I’ve been in Boston (MA) for the past week with work so I’ve been missing my regular cycle commuting, though from the recent weather in Northern Ireland that’s probably a good thing!
The difference between here (Boston) and home (England too, from what I hear) in the numbers of cyclists, facilities for cyclists and how drivers, pedestrians and cyclists share the road is remarkable. I’m based near the MIT campus so perhaps this is a particularly cycle friendly area, but I took a walk around the city yesterday and I’m not so sure.
The major roads have dedicated, well signposted cycle lanes (not bus and cycle) and there are bike stands everywhere. There are bikes locked to everything and no-one seems to mind. Vehicles “yield” to cycles without fuss or cutting up. Cycles cross “crosswalks” in between pedestrians and no-one complains. Cycling on the “sidewalk” is common practice and again, no-one seems to mind as the cyclists generally go slow enough to not cause danger.
In the city yesterday (Hancock Place) there were some kids doing tricks on BMXs on the busy sidewalk. I stopped to watch for a while (they were pretty good!) but none of the other pedestrians seemed to bat an eyelid.
It’s all just so … harmonious.
