Episode 675 – Cambridge InsideOut: Sept 15, 2026 (Part 1)
This episode was broadcast on Sept 15, 2026 at 6:00pm. Topics: Concord, Massachusetts – Old North Bridge, Reformatory Trail, Great Meadows Wildlife Refuge and the Concord River, path to Author’s Ridge and Sleepy Hollow Cemetery; Open Archives, serendipity and the Hood Rubber Company; reopening of Carl Barron Plaza in Central Square coming this month – will Harvard Square Kiosk area follow?; some tales of the reconfigured Broadway – high speed motorized bikes in the bike lanes, floating bus stop at the high school an accident waiting to happen, endangerment of good drivers; Huron Ave. west bike lanes coming regardless of what anyone has to say; Saturday attractions – Danehy Park Family Day, Somerville Fluff Festival, Central Square Night Market; Sept 25 Meet Your Neighbor Event; Sept 26 Roast in the Coast. Host: Robert Winters [On YouTube] [audio]
Episode 676 – Cambridge InsideOut: Sept 15, 2026 (Part 2)
This episode was broadcast on Sept 15, 2026 at 6:30pm. Topics: A few words on the summer controversies, ShotSpotter, and Resident Assembly; Sept 14 Council meeting – hiring of ex_ICE officers, Community Preservation Act allocation vote and some historical perspective, Board appointments, the absurdity of self-congratulating reports from City departments, some history of the PTDM Ordinance, automated traffic and parking enforcement (with cameras and surveillance!) coming soon, Resident Permit Parking (triple cost coming soon!), micromobility and the foresight of Craig Kelley, the question of a directly-elected mayor returns, the problem of the current Council being the only source of changes in city government – and always changes that grant more authority and privileges to city councillors; City Clerk Paula Crane; problematic fireworks in The Port and a dumb idea from the DSA councillors; streamlining of permits and licenses; ordination of Cambridge Street and Mass. Ave. zoning amendments; Social Housing Task Force report; a letter from Patrick Barrett on Neighborhood Conservation Districts, Multifamily Housing Zoning, Inclusionary Zoning and the elusive Nexus Study. Host: Robert Winters [On YouTube] [audio]
Another big problem with the Broadway redesign is traffic jams. The new 4-way stop at Felton causes a major backup in the AM rush, all the way through the underpass back to the Common and beyond. The gridlock extends to connecting streets such as Prescott. It’s getting ridiculous how long it takes to go a few blocks, especially for vehicles that can’t find an alternate route or go at a different time such as school and transit buses.
I see two possible outcomes: the city says they don’t care, like they did near Garden Street or Mass Ave/Route 16. Or they put in a traffic light, which would only help if it’s well designed, and obeyed by pedestrians.
I expect another big problem when the Ellery light gets a new phase for bikes to cross diagonally, where the eastbound bike lane switches sides. That light can’t handle existing high school traffic in the afternoon, and a third phase will only make it worse.
The stretch east of there to Prospect and beyond isn’t as bad. But there are some gems, like the sharply angled slalom around a handicapped parking space in the eastbound bike lane between Hancock and Lee. I’d like to ask the city engineer what the safe design speed is for biking through that feature, considering it’s on a downhill. Maybe we’ll be lucky and no cyclists will get hit because it’s rare for cars to pull into a low-turnover parking space. But counting on that is like considering it safe to cross a low-traffic street with your eyes closed.
Comment by Ellen Franklin — September 18, 2026 @ 12:46 pm
And wow, the newly-flexposted block at the western end of Kirkland Street is a mess! How is anyone supposed to make the turn onto Oxford when there’s traffic coming the other way? There’s no way for cars to take the corner without crossing the (soon-to-be-painted) double yellow, let alone school buses or trucks. Zero parking remains, but who cares about people who need to park? Biking has never been a problem here, so it’s unclear why this is necessary.
Tight turns onto Broadway are also a problem. Turning right off Prescott or Trowbridge without cutting across the double yellow is a real squeeze. I hope the only consequence is delays, but I suspect there are going to be accidents.
Comment by Ellen Franklin — September 28, 2026 @ 12:03 am
The really insane thing is that our newly-dubbed Transportation Department continues to swear that every bug is a feature. Pointing out errors in their designs is an exercise in futility.
Comment by Robert Winters — September 28, 2026 @ 12:07 am
Another gem: flexposts sticking into the intersection which block the path of vehicles on Prescott going straight across Broadway. Now you’ll have to zigzag left to get around them. Not sure what they’re going for here. Sharpening the right turn off Broadway westbound?
However, it creates a safety problem. Vehicles going straight across on Prescott will now be at an angle that puts the bike lane in their blind spot, rather than crossing it head on as before. And negotiating the path around the posts will be a distraction from checking for cyclists and pedestrians.
Using the short piece of Prescott is necessary for anyone heading to Cambridge Street eastbound, since they banned right turns from Quincy northbound onto Cambridge Street. Not sure why turning across the cycle track is bad there but good at Prescott.
Comment by Ellen Franklin — October 4, 2026 @ 11:19 pm
I noticed that absurd configuration at Prescott a couple of days ago, and you are absolutely correct that it presents a safety hazard.
One overarching concern I have is that there is now so much visual distraction that it’s a guarantee that some drivers will make dangerously bad moves as a result of all the distraction. I have now seen several cars go through the red light at Lee and Broadway long after the light had changed. People coming from Lee Street would sometimes treat the traffic light like a Stop sign, but I had before never seen cars simply cruise through the red light without stopping or even slowing down.
We used to often hear about the KISS Principle – “Keep It Simple, Stupid”. Our Traffic Department seems to have embraced the fourth word and discard the first three words.
Comment by Robert Winters — October 5, 2026 @ 12:09 am