Thanks for the thread. I agree the video is not exactly an example of stellar cycling technique to win over the hearts and minds of Boston drivers but I must say it makes the point that it's a tough landscape to negotiate.

I've lived in Boston for the past 30 years but occasionally have lived, for short periods of time, in NYC off and on over the past 17 years. It's amazing how little Boston has done in that time to improve the environment for cyclists. NYC, which 17 years ago was a real nightmare even for a cyclist used to the hostile streets of Boston, is now a terrific city for cycling and getting better and better. The West Side bike path and the bike lanes have made a huge difference- despite some design flaws. Boston has made virtually no progress- it was a real eye opener living in NYC all summer and then coming back to Boston. I put on about 1200 miles in the 2 months I was there this summer and covered pretty much every neighborhood on Manhattan and most of Brooklyn down to Coney Island. I loved it.

Though bike lanes are sometimes blocked or being used by pedestrians and cabs at least they're a reference point for cyclists and cars and they can be moved in and out of with relative ease when necessary.

Here's some video I shot while in Manhattan- at least you can ride in a relatively straight line there even with construction etc...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcIAluwR9ws