Bostonist: The Long, Friendly Arm of the Law in Cambridge

Trevor

Thu, 18 Aug 2005 21:50:07 -0500

Believe it or not, this is a perennial CPD effort. Round abouts autumn, they'll start handing out the lights or coupons for said lights again, most likely. If you're unfortunate enough to get the ticket, it's $20 and you don't even get the recognition of being cited with a moving violation. Instead you get ranked right up there with littering and jaywalking. I demand better! Anyhow, my guess is Mass Ave & Prospect. What'd I win? Oh, and Josh, don't you have work to do or something? This is what you get.

Eighthman

Thu, 18 Aug 2005 16:04:42 -0500

One more thing I just remembered. A couple of months ago, I picked up at some street fair a wonderful guide to getting around Cambridge. It was filled with common-sense rules that confirmed my basic operating procedures: if you're on your bike, you're a "vehicle," if you're walking your bike, you're a "pedestrian," and the rules differ depending one which one you're doing (at crosswalks, for example). Furthermore, while while on a bike I have flexibility, such as riding on a sidewalk when road traffic sucks, I don't have the right of way. Every person in the greater Boston area -- be they walk, ride, or drive -- should have a copy of that pamphlet.

Eighthman

Thu, 18 Aug 2005 15:52:04 -0500

Sure, Ron, no reasons if you ignore that it's a red light, that sometimes pedestrians are crossing the street, and that someone turning onto Mass Ave might want to pull into one of the parking spaces after the light. Riding full speed through a red light is NEVER wise.

Erin

Thu, 18 Aug 2005 09:56:48 -0500

This isn't anything new, either. My husband was stopped on his bike in the Harvard Square area a few years back, and given a warning, too. The cop was very friendly. Now if only they'd stop ticketing us for parking the wrong way on the side streets!

Ron Newman

Thu, 18 Aug 2005 08:44:05 -0500

If you're heading towards Arlington, there's no reason for a bicyclist to stop at this light, since traffic enters Mass. Ave. only on the left side.

Eighthman

Wed, 17 Aug 2005 19:13:46 -0500

Good to know. Based on your description, it wasn't the intersection of Mass. Ave. and Walden St. I wish the police would start handing out warnings to bicyclists who blow through the red light heading to Arlington.

ed

Wed, 17 Aug 2005 13:57:35 -0500

not only that, once when i was cycling at night i got pulled over for not have a light and the cop just gave me a warning and a COUPON for a bike light. it made me feel better about living in cambridge, especially since my girlfriend was stalked by some drunk asshole in central the other day.

Gumphood

Wed, 17 Aug 2005 12:49:13 -0500

I would have been like "Oh come on. I'm on a BIKE! A BIKE! What am I gonna run over someone's poodle? " Then I would have gotten that ticket. Lesson Learned.