bostonzest

Tag: walkers

  • Everyone Follows the Public Garden Lagoon Bridge Snow Tracks: Today In Boston

    Person after person walked across the bridge over the lagoon in the Public Garden placing their feet carefully in the cleared track of melted snow.

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    At the top of the first of my three flights of stairs that are part of my morning walk, I saw this pattern on the deck of the bridge. 

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    Then I stood for a few moments and watched people as they walked across. 

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    Deep inside I suspected there was more to this pattern than path followers. On my next loop around, I took this photo under the bridge. My guess is the path formed because of the structural elements of the bridge and then people followed the path because they didn't want to walk in the snow. 

    About Today in Boston: We keep hearing that people miss our cover photos that ran for years in the Back Bay Sun. That assignment was to provide a photo that showed what the week was like in the neighborhood. Often the photos illustrated favorite quotations. Today in Boston is an occasional offering to our BostonZest readers featuring photos along the same theme but taken wherever we happen to be.
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    Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photography: © 2016 Penny Cherubino  

    Related articles
    Catching a Public Garden Moment – BostonZest
    A Delicious Autumn Day: Today In Boston! – BostonZest
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  • Ways to Report Pedestrian Dangers & WalkBoston “Ped 101” Advocacy Training

    The BostonZest team are walkers. We don't own a car. We use mass transit, if we must, but most of the time we get where we need to be as pedestrians. Naturally, we really notice the failures to ensure pedestrian safety on the part of our city and state authorities. We try to be advocates for pedestrians and now we have a few tips for you on how you can join us. 

    Report safety issues

    Report Transportation Dangers

    The City of Boston has set up a mapping system where you can report safety issues in the transportation system. We have already used this to mark intersections where traffic gridlocks, where walk lights don't last long enough, and where walk lights are missing.  

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    You can also consult this map to find places where you might want to exercise a bit more caution as you travel. (You might also take a look at this map that shows where accidents have already been reported by police.) Both are part of the city's Vision Zero program.

    If your concern needs a more immediate correction, use the 311 system by calling 311 on your phone, reporting the problem on the 311 phone app, sending a tweet to @BOS311, or reporting through the website. 

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    WalkBoston Pedestrian Advocacy Training Programs

    To learn more about how you can become a better defender of pedestrians, consider attending one of the Ped101 training sessions.

    WalkBoston says:

    "This session is helpful if you're interested in learning about: 

    • walkability, urbanism & the associated lingo (what's a "tight turning radius"?),

    • making neighborhoods safer for people walking & running,

    • how you can advocate for change in your own community."

    Take advantage of this opportunity to stand up for those who walk around the city. 

    Additional Reading: Make Walking THE Priority where you will find a link to a thoughtful piece on the mistaken priority system used by our transportation planners and a much better priority approach.

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    Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Artwork: courtesy of the City of Boston and WalkBoston

    Related articles
    Steamers Leaving for Bass Point and Nahant from Lincoln Wharf
    What You Need to Know in a Boston Snow Emergency on a Single Page
    Federal Report: Bad Street Design a Factor in Rising Ped/Bike Fatalities

  • What’s with Walking in the Bike Lanes?

    PMC_3270 - Version 22012-05-23-boston-commonwealth-Avenue-mall-bike-path-walkers-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    This group was westbound on Commonwealth Avenue, walking along the curb and in the bike lane. At least they were facing oncoming bikes. This is just an example of what we've been seeing around the neighborhood.

    We see:

    Runners running in the bike lanes.

    People strolling in the bike lanes.

    Is it payback for the bikes on the sidewalks?

    Is it an adventuresome streak that hopes to play chicken with a two-wheeler?

    What's your guess? Do you ever walk in the bike lanes?

    This post was picked up by Universal Hub and there is a good conversation on the topic over there.

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

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