bostonzest

Tag: traffic

  • Sunday Rush Hour on the Esplanade Canoeway

    The canoeway on the Charles River Esplanade was busy Sunday afternoon while Storrow Drive was quiet.

    CHE_8505 - Version 22015-08-09-Esplande-canoeway-kayaks-gondolia-storrow-drive-© 2014 Penny Cherubino

    A couple, out for a romantic gondola tour, smiled at passing paddlers from their sedate and elegant ride.

    CHE_8421 - Version 22015-08-09-Esplande-canoeway-kayaks-storrow-drive-© 2014 Penny Cherubino

    We stopped for a little while just to watch the parade of passing boats.

    CHE_8438 - Version 22015-08-09-Esplande-canoeway-kayaks-storrow-drive-© 2014 Penny Cherubino

    Most folks were taking it easy, but this trio paddled at high speed. Perhaps they were running late on their kayak rental return. 

    CHE_8430 - Version 22015-08-09-Esplande-canoeway-kayaks-paddleboard-storrow-drive-© 2014 Penny Cherubino

    Most boaters avoided the lily pads but a few, like this paddleboarder, cut a pathway through the plants.

    CHE_8478 - Version 22015-08-09-Esplande-canoeway-kayak- storrow-drive-© 2014 Penny Cherubino

    These women used the patch of pads as a rest area to take a break and check their phones …

    CHE_8466 - Version 22015-08-09-Esplande-canoeway-kayaks-storrow-drive-© 2014 Penny Cherubino

    … before continuing on their way. (Or at least one of them continued paddling, the other must have been answering an important text.)

    While you do have to rent the boats, sitting and watching them go by is free!

    Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

    Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photography: © 2015 Penny & Ed Cherubino  

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  • Clearly, Pedestrians Are Not Top Priority in Boston

    Since we all walk in the city – no matter what our primary means of transportation – you might think that walkers would be a top priority for the Public Works efforts. Clearly we are not. 

    DSC_2849 - Version 22013-03-25-crosswalk-snowed-in-boston-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    Here's a snowbank-blocked crosswalk in Kenmore Square. This was taken on Monday. I think the city has had time to clear it since the last snowfall. But, it seems to have been there for a few storms. What's more, it is in front of a building that houses seniors.

    Meanwhile, earlier on Monday, street sweepers were working hard a couple of blocks away to clear every speck of sand from the bike lanes surrounding the Commonwealth Avenue Mall. That shows what the City of Boston deems important. 

    Here's some recommended reading for those, like me, who think there is something wrong with this picture. 

    From one of the city's smart bloggers, The Walking Bostonian, Getting Our Priorties Straight. 

    And, for your book list, Walkable City: How Downtown Can Save America, One Step at a Time


     

    When I read this book, I learned in detail how many of the bad decisions made in Boston's effort to make bikes a prioity hurt my pedestrian experience.

    I knew I was no longer comfortable walking on Mass Ave after the bike lanes were installed but didn't realize that any comprehensive urban planner should have known I would feel this way. Parked cars offer walkers a barrier and sense of security.

    I wonder how avoiding these sidewalks, now unprotected from high speed traffic, will impact Mass Ave businesses? What about other places that walkers will instictively avoid?

    Do you walk around the city? Do you think walking is the top priority for city planners? What are your pet peeves as a pedestrian? 

    Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or, do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

    Details:

    Words: Penny Cherubino
    Photography: © 2013 Ed Cherubino  

    Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

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  • Clearly, Pedestrians Are Not Top Priority in Boston

    Since we all walk in the city – no matter what our primary means of transportation – you might think that walkers would be a top priority for the Public Works efforts. Clearly we are not. 

    DSC_2849 - Version 22013-03-25-crosswalk-snowed-in-boston-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    Here's a snowbank-blocked crosswalk in Kenmore Square. This was taken on Monday. I think the city has had time to clear it since the last snowfall. But, it seems to have been there for a few storms. What's more, it is in front of a building that houses seniors.

    Meanwhile, earlier on Monday, street sweepers were working hard a couple of blocks away to clear every speck of sand from the bike lanes surrounding the Commonwealth Avenue Mall. That shows what the City of Boston deems important. 

    Here's some recommended reading for those, like me, who think there is something wrong with this picture. 

    From one of the city's smart bloggers, The Walking Bostonian, Getting Our Priorties Straight. 

    And, for your book list, Walkable City: How Downtown Can Save America, One Step at a Time


     

    When I read this book, I learned in detail how many of the bad decisions made in Boston's effort to make bikes a prioity hurt my pedestrian experience.

    I knew I was no longer comfortable walking on Mass Ave after the bike lanes were installed but didn't realize that any comprehensive urban planner should have known I would feel this way. Parked cars offer walkers a barrier and sense of security.

    I wonder how avoiding these sidewalks, now unprotected from high speed traffic, will impact Mass Ave businesses? What about other places that walkers will instictively avoid?

    Do you walk around the city? Do you think walking is the top priority for city planners? What are your pet peeves as a pedestrian? 

    Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or, do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

    Details:

    Words: Penny Cherubino
    Photography: © 2013 Ed Cherubino  

    Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

    Related articles
    How to Use Your Observational Skills in a Boston Real Estate Search
    BU Introduces New Cycling Safety Measures Along Comm. Ave
    what it means if you don't j-walk.
    Lost Boston: Bicycle Club at 152 Newbury Street

  • Clearly, Pedestrians Are Not Top Priority in Boston

    Since we all walk in the city – no matter what our primary means of transportation – you might think that walkers would be a top priority for the Public Works efforts. Clearly we are not. 

    DSC_2849 - Version 22013-03-25-crosswalk-snowed-in-boston-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    Here's a snowbank-blocked crosswalk in Kenmore Square. This was taken on Monday. I think the city has had time to clear it since the last snowfall. But, it seems to have been there for a few storms. What's more, it is in front of a building that houses seniors.

    Meanwhile, earlier on Monday, street sweepers were working hard a couple of blocks away to clear every speck of sand from the bike lanes surrounding the Commonwealth Avenue Mall. That shows what the City of Boston deems important. 

    Here's some recommended reading for those, like me, who think there is something wrong with this picture. 

    From one of the city's smart bloggers, The Walking Bostonian, Getting Our Priorties Straight. 

    And, for your book list, Walkable City: How Downtown Can Save America, One Step at a Time


     

    When I read this book, I learned in detail how many of the bad decisions made in Boston's effort to make bikes a prioity hurt my pedestrian experience.

    I knew I was no longer comfortable walking on Mass Ave after the bike lanes were installed but didn't realize that any comprehensive urban planner should have known I would feel this way. Parked cars offer walkers a barrier and sense of security.

    I wonder how avoiding these sidewalks, now unprotected from high speed traffic, will impact Mass Ave businesses? What about other places that walkers will instictively avoid?

    Do you walk around the city? Do you think walking is the top priority for city planners? What are your pet peeves as a pedestrian? 

    Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or, do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

    Details:

    Words: Penny Cherubino
    Photography: © 2013 Ed Cherubino  

    Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

    Related articles
    How to Use Your Observational Skills in a Boston Real Estate Search
    BU Introduces New Cycling Safety Measures Along Comm. Ave
    what it means if you don't j-walk.
    Lost Boston: Bicycle Club at 152 Newbury Street

  • UBER: On-Call Car Service in Boston

    Uber screengrab

    This year, we added one more option to our car-free lifestyle. UBER offered a discounted $40 introductory package on Gilt City Boston and we bought it. Since then, we've treated ourselves to a few UBER rides and are ready to recommend it to you at today's Friday Link.

    Test Drives!

    Our first trip was to the preview opening of the Gardner Museum. It seemed like a festive event and our schedule for the day was heavy, so to enjoy more time exploring the museum, we decided to take a ride there and then on to our next destination.  

    We used the UBER iPhone app to request a car. We watched the app as the photo of the driver who had accepted our request popped up, then followed his movement on a map as he approached from about seven minutes away. Unlike a taxi, we knew where he was and that he was really on his way to our location. When he arrived out front, he called to let us know.

    We enjoyed a couple of hours exploring the new and old spaces at the Gardner, had a meal at Cafe G, and then pulled up the UBER app and requested a ride to our next destination. This time, our driver hit some traffic and called to say he'd be a few minutes longer. He arrived, quicker than expected, and called to tell us he was in front of the door.

    Another evening, we tested the service on a rain-soaked trip through rush hour and baseball traffic to an event in the Fenway area. Each time, we've been happy that we were in the care of a completely professional, attentive driver whose only concern was making our day a bit better and getting us calmly and safely to our destination. 

    Last week we found a perfect use of UBER– a pick up from a medical procedure. For Penny, it was an appointment at Mass Eye and Ear that left her dilated eyes half-blind in the blazing sun. Rather than fumble around trying to find a cab, she called UBER. Her driver, Sal arrived in minutes, handed her into his clean, comfortable car, found a way out of the traffic jam surrounding the hospital area, and even offered to assist her into our building. 

    For Us, It's Worth the Price!

    Yes, UBER costs a bit more than a taxi. But, it costs less than a scheduled car service for trips like these. The cars are clean, the drivers professional, and we enjoy the difference.

    Since we don't own a car and usually walk, take the MBTA, use Zipcars, or rentals, UBER fits nicely into our transportation scheme. We look forward to using UBER in the other cities, like New York, where it's also available.

    DISCOUNTS!!

    This UBER link will give you a $10 credit to get you started and they will also send a reward our way.

    And, if you click on the Zipcar box over to the left, you can get a driving credit to start you off when you join and we'll also have some Zip added to our account.

    What's on your fun-in-Boston shopping list? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

     


    Details:
    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photography: © 2012 Penny & Ed Cherubino  

    Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.