[MassHistPres] Street Calming/Shared Streets and bike rack solutions in Historic Districts

[Anne Lusk]

Dear Ann and All,
   I have worked on bicycle infrastructure for over 40 years, have a
Masters with a Specialization in Historic Preservation from the University
of Vermont and have a Ph.D. in Architecture/Environment and Behavior from
the University of Michigan.  Having bicyclists share streets with cars is
not safe, especially if you want women, children, and seniors to feel
comfortable biking on the wide variety of bikes.  Protected bike
lanes/cycle tracks are bicycle ways that are separated from vehicles
typically by plastic delineator posts but, to me, these posts look like
cigarettes standing on end and they always get broken.
     With climate change, the best solution is to have a protected bike
lane/cycle track that is raised and level with the sidewalk. This bicycle
facility beside the sidewalk should have a grass strip to cool the area,
absorb water runoff, and provide ample room for tree roots to spread and
absorb water to better guarantee a mature canopy. The street also needs low
lights to provide a warm and consistent glow to the faces of the
approaching bicyclists and pedestrians. I always suggest that this lighting
should be as flattering as the lighting in an expensive restaurant in which
the patron looks younger and more handsome than they really are.  This
greened raised protected bike lane with the sidewalk complements the
historic buildings, is safer for bicyclists, and cools the street canyon.
In the winter, the snow can be plowed from the raised protected bike lane
just as it is plowed from the sidewalk.
      In Brookline on Route 9, Washington Street, we worked with MassDOT
and have a raised protected bike lane with trees and plantings and a
parallel sidewalk.
     Bike racks should not be between parallel parked cars because this
should be the location for the raised protected bike lane.  Bike repair can
be a complementary service provided by gas stations, especially if we can
increase the number of EVs.  Bike repair kiosks can also be easily
installed near a coffee or ice cream shop (bikers like coffee and ice
cream).
With climate change, we can do this!!
Thanks,
Anne Lusk, Ph.D.

On Tue, Jul 26, 2022 at 12:14 PM Ann Clifford <aclifford at concordma.gov>
wrote:

> Good afternoon,
>
>
>
> Concord is considering design options for street calming/shared streets
> measures in its Main Street Historic District and would appreciate seeing
> solutions sensitively designed and adopted in Historic Districts throughout
> the Commonwealth. We would also be interesting in seeing your solutions for
> bike racks and bicycle repair stations in the districts.
>
>
>
> Thanks so much for your help!
>
>
> Sincerely,
>
>
>
> Ann
>
>
>
>
>
> PS. Here is a wonderful article on historic street paving in New England. Historic
> Paving and Sidewalks in New England (archipedianewengland.org)
> <http://www.archipedianewengland.org/1600-1699/historic-paving-and-sidewalks-in-new-england/#:~:text=Among%20the%20most%20common%20documented%20materials%20are%3A%20Cobblestones%3A,deposited%20during%20the%20retreat%20of%20the%20last%20glaciation.>
>
>
>
>
>
> Ann Clifford, Senior Planner
>
> Concord Planning Division
>
> 141 Keyes Road
>
> Concord, MA 01742
>
> 978-318-3290
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> MassHistPres mailing list
> MassHistPres at cs.umb.edu
> https://mailman.cs.umb.edu/listinfo/masshistpres
>
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