Originally Posted by
lil brown bat
Emphasis mine. The thing about being a commuter is, you can't choose to simply ride "in the off-season and at the right time" -- when it's time to go to work, you gotta go, and IME the Charles River bike path sucks like an electrolux during rush hour.
I don't know if "can't" applies to all of us. It's not like I've got to be locked into one particular route year round do I? On a sunny mid-winter day, when the bike path is completely empty, if it appeals to me I ride it. And some bike commuters do leave a little earlier for work because their route is better at that time and some jobs allow for flexibility in work/commute schedules.
As it turns out I commute at somewhat irregular hours and do not usually work in Boston in the summer time so am not on the bike path often during the summer months. You will find me, and usually only me, on it in mid-February.
I'm only relating my personal experience. The bike path, on most days, works just fine for me. I enjoy the views and if I count the number of intersections on my route door to door from Newton to downtown the bike path route combined with some city streets has more than 1/10th fewer intersections than my all city streets route (incl Comm Ave), which though the bike path is longer means less stops.
Originally Posted by
lil brown bat
I've said this elsewhere before, but I strongly disagree that Comm Ave is a bad commuter route or that the Charles River bike paths are a better alternative.
And for me the answer to which is the better route varies on season and time of day. On a Friday night with a baseball game at Fenway if I'm riding home at 10 pm or pre-game at 6pm (both times that I happen to commute) I would definitely prefer the bike path. The logjam of cars and pedestrians, many of whom are seriously intoxicated and rowdy combined with the construction in and around Kenmore Square are only enjoyable if I want the entertainment of being a part of the excitement of pre/post game fever- but on most occasions I prefer the quiet of a moonlit bike ride along the river.
On a gorgeous summer day and I happen to be in Boston and have to get downtown in a hurry then Comm Ave as an alternative is fine. I just don't find it particularly interesting scenery, I tire of dodging jay walkers and double parked cars but I'd be facing dog walkers, joggers and moms with strollers on the bike path so in that case it doesn't really matter I trade the scenery for the convenience.
Basically, if I'm on my bike I'm pretty much happy anywhere. I'm just happier
some places at
some times more than others.
My advice to anyone who rides in Boston (or anywhere)- By all means ride where you are happiest. If the bike path makes you rant- find another route- if Comm Ave makes you rant- find another route, - if you hate every route- take the T- if you hate the T- get a car and drive that in Boston- that'll really give you something to complain about.
