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Caption: The Development of Boston Bike Culture The Greenway Links Initiative
Caption: Ten years ago, Boston had just 3/8 of a mile of bicycle lanes and was ranked the worst bicycling city in the US by Bicycling magazine.
However, after working with city engineers and their consultants, listening to private individual and public concerns and questions and helping them collaboratively develop design solutions,
Boston now has 82 miles of bicycle lanes and a Bike Plan that calls for 20 miles of separated bicycle lanes by 2018.
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Caption: We all recognize the Charles River and the familiar bike and running path that snakes and winds along the sloped banks of the city's main water feature...
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Caption: “Since former Mayor Menino launched Boston Bikes in 2007, ridership in the City has more than doubled.” This was in part, due to a real recognition both of the need for increased renewable energy-reliant transport in the city in order to combat health related issues linked to sedentary lifestyles, but also to elevate Boston in terms of progressive policy and initiatives in order to combat various environmental issues, namely climate change and air pollution, and to pursue more sustainable means of urban life.
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Caption: Continuing the upward acceleration of the burgeoning Boston bikeways, such as the path alongside the Charles River, the Greenway Links Initiative "advances the vision of a seamless network of greenway corridors across the urban core, from the Mystic River in the north to the Neponset River in the south to create a 21st century urban recreation and transportation system that is safe and convenient for all."
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Caption: The Greenway Links Initiative Map
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Caption: Hubway has served as a direct sponsor for this endeavor, its familiar green and gray stations already dotted heavily throughout the Boston landscape.
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Caption: Additionally, numerous local advocacy groups have provided significant support in terms of political, financial, and developmental mobilization.
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Caption: The Greenway Links Initiative advances the idea of protected routes on-street, an example demonstrated in the above photograph. This would serve to reduce accidents and casualties.
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Caption: From unprotected routes,
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Caption: To protected biking areas that would run through the busiest city centers, effectively sheltering cyclists, decongesting traffic, and reducing the risk of automotive-cyclist collisions.
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Caption: "Get a bicycle. You will certainly not regret it, if you live." Mark Twain