There's what I think is a large BU building down towards Kenmore Square, with a City Convenience in it. I think there used to be a Taco Bell there too.

Anyway, riding by late last week, and there were about 5 cars parked in the bike line, despite there being about three "No Parking - Tow Zone" signs placed right next to it.

I can imagine that'll be a recurring theme on that little stretch of road. The bike lane is kinda wide-ish there - almost enough to park a car in - and there's other parking for, gee, at least 30 yards.

Gah.

I just rode through the outbound part where you get on Storrow Drive or the BU Bridge, and they've just painted the new bike lane on that stretch. It's... a joke really. It hugs the right side, passing in front of the people turning onto Storrow drive.

Normally at that light I line up in the far left lane because most of the traffic is trying to get onto the BU bridge, and there's no sense in getting in their way if I'm continuing straight. I get through the intersection quicker, and I don't block any cars. Win win. I don't think whoever planned this bike lane actually ever rode through this intersection.

I know there are a lot of motorists who pass through there every day at roughly the same time (commuters), and once they get used to the new bike lane, I'm sure they're all going to be become incensed when I and other sensible cyclists ignore it completely. That should be fun.

In fact, the bike lane was so far away from where I normally ride that I didn't notice it at all until a police officer shouted something to me. I looked her way and saw the new bike lane. (I'm actually not sure what she said to me, but she seemed to not be too perturbed by me staying at the left lane at the light. Traffic was light, and she could have come gotten me if she wanted to.)

That would be Warren Towers (big BU dorm) and as I work in one of the buildings behind it I can assure you that this is the SOP for this stretch of road, bike lane or not ... and it will only get worse once the student come back. This gets back to what we were talking about before ... bike lanes actually encourage drivers to park/double park in them because they think they are out of the way of car traffic.

Yeah, the bike lane leading up to the BU Bridge-Storrow Dr area is ridiculous. There is no way you could follow that and not be nearly killed (no way any car is going to abide by it either). At least then got rid of the "moguls" so I'm not getting bucked off of my bike while dodging cars for my life.