Boston Cyclists Fed Up With City, Clear Snow from Bike Lanes
Bicyclists fed up with Boston’s snow removal response cleared protected bike lanes along Commonwealth Avenue last Friday, Feb. 6. About 20 volunteers from the Boston Cyclists Union (BCU) and Boston…
(Photo by China Photos/Getty Images)
Bicyclists fed up with Boston's snow removal response cleared protected bike lanes along Commonwealth Avenue last Friday, Feb. 6.
About 20 volunteers from the Boston Cyclists Union (BCU) and Boston University's Urbanism Club cleared snow from the lanes, which remained covered after the largest snowstorm in recent years pummeled the city at the end of January. In doing so, the group wanted to send a message loud and clear to Boston officials.
“The City is not being responsive,” said Tiffany Coggell, interim executive director of the BCU, in a statement shared with Boston.com. “We immediately decided to figure out how we could reach the City, incentivize the City, hold them accountable, and ask for their help with clearing the bike lanes.”
The decision to act started when cyclists reported that bike lanes remained impassable days after the storm. That prompted a 311 reporting effort and the submission of photos documenting conditions. BCU said it contacted councilors, state officials, and representatives, and filed more 311 reports.
Coggell stated that some councilors acknowledged the issue and offered replies, but 311 responses merely stated, “The City is doing its best to clear the lanes,” Coggell explained.
Cycling advocates criticized the City's responsiveness to snow clearing. They note that snow was piled at the ends of bike lanes or pushed onto sidewalks, narrowing lanes and creating hazards at intersections.
According to Boston.com, Boston officials said they removed about 6,200 truckloads of snow (approximately 92,000 cubic yards) to 13 snow farms over 10 days, and Code Enforcement issued 3,626 snow removal violations citywide, including 138 to the MBTA.
Coggell described a deteriorating line of communication with cyclists and City Hall.
Mayor Michelle Wu appeared on Boston Public Radio on Tuesday, Feb. 10. She explained that the City is legally responsible for plowing roadways and clearing sidewalks in front of City buildings. Elsewhere, each building's owner is responsible for snow clearing, she said. Wu did not address any issues with bicycle lanes.
