Tell me more about that cyclist you saw once who rolled through a stop sign at 5mph.
When you're ensconced in a car, and so focused on passing a bike, you don't even notice a father and daughter waiting to cross the street.
How many traffic violations by these highly trained, professional motor vehicle operators can we count in Watertown Square this morning?
Me: "you ran a red light"
Driver: "I know; there was traffic"
It is way too easy to get and maintain a driver's license.
North Beacon St, Watertown
In today's episode of "paint is not protection", two drivers completely oblivious to their vehicles' position, one on his phone
Bike lanes only look empty because they're so efficient at moving people.
Seven people on bikes waiting at the light in the space one person in one car would take up.
Comm Ave, Boston
Daily double of violations for the driver of MA 7CET43 this morning: parking in a bike lane, and using a phone in a travel lane.
But I'm sure they once saw a cyclist roll through a stop sign at 5mph, so I guess we're even.
This is directed to Waltham's traffic engineer & traffic commission, who think RRFBs (flashing yellow lights) are a substitute for safe design. They're not. (This isn't Waltham but a state-maintained road with awful pedestrian & bike connections & is designed to let drivers take turns at speed.)
Ban right on red.
This is why ROR is dangerous to those outside cars. Intersection has a NTOR sign that comes on during the pedestrian crossing (& bike crossing, if coming from below-grade train).
This driver — on phone of course — camps out in crosswalk & starts to move forward during crossing.
Here's the guy who maintains Waltham's traffic lights, saying at Thursday's traffic commission that he opposes outdoor dining: "parking spaces are more valuable [than dining in those spots]".
He lives 25 mi west of here & like most decision-makers here, only sees city from behind their windshield.
screenshot of waltham police facebook post
ATV ordering page
Waltham cyclists: "Can we get the city or state to plow the rail trail and river paths so they're usable in winter?"
Waltham Police: "Nah, but here's a $16,000 ATV that will keep you safe from the apparent rampant crime on those paths"
www.facebook.com/share/r/1Gnr...
Until we treat bikes as & walking as an ACTUAL form of transportation, we will continue to languish. We cannot flourish as a society with only cars being important. They're expensive, messing with the environment, kill ppl, take up enormous amounts of space...lets do better, plan ahead, be smart.
This, in Waltham. Our public works department and traffic commission policies and even the views of many elected officials have long prioritized drivers. It's only much more obvious now, between the lack of sidewalk shoveling rules and the still untouched key walking routes on city property
driver on phone
Imagine if police were empowered to issue $100 fines for violating the hands-free law based on video and photo evidence.
Using your phone while stopped at a light at an already-dangerous multi-use path crossing is not permitted.
van blocking crosswalk
When MA eventually permits red light cameras, do you think this company whose driver's blocking a crosswalk will just pass along the fine to its customers as a cost of doing business?
Arsenal St, Watertown
shattered glass likely from a car crash
Someday we'll look back at how society tolerated a transportation system that kills an American every 15 minutes, that injures hundreds of thousands a year, and that causes untold millions of dollars in damages each year.
Remnants of a car crash along the Charles River path, shards on the bike path
street sign saying "slow please" with a drawing of a seesaw
US street safety and traffic engineering in one scene
no turn on red sign
no right turn sign
Hints
Drivers breaking The Rules of the Road™ is so normalized and common that it barely registers anymore with fellow drivers, unless it's egregious.
Can you spot the two violations in this 23-sec clip?
BAN RIGHT ON RED
(Was just listening to the latest @thewaroncars.bsky.social podcast about rampant and dangerous right on red in California)
"I made a mistake", says driver who knowingly goes through a red light during the pedestrian phase and honks (with illegal plate cover, to boot).
But I'm sure he once saw a biker roll through a stop sign, so we're even I guess.
While I agree with the premise that kids shouldn't be operating vehicles that can go 30+ mph, let's also see Globe editorial board come out in favor of measures like speed and red light cameras, if the concern is safety: drivers kill 70+ pedestrians a year in MA.
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/11/25/o...
(Yes, it says "don't walk", as like most of the Charles River path intersections, this one is hostile to non-drivers and says "don't walk" when there are no conflicts.)
He's also driving without a valid inspection; notice no windshield sticker.
The fine for a first violation of the MA hands-free law is $100. Imagine if police could issue fines based on video, as this driver rolls through stop line on red light with zero awareness of cyclists crossing in front, with his face buried in his phone.
THiS iS NEw ENglaNd, yOU CaN'T biKE wHeN iT's 33° AnD wInDY
Western Ave, Boston
sidewalk-level bike lane in boston
Similar to the short stretch on Western Ave
Right out of the @thewaroncars.bsky.social Life After Cars bikelash playbook
groups.google.com/g/westnewton...
«Let’s make Newton safer—without making it slower, more congested, or less livable.»
The project in question: www.newtonma.gov/government/p...
bUT THAT BIKeR rOlleD throuGH a STOp sIgN tHAT one tIMe
(I was walking my bike across the street; drivers are to yield)
Shocking that this driver of MA 1PNN49 is driving with an expired registration and a failed inspection.
There's a reason the MA hands-free law calls out no phone usage when at a red light and in a travel lane.
This driver is inching forward in the intersection as he faces a red light, with no awareness of a bike crossing to the sidewalk (it's a dangerous intersection ahead on a bike) till I shout.
