I have just begun reading the book, Bostons Cycling Craze, 1880-1900, by Lorenz J. Finison. I saw the author in Harvard Square after the Honk Parade. He gave a talk once at Livable Streets. I have skipped ahead in the book to read the chapter titled - The Fight over Cycling Space and Time. Back then the fight was between cyclists and wealthy entitled people on horseback. Back then they made a rule that cyclists couldnt go over 8 mph. A speed, I guess a horse trotted at. There were the same problems as now of trying to keep cyclists out of parks, including Franklin Park. Frederick Law Olmsted wanted no sporting activities in a huge swath of Franklin Park. I guess he thought golf was OK though. It was something done by the upper class. Here in Boston cyclists are no longer allowed to ride through Boston Common. A while ago, but not too long ago cyclists have been banned from riding around Jamaica Pond. That was a favorite bike ride for me. It would be a good bike ride for people who are fearful of riding in traffic. I also remember riding my bike down the center of Commonwealth Avenue in the Commonwealth Mall. There is plenty of room there for a leisurely bike ride. It also is ideal for people who are scared to bike in traffic. That has been taken away from us. Instead we are given some skinny bike lane to the left of fast moving vehicles, making it difficult even to make right hand turns. The Paul Dudley White bike path along the river cant be taken away from cyclists. Though it is always clogged with people walking. Now on week-end mornings, the bike path has been taken over by charity walkers. I have to be very aggressive, in as polite a manner as possible, to make my way down to Community Boating. Let them do their walk down the Commonwealth Mall, through the Public Garden, Boston Common and down to the Harbor Walk. I was told by a doorman at an abutting hotel to the Harbor walk that I had to walk my bike. In conclusion to what has become a rant, there is the Rose Kennedy Greenway, a park which would be ideal for leisurely biking.
Posted on: Tue, 14 Oct 2014 01:23:19 +0000