Improving the BU Bridge for Cycling

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Improving the BU Bridge for Cycling

• analysis and proposal byMassBike MetroBoston
  chapter

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Improving the BU Bridge for cyclists

• Problems
• Rough pavement from large potholes and cracking
  expansion joints
• Road rippling
• Unsafe sidewalks
• Unsigned curb cuts
• Low visibility at crest of bridge
• all due to lack of proper maintenance
• all generating significant liability risk to DCR

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Improving the BU Bridge for cyclists

• Who uses the BU Bridge?
• Commuters
• esp. Longwood, BU, Harvard, MIT
• Recreational cyclists
• Connecting to the PDW bike path (Cambridge side)
• How many non-motorists use the BU Bridge?
• 824 pedestrians
• 133 bicyclists
• 55 other
• (data collected from 7-9 am, 5/10/2005)

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Improving the BU Bridge for cyclists

• Problem Large potholes pockmark the road surface

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Improving the BU Bridge for cyclists

• Problem Large potholes pockmark the road
  surface some down to the concrete base.

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Improving the BU Bridge for cyclists

• Problem Cracking expansion joints create
  dangerous sunken pavement, often spanning the
  entire width of the bridge.

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Improving the BU Bridge for cyclists

• Problem Potholes and rough surfaces are
  especially prevalent by the roads edge, where
  cyclists often ride.

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Improving the BU Bridge for cyclists

• Problem Significant pavement rippling poses
  hazards

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Improving the BU Bridge for cyclists

• Problem Significant pavement rippling poses
  hazardsto cyclists

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Improving the BU Bridge for cyclists

• Problem Significant pavement rippling poses
  hazardsto cyclistsand motorists alike.

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Improving the BU Bridge for cyclists

• Problem Sidewalks in bad condition pose a danger
  to cyclists

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Improving the BU Bridge for cyclists

• Problem Sidewalks in bad condition pose a danger
  to cyclistsand pedestrians alike.

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Improving the BU Bridge for cyclists

• Problem Unsigned curb cut on Boston side
  promotes dangerous merging with right-turning
  traffic

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Improving the BU Bridge for cyclists

• Problem Low visibility at crest of bridge puts
  bicyclists at risk of collision with cars

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Improving the BU Bridge for cyclists

• Proposed solutions
• Potholes and joints
• Patch and smooth
• Rippled pavement
• Repave bridge ends
• Unsigned curb cut and low visibility
• Signage for traffic lane on Boston end
• Signage at crest of bridge alerting motorists to
  presence of bicycles