South Boston Elected Officials Write a Letter of Opposition about BlueBikes Expansion
South Boston Delegation write a letter to the Boston Transportation Department regarding our concerns and opposition to the BlueBikes expansion in South Boston.
See below
Maureen Dahill is the editor of Caught in Southie and a lifelong resident of South Boston sometimes mistaken for a yuppie. Co-host of Caught Up, storyteller, lover of red wine and binge watching TV series. Mrs. Peter G. Follow her @MaureenCaught.
All current bluebike stations and most that were proposed were not on the street – take zero parking spots.
Why it is inappropriate to add a bike station at Medal of Honor park?
Elected politicians should be working on something more important than free bikes!
I disagree with the opposition to BlueBike stations and fully support the expansion of stations in South Boston. Opposition to the stations puts wealthy car owners above those who rely on cheaper options to get around the neighborhood and city, such as those who often use BlueBikes. With plans to expand bike lanes in South Boston currently underway, there should be little concern about more bike riders impeding pedestrian and car movement.
In addition, with the lack of MBTA rail service to the majority of the neighborhood other than on the outer edges at Andrew Square and Broadway, additional BlueBike stations will allow for more residents to commute or get around the city via bikes versus cars and/or ubers which will help alleviate traffic and reduce air pollution.
The expansion will also help bring more Bostonians from other neighborhoods within the city to South Boston, benefiting the small businesses along Broadway and other areas.
Opposition to the expansion is largely baseless and a result of a minority that has been outspoken. The expansion’s vast benefits will significantly outweigh the very minor costs.
100% agree with the positions as stated in the letter.
Adding bikes at L & 5th , which is already an extremely congested location would be irresponsible and unsafe,
Is there any foundation that the congestion will be relieved, at L&5th, by adding bikes? If so, how? If not, why would it be prudent to add blue bike stations to the problem?
People near L &5th will not give up their cars to take bikes in winter time? Ergo, there is unlikely to be a reduction in car traffic (which includes a lot of through traffic/non-southie resident traffic during the busiest times of the day). Blue Bikes at L & 5th create additional concerns caused by the significant number of illegally double parked cars in that area -thereby compounding the safety hazards and blind spots.
Please do not use a political agenda to exacerbate well known South Boston traffic and parking challenges that will likely result in the same unnecessary traffic issues we witnessed when the Bus lane on Summer street was put in.
L and 5th. One block from the memorial to our South Boston Colin.
Who are you to prioritize your needs over the safety of the community.