The Problems

1. Parallel Parking

Parallel parking is taking up valuable space that could be otherwise used for bike lanes and wider sidewalks, which would ensure safer transportation for bikers and pedestrians. Instead, because of wasted space from parallel parking, roads are becoming much more congested! Parallel parking also interrupts traffic flow because cars must maneuver their way into their parking spot. Another problem is that parallel parking limits a driver's view of the road while traveling down it and at intersections.

View of Parker St with two lanes and parallel parking, giving us a clear example of the problem. The biker is using the sidewalk, creating a dangerous situation for pedestrians.

Current Representation of Parker St.

2. Bike Safety

Boston's bike network is made up of multiple, unorganized bike lanes that barely give bikers any space to transport, making it a much more unreliable source of transportation. As of right now, biking in Boston is dangerous due to inadequate facilities and dangerous bike lanes. In the Fenway Area and other parts of Boston, bikers have to ride on the street in one of Boston's shared bike lanes or ride on the sidewalk. As of right now, some bikers ride on the sidewalk because they do not feel safe enough to ride on the street. However, this is not ideal as it interrupts and endangers pedestrian traffic. Bike accidents are common in Boston because of the proximity of bikers to cars and pedestrians.

Currently, there is a 30-year plan being introduced in Boston run by the Boston Department of Transportation. The plan supports the increase of bicyclists by building new biking facilities and expanding the current bike network of dedicated and shared bike lanes.

The shared bike lanes on Ruggles St.

A diagram showing the current and future bike lanes of Boston in the Boston Bike Network Plan