Comments on: Which Big City Has the Greenest Transportation Profile? http://goodspeedupdate.com/2010/2863 Rob Goodspeed's blog Tue, 24 Apr 2012 13:48:46 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Charlie http://goodspeedupdate.com/2010/2863/comment-page-1#comment-556842 Charlie Mon, 01 Feb 2010 20:09:16 +0000 http://goodspeedupdate.com/?p=2863#comment-556842 I think the Boston transit system is better than the locals realize. It's better than transit in most American cities, and allows a significant number of people to live without owning cars. You're right that walking is very good in the Boston area, although there are improvements that could easily be made to improve signal timing for pedestrians, which I think would make it even more appealing. Bicycling definitely has the most to gain. Cambridge is furthest ahead, but Somerville and Boston have started to catch up. Bike lanes, paths, and parking is key to getting more people bicycling. The bike share coming later this year should also get a lot more people on bikes and make it a more appealing option for getting around. I think the Boston transit system is better than the locals realize. It’s better than transit in most American cities, and allows a significant number of people to live without owning cars.

You’re right that walking is very good in the Boston area, although there are improvements that could easily be made to improve signal timing for pedestrians, which I think would make it even more appealing.

Bicycling definitely has the most to gain. Cambridge is furthest ahead, but Somerville and Boston have started to catch up. Bike lanes, paths, and parking is key to getting more people bicycling. The bike share coming later this year should also get a lot more people on bikes and make it a more appealing option for getting around.

]]> By: Eric http://goodspeedupdate.com/2010/2863/comment-page-1#comment-554240 Eric Wed, 06 Jan 2010 04:59:02 +0000 http://goodspeedupdate.com/?p=2863#comment-554240 I found that walking in Boston/Cambridge was more a matter than dependability than choice/convenience/stellar streets. I dunno, ...maybe it was where I happened to live (Inman Square), but I seemed to have developed a rather remarkable tolerance for conceding other options of travel quickly. Maybe I was burned a few times too many to depend on those buses. Maybe Boston's "greenness" is just the virtue of its spotty and/or (typically "and") infrequent commuting services, traffic congestion, scarce parking, and general bike-unfriendliness. ...Well that's one way to get there on the green-o-meter, but I'm sure that gross happiness ranks higher in the Pearl District. I found that walking in Boston/Cambridge was more a matter than dependability than choice/convenience/stellar streets. I dunno, …maybe it was where I happened to live (Inman Square), but I seemed to have developed a rather remarkable tolerance for conceding other options of travel quickly. Maybe I was burned a few times too many to depend on those buses. Maybe Boston’s “greenness” is just the virtue of its spotty and/or (typically “and”) infrequent commuting services, traffic congestion, scarce parking, and general bike-unfriendliness. …Well that’s one way to get there on the green-o-meter, but I’m sure that gross happiness ranks higher in the Pearl District.

]]> By: Daniel http://goodspeedupdate.com/2010/2863/comment-page-1#comment-554227 Daniel Tue, 05 Jan 2010 23:17:44 +0000 http://goodspeedupdate.com/?p=2863#comment-554227 Surely the high proportion of college students in Boston must be a factor, especially with the walking percentages. Of course, this doesn't negate the numbers, but it does complicate comparisons across metropolitan areas. Surely the high proportion of college students in Boston must be a factor, especially with the walking percentages. Of course, this doesn’t negate the numbers, but it does complicate comparisons across metropolitan areas.

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