Current Problems

1. Not Enough Designated Bike/ Bus Lanes

Throughout the Fenway region, we found few specified and separated lanes for bikes and buses. Instead, these lanes are often merged together into a single lane, which increases the severity of a possible accident between a biker and a motor vehicle. As a result, most people might not be inclined to ride their bike because of the high risk associated with bike riding in Fenway. In other instances, bikes share lanes with other motor vehicles, and so-called "bus lanes" are actually used for on-street parking, as shown below in an overhead photo of the intersection of Huntington Ave. and Gainsborough St.

2. Overuse of Motor Vehicles

During "rush hour" in the morning and late afternoon, many people travel to and from their work in the city. Research has shown that most commuters choose to use cars; in fact, 39% of all Bostonians and 50% of those living outside the city commute by driving alone everyday, which totals to about 540,000 people a day! Because so many people drive cars in and out of Boston, the streets become congested with cars, making other forms of transportation, such as biking and walking, unsafe or inefficient.

3. Hubway Accessibility and Safety

Metro-Boston's bike share program, Hubway, allows users to affordably rent bikes and use them around Boston at $8 for 24 hours, $20 for a month, and $99 for a year. However, some of the stations are inconveniently placed, so many potential bikers may not know they have the option to choose this environment-friendly form of transportation. This can be seen at the Ruggles station, where only one of the three entrances has a Hubway station. Refer to the Hubway map in the Maps section. As a result, commuters who use the other two entrances may not even know about this program.

Another problem with the Hubway program is that helmets are not included with bike rentals. This may deter bike users who know the dangers of biking without a helmet. Please watch our Public Service Announcement about the dangers of biking without a helmet. The video can be found on the PSA page. The current bike lane arrangement increases the risk of a biking accident with a motor vehicle, so it is critical that Hubway users have access to helmets.