of his mayoral policies.

Over his three-year term, from 1998 to 2001, Peñalosa worked to reshape the Colombian capital’s transportation system and social landscape. The city constructed nearly 200 miles of bike paths and started an annual car-free day that became so popular a public referendum mandated that officials completely clear automobiles from city’s streets during rush hour by 2015. The extensive network of bike lanes connected communities once segmented by highways.

The tale of Bogotá has become a parable for cities around the world and is applicable to Boston, as Peñalosa reminded the crowd that day.

Now that Mayor Thomas Menino (Hon.’01) gears up for his fifth term, bikes seem to be an important objective. Beginning in 2008, the Boston Bikes program, led by Nicole Freedman, former Olympian cyclist and the city’s “bike czar,” has had some successes trying to bring similar reforms to the Hub. Five miles of bike paths have been added since Freedman’s arrival last year.

According to an August 2009 Boston Bikes proposal, one of Commonwealth Avenue’s car lanes in Kenmore Square could be eliminated to give way to bikes. Between Mass. Ave. and Arlington Street, car lanes could be narrowed to squeeze in a bike lane. Once revamped, the BU Bridge will feature two bike lanes as well.

The bicycle can serve as a crucial political tool. So much of how people interact depends on how they move. Small enough to avoid gridlock, outside the realm of T complications, fast enough to blow past pedestrians, a biker can truly control his or her transit.

Enrique Peñalosa’s visit became a reminder: never underestimate the political weight of your two-wheeled friend!

Andrew McFarland can be reached at afarland@bu.edu.

Advocated for bike-lane reform? Let us know in the comments.

A few months ago, I was biking up Comm. Ave. through Packard’s Corner. Just as the street swung away from Brighton Ave., my front wheel caught in the T track, sending me flying over my handlebars.

As I lay on the cement, a slight tingle in my left shoulder, I watched two pedestrians pass me a few feet to my right and a car roll by on my left. As I picked myself off the ground, I realized that Boston biking is a lonely undertaking.

Not quite a motorist, not quite a pedestrian, many bikers find themselves lone wolves between the two camps. As a result, it has become easy for people to characterize cyclists as heartless half-machines half-jerks who disregard traffic laws and ride onto sidewalks.

While the claim’s not entirely undeserved, I’ve come to see and appreciate the quiet, unique community that exists among bikers.

For example, one night I biked with my friends Devon and Ian to Trader Joe’s in Coolidge Corner. Halfway through the produce aisle we heard what sounded like a ton of bricks landing on the roof. People on the sidewalk began to run inside to avoid torrential downpours and flash floods. All we could do was stand there speechless and wish we’d worn something waterproof.

“Do you bike?” one of the workers stocking fruit asked us.

We yeahed a reply and asked how she could tell.

“I could see the happiness drain from your faces the second it started to rain,” she answered.

She was a biker too, and talked for a few minutes before excusing herself. When we were in the checkout line, she found us and offered three plastic trash bags.

“Stay dry,” she said with a smile. We thanked her and told her the same as we ripped holes for our heads and hands and slipped on our makeshift ponchos.

This random act of kindness seems to exemplify an empathy that sometimes goes unacknowledged among us all.

Despite our soulless crimes — like speeding through a crosswalk flooded with people, or taking up two lanes during rush hour — we do have feelings. It does hurt bikers when pedestrians call us names, or when we get drenched to the bone by a speeding car. It’s a dog-eat-dog world on the streets of Boston, which makes the occasional bit of compassion all the more appreciated.

So, wherever you are, Trader Joe’s girl, thanks.

Andrew McFarland can be reached at afarland@bu.edu.

Have you received some random acts of kindness? Let us know in the comments.

Were films like Good Will Hunting, The Departed, and The Boondock Saints (I or II) influential factors in deciding where you should go to college?

Every March, do you promise yourself that this will be the year that you wake up in time to watch the St. Patty’s Day parade?

If so, you might be in need of a South Boston education — if only you could get there.

For every 10 BU students who chuckle hearing a textbook Boston accent, I doubt more than one knows where Southie is (or wouldn’t confuse it with the South End). Maybe two could provide a rough idea of how to get there via T (“You take the Red Line, right?”).

The T barely scratches the surface of Southie. Three Red Line stations (Broadway, Andrew, and JFK/UMass) serve the neighborhood, but biking is the best way to get a taste for this community.

A good starting point is the Harbor Walk, a 46-mile network of paths along the water from Chelsea to the Neponset River.

Compliments of the Boston Redevelopment Authority (my favorite force for gentrification), the walk is a good beginner’s guide for bikers. Although the path can fade in and out, directional signs are clear and dependable. But there are some drawbacks: depending on the weather, pedestrian traffic can get heavy, park officials on Castle Island are strict about enforcing a no-bike policy around Fort Independence, and in areas like Fan Pier, it’s easier to take the road through a maze of warehouses and wharves.

There are a few ways to get over to the Harbor Walk from BU. The most direct route is to take Comm. Ave. inbound to the Public Garden. There, take a right on Arlington Street and a left on Boylston. Follow past the Registry of Motor Vehicles, where Boylston becomes Essex Street. Take Essex to South Station and then take a right. The Harbor Walk traces the edge of the water, but the easiest point for bike access is on the Old Northern Avenue Bridge (on your right off the Greenway just before Rowe’s Wharf).

Hopefully, there soon will be an easier way to get over to the walk and to Southie. The South Bay Harbor trail will go from Ruggles Station at Northeastern to Fan Pier, and that won’t just be easier, it’ll be a LOT easier. The project’s expected to be completed within a year.

Andrew McFarland can be reached at afarland@bu.edu.

How do you get to Southie? Let us know in the comments.

Much as I enjoy all 10 of the trees on the BU Beach, every time fall rolls around I have a hankering for some real foliage. Within the city, there are quite a few places where you get that wilderness experience. Parks like Larz Anderson in Brookline, the Arnold Arboretum in Jamaica Plain, and Franklin Park in Roxbury can make you feel as though you’re miles from civilization.

But adventure calls. To escape the chaos of Comm. Ave., what could be a better alternative than the pristine, transcendental waters of Concord’s Walden Pond?

Many of you visited this magical place in your high school English classes and might have heard a thing or two about how to get there by commuter rail, but it is also accessible with the help of your two-wheeled friend. Roughly 17 miles northwest of BU, Walden is the ideal destination for a relaxing fall bike ride.

The last time I attempted to bike to Concord, I did so haphazardly. Equipped with a decent education of Massachusetts roads and geography, I set off for Walden from my place in South Campus one late summer afternoon. My objective was to head west along Route 20 through Allston, Watertown, and Waltham, then hook north through back roads in Lincoln up to Concord. In short, it took me nearly two hours to get to Concord after waging a few uphill battles against every dead-end slope in Waltham and tangling myself in every bumpkin lane in Lincoln.

I don’t recommend that route. I suggest a more bike-friendly way. First, head toward Mass. Ave. in Cambridge. This can be done by taking the BU Bridge to Brookline Street and biking down to Central Square. From there, make your way toward Harvard Square and continue on toward Porter Square and beyond. At Alewife, you can abandon street traffic for the salvation of the Minuteman Bikeway, a 10-mile path connecting Bedford, Lexington, Arlington, and Cambridge.

Continue on this trail through Arlington and into Lexington. At the Lexington Green, you join up again with Mass. Ave. and follow it west, safely across Interstate 95. From there, the road changes names a few times (North Great Road and Lexington Road), but maintains the same direction. It flows into Route 2 for the last leg, which is a bit tricky, but not very long.

Walden’s a great place to visit, especially in the fall. A circuit of trails provides great views of the pond (sadly sans bike, on foot). Even in November, swimmers can be found enjoying the water, so don’t be afraid to jump in!

If you’re not as ambitious heading home, you can always hop on the commuter rail with your bike (a guilty pleasure I’ve known once or twice). The Concord MBTA station is just down the street, by the town center.

Andrew McFarland can be reached at afarland@bu.edu.

How do you navigate campus? Let us know in the comments.

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Now that you’ve gotten accustomed to the BU bubble, BREAK FREE!

BU students have a tendency to cling to the Comm. Ave. stretch. When students venture beyond the Charles River Campus, it’s often by the T, Red Line and Green Line. Much as I enjoy going downtown and to Harvard Square, this combination hardly ensures a Boston-balanced diet.

I can only suggest one remedy: LOOK BETWEEN THE LINES.

Use your bike to explore areas of Boston not so near and dear to the MBTA’s heart. Here’s one easy route (more to come in the weeks ahead):

Cambridgeport
Cambridgeport, known to BU students as the area that’s not quite MIT or Harvard, is just on the other side of the BU Bridge. It’s largely residential, but there are a few decent pizza joints and cafes. Baraka Café on Pearl Street gives you a taste of North African cuisine, and Andala Café on Franklin Street has some of the best coffee in the area.

Cambridgeport’s quiet streets offer an opportunity to do some slow riding. Most roads are one-way and very quiet, so you can ride at your leisure and enjoy old homes and churches. Hastings Square Park and Dana Park are nice places to people watch.

To get there, cross the bridge and continue straight through the rotary off Memorial Drive. Oncoming traffic needs to yield, so be mindful of cars speeding into your lane. The rotary funnels off to Brookline Street, a reliable way to get into Cambridgeport and to head down to Central Square (Brookline Street meets up with Mass. Ave. by the Middle East Restaurant). Construction’s pretty bad, so keep an eye out for potholes and traffic cones. Returning to the BU Bridge, best to take Pearl Street, which runs one block parallel to Brookline.

If you’re looking for something to do on a Sunday, the stretch of Memorial Drive that borders Cambridgeport and Harvard Square is a great destination.

Memorial Drive is car-free from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sundays, so bikes and runners have free rein. This is only in effect until the second Sunday in November, so take advantage of it while you still can! Bikes won’t rule Mem. Drive again until the last Sunday in April.

Andrew McFarland can be reached at afarland@bu.edu.

How do you navigate campus? Let us know in the comments.

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Tips on how to get the rubber meeting the road
By Andrew McFarland (CAS’11, COM’11). Photo by Kalman Zabarsky

Here at the start of America’s longest road (Route 20), amputated by the nation’s longest interstate (I-90), fenced in by Storrow Drive, you sometimes feel like you’re taking classes in the middle of a traffic rotary. Mix in a few Red Sox games, the T, the one-way streets, the occasional construction project, plus kamikaze pedestrians, and you get the beautiful mess that is Boston’s daily rhythm.

No wonder bikers aren’t welcomed with open arms in this dysfunctional transit family. Here are some inside tips for navigating the insanity.

East Campus/Kenmore Square
Kenmore Square poses a considerable challenge. Recent renovations have lessened the confusion, but hurdles remain. A bike lane trails out to central campus, and this is a good guideline, but you’re on your own if you want to go down Beacon to get to South Campus. I’ve found it’s best to use red lights to advantage. It’s 10 times easier to get over to a right-leaning lane when cars are stationary. Once you slide over, get a bit of distance over the stop line and wait for the green.

I avoid Kenmore by cutting over to Bay State Road, which remains a safe alternative to Comm. Ave. through east and central campuses. Just remain mindful that it’s one way toward CAS; stop signs do a good job of slowing down speeding cars.

Central/South Campus
The bike lane would make this a safe and easy stretch — if people acknowledged it. Door-happy automobilists and double-parked trucks don’t, so keep your eyes open and be ready to turn at a moment’s notice. Cummington Street offers a similar alternative as Bay State if you don’t feel up to Comm. Ave.

St. Mary’s is another one-way street that’s de facto two-way for bikers. Except for Park Drive, most South Campus streets are tame. Whenever traveling from South to West or Allston, I find it easier to take backstreets through Cottage Farm rather than negotiate Park Drive and the BU Bridge. Here’s a “shortcut” that’s pretty safe and enjoyable.

West Campus
BU Bridge traffic is ALWAYS a mess, especially during evening rush hour. If you intend to cross the river to Cambridgeport, be prepared to rub tires with a few cars. Always keep an eye on drivers behind you and to your left.

I don’t know if they ran out of paint, but for some reason the Comm. Ave. bike lane drops off just before CFA. Coupled with an uphill slope, West Campus seems less biker-friendly. Just keep your eyes on the prize (and drivers’ doors) if you’re heading toward Packard’s Corner.

Andrew McFarland can be reached at afarland@bu.edu.

How do you navigate campus? Let us know in the comments.

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Traffic around Copley Plaza snarls often, but at least on the last Friday of the month, the stop and go doesn’t consume gasoline. Lauren Donovan (CFA’11) becomes a part of Critical Mass. Photo by Andrew McFarland

Wheel to wheel in a crowd 100 bikes deep.

Couples roll by on pink and green tandem bicycles.

A man with a boombox balanced on his back tire weaves through the group.

A driver leans into his car horn, but none of the bikers bats an eye, even though it’s rush hour on a Friday evening.

The horn moans again.

A chorus of bell rings chirps in response.

A voice calls out, “Whose streets?”

A multitude responds, “Our streets!”

This is the beauty of Critical Mass, an event that sadly comes only once a month. In the security of numbers, bikers come together to enjoy the streets of Boston, Cambridge, and Brookline.

Critical Mass is a whimsical way to jumpstart the weekend, and a worldwide effort to reclaim streets from gas-guzzling cars. As petroleum reserves dwindle and the clean energy debate continues, Critical Mass bikers act as a reminder that cyclists are not only sustainable and practical, but a powerful social force.

“Bikes are vehicles, too!” is a common reply given to automobilists impatient with the crowd on two wheels.

There are hundreds of Critical Mass rides happening on the final Friday of the month; a Facebook search turns up more than 500 locales, from Vancouver to Istanbul to Putrajaya in Malaysia. Yet the events are not organized by any central authority. Each group is completely independent — my roommate once described it as an anarchist parade on wheels. There is no appointed leader or itinerary. Group decisions and whimsy dictate every twist and turn.

Beyond social activism, the gathering is an excellent opportunity to celebrate the end of another month with some interesting characters. If you have questions about how to fix your bike or simply want to meet some fellow bikers, this is the event for you. And there is nothing quite as refreshing as being able to ride down the middle of Boylston or Mass. Ave. without worrying about being run over by a car.

The next Critical Mass ride will be on October 30 — Halloween garb surely will be welcome. Rides officially leave at 5:30 p.m. (more like 6) from the plaza in front of Trinity Church in Copley Square.

Andrew McFarland can be reached at afarland@bu.edu.

Heading to this month's Critical Mass? Let us know in the comments.

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The other day I biked over to J.P., as most people who have been around here awhile refer to the nearby Boston neighborhood Jamaica Plain, to get coffee with a friend at City Feed. The ride from BU is short and easy, about 15 minutes along the Emerald Necklace starting at the Landmark Center near South and heading down to Jamaica Pond. I have ridden the route a few times and have come to take it for granted — for good or for bad.

Just before I crossed the Jamaicaway, I noticed a middle-aged couple on bikes by Perkins Street hunched over a map and looking very confused. I didn’t give them much thought until I passed them again on my way back, an hour later, by Route 9.

The woman asked for my help. Their map seemed misleading and they couldn’t figure out where the trail continued. I explained that they had to cross Route 9 (waiting on the median strip to avoid streaming inbound and outbound traffic), then continue along a dirt path before crossing the on and off-ramps for Riverway traffic. They looked terrified, particularly since it was the height of rush hour, so I said I’d guide them as far as I could. It took a few minutes to cross four lanes of traffic and join up with the paved path. We parted at Brookline Ave, where they were waiting for a red light.

When I got home, I checked out what the city had to say about road conditions and bike paths. Finding cycling information for the Mayor’s Boston Bikes initiative, I was rather surprised by what I found. Their cycling map is a good resource overall, but it considers the path we just traversed to be a beginner route, meaning ”suitable for all types of bicyclists including newer cyclists, cyclists with limited on-road experience and/or children.”

I couldn’t imagine taking a child along this route and escaping in one piece.

The exhausted couple I’d tried to help didn’t seem to be experienced, every day bikers. Outfitted with helmets, reflective gear, and skin-tight biking shorts, they seemed prepared for everything — except Boston’s hostile environment. There must be a better way to access one of the city’s finest green spaces, the Emerald Necklace, which has been amputated by parkways and choked by car traffic. Making an environment more bike-friendly doesn’t require any grand ideas. Working with the spaces we have could vastly improve bike safety and enjoyment.

To the couple I tried to help, wherever you are: sorry it wasn’t easier.

Andrew McFarland can be reached at afarland@bu.edu.

Do you bike the Emerald Necklace? Let us know in the comments.

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Velophiles, Unite!
By Andrew McFarland (CAS’11, COM’11)

Five student bloggers join BU Today this week, each given his or her own day, each hoping to contribute through the semester. This being Friday, Andrew's up.

Do you consider a 20-mile ride to be a refreshing afternoon outing? Do you like to have reasons to be environmentally righteous around your friends? Do you snub the idea of a five-minute walk in favor of a one-minute ride? Do you justify your jorts as pedal pants? Do friends and strangers ask you where you got those calves? Do you consider pedestrians, well, pedestrian?

If you answered yes to one or more of these questions, you’re a velophile.

Amen, brothers and sisters, you’re a two-wheeled, hand-greased, helmet-haired velophile. Welcome. You’re not alone. From organizations like B.U. Bikes and Jamaica Plain-headquartered Bikes Not Bombs, to outings like Critical Mass and Hub on Wheels, Boston’s in the middle of a biking boom.

For penny-pinching college students, biking in Boston offers a cheap, sustainable, speedy, and healthy alternative to getting around town. Why pay $1.70 for the T when your feet and a set of pedals could provide the same for free (and likely half the time)?

However, the Puritans never intended this to be a car-friendly community when they laid out streets, so embrace the urban chaos of navigating Boston. Depending on your pedal-savvy, Boston can either be a cruising paradise or a nightmarish maze of one-way streets, potholes, and less-than-amiable commuters. Sharing lanes with car-bound Massholes can be enough to make you think twice before saddling up.

Throughout the semester, I’m going to highlight destinations, events, and information pertinent to you and your two-wheeled, multi-spoked friend, along with anecdotes and opinions. Stay tuned.

In the meantime, a great place to start if you’re new to biking at B.U. is B.U. Bikes, a great organization if you’re interested in learning more about bike maintenance and safety, or just want to join up for a group ride. Members hang around the Women’s Resource Center from noon to 5 p.m. every Friday, so if you have any questions or just want to meet fellow enthusiasts, stop by, and/or friend them on Facebook.

Andrew McFarland can be reached at afarland@bu.edu.

Do you bike down Comm Ave at rush hour? Let us know in the comments.

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