Comments for East Arlington Livable Streets Coalition http://ealscoalition.org East Arlington Livable Streets Tue, 13 Jul 2010 00:35:16 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 Comment on Bike Accomodation Memo to Mass Ave Committee by admin http://ealscoalition.org/2010/06/15/bike-accomodation-memo-to-mass-ave-committee/comment-page-1/#comment-1820 admin Tue, 13 Jul 2010 00:35:16 +0000 http://ealscoalition.org/?p=402#comment-1820 Setting up license plates and registration for bicycles will cost the state more money than it would ever recoup. If they would be willing to spend it on bicycling improvements I would be all for it. Insurance would be for the bicycle not the roadway and it would be quite cheap compared to cars. If a bicycle damages a car you can always sue. I've yet to hear any good reason to do what you are suggesting other than punishing people who don't want to drive their car. These are just impediments requested by people who really would like to see bikes on the bike path and no where else. Should strollers be licensed or pedestrians? Setting up license plates and registration for bicycles will cost the state more money than it would ever recoup. If they would be willing to spend it on bicycling improvements I would be all for it. Insurance would be for the bicycle not the roadway and it would be quite cheap compared to cars. If a bicycle damages a car you can always sue. I’ve yet to hear any good reason to do what you are suggesting other than punishing people who don’t want to drive their car. These are just impediments requested by people who really would like to see bikes on the bike path and no where else. Should strollers be licensed or pedestrians?

]]> Comment on EALS and Sustainable Arlington Push for Bus Shelters by admin http://ealscoalition.org/2010/05/25/eals-and-sustainable-arlington-push-for-bus-shetlers/comment-page-1/#comment-1819 admin Tue, 13 Jul 2010 00:30:16 +0000 http://ealscoalition.org/?p=392#comment-1819 The bus shelters and their maintenance are provided free by Cemusa. I doubt umbrellas would last very long, due to wind and foul weather. I think that is the reason you haven't seen this solution before. There are very few proposed locations and the placement should and will be sensitive to business visibility. At some point when do we decide it is important to support different transportation options that single occupancy car travel? We've done that for a while and I think it is clear our environment, social fabric, and general well being have suffered. Bus shelters is a micro step in the right direction. The bus shelters and their maintenance are provided free by Cemusa. I doubt umbrellas would last very long, due to wind and foul weather. I think that is the reason you haven’t seen this solution before. There are very few proposed locations and the placement should and will be sensitive to business visibility. At some point when do we decide it is important to support different transportation options that single occupancy car travel? We’ve done that for a while and I think it is clear our environment, social fabric, and general well being have suffered. Bus shelters is a micro step in the right direction.

]]> Comment on EALS and Sustainable Arlington Push for Bus Shelters by Mark Kaepplein http://ealscoalition.org/2010/05/25/eals-and-sustainable-arlington-push-for-bus-shetlers/comment-page-1/#comment-1674 Mark Kaepplein Wed, 23 Jun 2010 06:50:29 +0000 http://ealscoalition.org/?p=392#comment-1674 How much does a bus shelter cost to build? How much to maintain on average? Same for a bench? I think the difference pays for many umbrellas without the reduced safety of shelters blocking sight lines for drivers entering Mass Ave., along with general ugliness and visual clutter/distraction. Business owners who lose visibility to traffic and customers who have to look out at a shelter (eg. restaurant) will also favor the bench+umbrella solution. How much does a bus shelter cost to build? How much to maintain on average? Same for a bench? I think the difference pays for many umbrellas without the reduced safety of shelters blocking sight lines for drivers entering Mass Ave., along with general ugliness and visual clutter/distraction. Business owners who lose visibility to traffic and customers who have to look out at a shelter (eg. restaurant) will also favor the bench+umbrella solution.

]]> Comment on Bike Accomodation Memo to Mass Ave Committee by Ann Bowler http://ealscoalition.org/2010/06/15/bike-accomodation-memo-to-mass-ave-committee/comment-page-1/#comment-1649 Ann Bowler Sun, 20 Jun 2010 15:45:08 +0000 http://ealscoalition.org/?p=402#comment-1649 With all these rules and regulations for bicyclists and motorists, I believe they should be made to register their bicycles, get license plates (like we had to when we were younger) and pay insurance for the roadways. With all these rules and regulations for bicyclists and motorists, I believe they should be made to register their bicycles, get license plates (like we had to when we were younger) and pay insurance for the roadways.

]]> Comment on EALS Coalition Supports Kevin Greeley for BoS April 10th by Ed Starr http://ealscoalition.org/2010/03/14/eals-coalition-supports-kevin-greeley-for-bos-april-10th/comment-page-1/#comment-1077 Ed Starr Sat, 20 Mar 2010 20:25:37 +0000 http://ealscoalition.org/?p=311#comment-1077 Right on!!!!! It will be a close race, and all advocacy possible is needed. Thanks for your support to Kevin ....... Ed Starr Right on!!!!! It will be a close race, and all advocacy possible is needed.

Thanks for your support to Kevin ……. Ed Starr

]]> Comment on Letters to the Advocate copied to EALS from Residents by Peter http://ealscoalition.org/2009/09/28/mass-ave-opponents-lie/comment-page-1/#comment-1060 Peter Tue, 09 Mar 2010 14:14:49 +0000 http://ealscoalition.org/?p=228#comment-1060 "I would disagree however with your perspective on this plan. The plan has been well publicized, there were over 300 people at a meeting at the Hardy school last spring. Have you ever heard of a meeting in town that garnered that much attendance?" I have never heard of a relatively small meeting as a counter example and especially so many of the participants (I was there) being more opposed and concerned than in agreement with the plan. Since when is an example of such a meeting of 300 more representative than thousands who would have a chance to vote at, for example, that same precinct voting place? Emily is right. “I would disagree however with your perspective on this plan. The plan has been well publicized, there were over 300 people at a meeting at the Hardy school last spring. Have you ever heard of a meeting in town that garnered that much attendance?”

I have never heard of a relatively small meeting as a counter example and especially so many of the participants (I was there) being more opposed and concerned than in agreement with the plan.

Since when is an example of such a meeting of 300 more representative than thousands who would have a chance to vote at, for example, that same precinct voting place? Emily is right.

]]> Comment on Letters to the Advocate copied to EALS from Residents by admin http://ealscoalition.org/2009/09/28/mass-ave-opponents-lie/comment-page-1/#comment-1040 admin Fri, 26 Feb 2010 00:51:46 +0000 http://ealscoalition.org/?p=228#comment-1040 Emily, thanks for your comments. I would disagree however with your perspective on this plan. The plan has been well publicized, there were over 300 people at a meeting at the Hardy school last spring. Have you ever heard of a meeting in town that garnered that much attendance? The town sends out email notices to those that subscribe and at my house alone I got 3 flyers from opponents about upcoming meetings. People must inform themselves on the issues the town cannot afford to mail letters to everyone on about every meeting. Would they email about every school committee meeting, or every town meeting? There is also the arlington email list where this was discussed heavily. I also disagree on you comments that we should take a vote on it. Even in a democracy we don't vote on every way our leaders decide to spend our tax money (this project is state and federally funded). We don't vote whether we should teach evolution in school, we don't vote on stem cell research, we don't vote on whether minorities should have the right to vote or marry. This is an engineering problem, why should everyone vote on it? It isn't a preference, what if everyone voted for 6 lanes of traffic does that mean it is the best outcome for our town? We didn't vote on the design of Logan Airport or how to make 128, and we shouldn't be voting on Mass Ave. We should inform ourselves and be involved in the process. That is exactly what EALS is doing. Emily, thanks for your comments. I would disagree however with your perspective on this plan. The plan has been well publicized, there were over 300 people at a meeting at the Hardy school last spring. Have you ever heard of a meeting in town that garnered that much attendance? The town sends out email notices to those that subscribe and at my house alone I got 3 flyers from opponents about upcoming meetings. People must inform themselves on the issues the town cannot afford to mail letters to everyone on about every meeting. Would they email about every school committee meeting, or every town meeting? There is also the arlington email list where this was discussed heavily.
I also disagree on you comments that we should take a vote on it. Even in a democracy we don’t vote on every way our leaders decide to spend our tax money (this project is state and federally funded). We don’t vote whether we should teach evolution in school, we don’t vote on stem cell research, we don’t vote on whether minorities should have the right to vote or marry. This is an engineering problem, why should everyone vote on it? It isn’t a preference, what if everyone voted for 6 lanes of traffic does that mean it is the best outcome for our town? We didn’t vote on the design of Logan Airport or how to make 128, and we shouldn’t be voting on Mass Ave. We should inform ourselves and be involved in the process. That is exactly what EALS is doing.

]]> Comment on Letters to the Advocate copied to EALS from Residents by Emily http://ealscoalition.org/2009/09/28/mass-ave-opponents-lie/comment-page-1/#comment-909 Emily Sat, 21 Nov 2009 14:34:11 +0000 http://ealscoalition.org/?p=228#comment-909 This is a plan that should be publicized by a mass mailing to ALL Arlington residents who should be allowed to vote on it. Your statement that this has been well publicized is wrong. The Arlington Advocate has been the primary source of information - only 3,000 people subscribe to the Advocate while the Town has over 40,000 residents. We can only determine who supports/opposes the Mass Ave Corridor plan by bringing the plan to public vote. This is a democratic process that will allow ALL residents to have a say in this major decision which will have a permanent impact on our town. This is a plan that should be publicized by a mass mailing to ALL Arlington residents who should be allowed to vote on it.

Your statement that this has been well publicized is wrong. The Arlington Advocate has been the primary source of information – only 3,000 people subscribe to the Advocate while the Town has over 40,000 residents.

We can only determine who supports/opposes the Mass Ave Corridor plan by bringing the plan to public vote. This is a democratic process that will allow ALL residents to have a say in this major decision which will have a permanent impact on our town.

]]> Comment on Letters to the Advocate copied to EALS from Residents by Emily http://ealscoalition.org/2009/09/28/mass-ave-opponents-lie/comment-page-1/#comment-908 Emily Sat, 21 Nov 2009 14:33:29 +0000 http://ealscoalition.org/?p=228#comment-908 This is a plan that should be publicized by a mass mailing to ALL Arlington residents who should be allowed to vote on it. Your statement that this has been well publicized is wrong. The Arlington Advocate has been the primary source of information - only 3,000 people subscribe to the Advocate while the Town has over 40,000 residents. We can only determine who supports/opposes the Mass Ave Corridor plan by bringing the plan to public vote. This is a democratic process that will allow ALL residents to have a say in this major decision which will have a permanent impact on our town and only than can This is a plan that should be publicized by a mass mailing to ALL Arlington residents who should be allowed to vote on it.

Your statement that this has been well publicized is wrong. The Arlington Advocate has been the primary source of information – only 3,000 people subscribe to the Advocate while the Town has over 40,000 residents.

We can only determine who supports/opposes the Mass Ave Corridor plan by bringing the plan to public vote. This is a democratic process that will allow ALL residents to have a say in this major decision which will have a permanent impact on our town and only than can

]]> Comment on Livable Streets for East Arlington! Capitol Theater Event Nov 4th by Mike http://ealscoalition.org/2009/10/18/livable-streets-for-east-arlington-capitol-theater-event-nov-4th/comment-page-1/#comment-891 Mike Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:08:39 +0000 http://ealscoalition.org/?p=234#comment-891 Few suggestions to better traffic on Mass Av. 1) Traffic lights should be timed so if you drive on max allowed speed, you could get green light all the way. Now it is systematically timed so you have to stop on every red light on the way, wasting time and gas and causing extra pollution. 2) Bicycle paths should be next to sidewalks, then parking spaces. Separating bicycles from the car traffic, making it much saver for everyone. 3) Add more extra lanes for cars taking left or right turns, so they don´t stop the traffic flow on the street. 4) Paint lines (every year) on the street so you know on what lane you are driving. 5) Add parking spaces behind the shops, so the parking on the Mass Av is not the only option. 6) Add bicycle parking spaces close to shops and restaurants, just like any other parking space. Few suggestions to better traffic on Mass Av.
1) Traffic lights should be timed so if you drive on max allowed speed, you could get green light all the way. Now it is systematically timed so you have to stop on every red light on the way, wasting time and gas and causing extra pollution.
2) Bicycle paths should be next to sidewalks, then parking spaces. Separating bicycles from the car traffic, making it much saver for everyone.
3) Add more extra lanes for cars taking left or right turns, so they don´t stop the traffic flow on the street.
4) Paint lines (every year) on the street so you know on what lane you are driving.
5) Add parking spaces behind the shops, so the parking on the Mass Av is not the only option.
6) Add bicycle parking spaces close to shops and restaurants, just like any other parking space.

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