Mayhem in the Bike Lane Response
Dear Editor,
I strongly agree with your excellent June 4th editorial, “Mayhem in the Bike Lane”. You have accurately described the serious deficiencies of the statewide bicycle systems, including those in Boston. For example, this photo illustrates a bicycle lane on heavily traveled Saratoga Street in East Boston which not only reduces the available lane space for vehicles, including the larger ones shown, but clearly affords a dubious safety margin for bicyclists.
I commend Jay Cashman for his leadership role with Pedal Safe Boston in striving to convert the chaos of the current bicycle systems into a form of order. The time has come to impose a moratorium on any new bike lanes in the State until Pedal Safe Boston’s recommendation is adopted. As an important first step, the City of Boston should immediately begin decommissioning existing notoriously unsafe bike lanes, such as that on Saratoga Street shown here.
Thank You,
John Vitagliano
Former City of Boston
Transportation
Commissioner