Author Archives: jsallen

Spam, and lost comments

Posted on March 14, 2016 by jsallen

TweetSpam has become such a problem in WordPress blogs that I don’t have time to read through all the messages which have the Aksimet spam filter has marked as spam: I just delete them. Recently, in the moment between when … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off

For a real People’s Pike

Posted on January 26, 2016 by jsallen

Tweet“People’s Pike” is a group of citizens with concerns about the Massachusetts Department of Transportation’s I-90 Allston Interchange project, the main goal of which has been to replace the deteriorating Massachusetts Turnpike viaduct. The People’s Pike group is concerned mostly … Continue reading →

Posted in Boston | Tagged 606320, Allston, Beacon yards, bicycle, bike lane, Boston, Boston University, Harvard, Harvard University, I-90, Massachusetts, Turnpike, West Station, Western Avenue | 1 Comment

What’s wrong with this picture?

Posted on January 5, 2016 by jsallen

TweetAs hunting seasons are introduced to control the deer population in Boston suburbs and nearby parklands, I’m reminded of an article which appeared in the alumni magazine of Middlebury College, one of my alma maters. The article told how Middlebury … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged bicycle, collision, crash, gun, hunting, Middlebury, Middlebury College, rifle, ROTC, safety, Sanders, Vermont | Comments Off

My opinions on the bills before the Massachusetts General Court

Posted on January 4, 2016 by jsallen

TweetI can’t go to the Wednesday, January 6 hearing on transportation bills, because I’ll be out of town on business, but here’s my take (and be sure to read through to the last bill on which I comment: it’s one … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged bicycle, bicycle lane, bike lane, Boston, General Court, House, Legislation, legislature, Massachusetts, Senate | Comments Off

The Globe Screws Up on Nighttime Safety

Posted on December 5, 2015 by jsallen

TweetThe Boston Globe has published an article titled “Survival Guide for Running and Biking in the Dark.” This picture appeared with the article: you need it to understand my comments. The article addresses issues of retroreflector placement and motion, while … Continue reading →

Posted in Boston | Tagged bicycle, Boston, Boston Globe, lights, night, reflectors, retroreflectors, safety, visibility | Comments Off

Mass Ave, Arlington, and two approaches to bicycling

Posted on November 19, 2015 by jsallen

TweetThis article is about Massachusetts Avenue in Arlington, but at a deeper level, it is about two very different approaches to bicycling. I’ll start by recalling Massachusetts Avenue as it used to be. Massachusetts Avenue was striped with two lanes. … Continue reading →

Posted in Arlington | Tagged Arlington, bicycle, bicycle lane, bicycle right hook, bike lane, cycle track, doffin corner, left cross, Massachusetts, Massachusetts Avenue, Minuteman, Minuteman Commuter Bikeway, right hook, safety | Comments Off

The Boston Globe’s photo album

Posted on October 9, 2015 by jsallen

TweetAh, the Boston Globe. On the one side we have right-wing columnist Jeff Jacoby suggesting that bicyclists should all go for a nice ride in the park and stay off the streets. Though I’m a registered Democrat and liberal to … Continue reading →

Posted in Boston | Tagged advanced stop line, ASL, bicycle, bicycle signal, bike box, bike lane, Boston, Boston Globe, Massachusetts, Montreal, shared-lane marking, sharrow, sidepath, SLM, traffic light, traffic signal | 2 Comments

Boston Globe Article Falls Flat

Posted on September 7, 2015 by jsallen

TweetMy letter to the editor of the Globe today. To the editor: Yes, I know this is too long to publish, but I hope that you will find it informative. A major impediment to safe bicycling and good street design … Continue reading →

Posted in Boston | Tagged Beacon Street, bike box, Boston, Boston Globe, brick, Brookline, Charlesgate, Commonwealth Avenue, crosswalk, dismounting, Globe, granite, Kenmore Square, Massachusetts, mounting, pavers, paving blocks, starting, stopping, Two-stage turn queuing box, Webster Street | 1 Comment

Some Plain Talk about Plainville

Posted on July 5, 2015 by jsallen

TweetThe town manager in Plainville, Massachusetts, has complained about a new bike lane which has been installed in connection with upgrading of a casino by the side of Washington Street, US Route 1. He thinks that the bike lane should … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged bicycle, bicycle lane, bicycle right hook, bike lane, casino, collision, crosswalk, Massachusetts, MassDOT, Plainville, Route 1, Route 495 | 3 Comments

New Product — ShelBroCo Magic Green Paint

Posted on March 31, 2015 by jsallen

TweetHere’s a high-tech product which deserves to be used in every new bicycle infrastructure project. The linked page gives a thorough description and videos!