It's only as good as you want it to be

Bicycling infrastructure. We get so little of it even though we deserve more. It gets rationed over the years. It gets the lowest priority in urban development. And then, when winter comes, it's completely neglected.

Last week's examples from Boston show magnitude of the problem. Just take a look:

Hopeful that I will see my dear bike lane again soon! 🤞@CityOfBoston @marty_walsh pic.twitter.com/gm8Wlsi8Sh

— bikeyface (@bikeyface) February 15, 2017

This is the current state of the #MassAve protected bike lanes. But at least the parking spaces are clear, right? #VisionZero @universalhub pic.twitter.com/csqvszouwk

— Alex Cox (@coxgerardalex) February 14, 2017

"With Boston’s Public Works Department doing all they can to make sure our streets are plowed, salted and sanded in inclement weather..." pic.twitter.com/XqFnDoknbb

— Jonathan Fertig (@rightlegpegged) February 22, 2017

The truth is - it's not enough to build it. It has to be maintained too. Unfortunately, it seems that Boston has some serious problems understanding that once the infrastructure is in place, it can't be simply left alone. And especially, not in winter.

It's not just Boston. Our suburban Minuteman Bikeway got neglected as well.

Sometimes I think that protected bike lanes were built to provide extra storage for snow in winter months because, you know, "no one rides bicycles in winter anyway." Our New England winters are likely also the reason why Boston's government was so reluctant to install any kind of real protection (in form of bollards, curbs, etc.) along those new bike lanes. Why do it if it gets damaged later by snow banks and snowplows, right?

Of course, this is not a problem anymore. The issue is gone, since nature solved it right away starting last weekend. Most of the snow melted, winter is nearly over and now we can pretend that the problem never existed. Until the next year...

Unfinished projects bother me a lot. It's not just a statement that you didn't really put much effort to solve the problem. It also shows that you just don't care.

For those of you who don't understand what I'm bitching about, here is everyone's favorite car analogy:

Imagine you had to drive from Boston to New York but the nice 3-lane highway was cleared off all snow only up to Hartford, CT. The other half of the way would not be plowed at all. Would you be happy with it?

Winter friction

It's alive! Better late than never, but mother nature decided to finally make this winter great again. We've just got the first decent snowstorm this season - in mid February - very late for New England standards.

But prior to today's snowfall, we witnessed an early Armageddon yesterday morning, when roads turned into hokey rinks, which immediately resulted in this:

55-car pile up on I-95 (Source: Jen Miller @ Boston Herald)

The roads were low on friction, but completely thawed during the day when air temperature reached nearly 60F. And then it dropped to below zero on the universally-accepted scale (i.e. Celsius) and the big snow cometh.

Roads immediately got empty, not counting a few snowplows. I left my work early but despite that, there were already about 2 inches of snow on the Minuteman Bikeway. Riding through it was surprisingly difficult in places, as my 38mm tires are just too narrow to float on snow. Instead, they were trying to cut through it with lots of resistance. Is that a hint that I should tell my wife I really need to buy a fat bike?

Judging by the tracks, apparently, I was the only crazy person to ride a bike on the Minuteman in the middle of a blizzard. I finally put a studded tire on the front wheel of my bike and I have to say it made a huge difference. At least on the front wheel. I really should've bought a second tire for the rear wheel as well (I didn't. Call me cheap.), because while now the front wheel stays well planted on the path, the rear one is a different story. This morning I performed a perfect 180deg spin around the front wheel. I didn't even know I could do something like that!

I actually like riding a bike in blizzard-like conditions. It's fun, it's quiet, roads are completely empty and it's beautiful. If only the stupid wind didn't always blow snow in my face.

But then there is one thing that I encountered several times that makes this experience much less pleasant. It's the drivers - some of the ones who decided to drive anyway. Too often they feel like they have to roll down the window, throw a few f words (and I don't mean "f for friendly") and express their general disappointment that someone chose to ride a bike in such conditions. I guess driving a car during a snowfall is accepted as normal, but riding a bike, not so much.

Have you heard that the maturity of transportation cycling is measured by the number of women who ride their bikes in given area? They are the fragile ones - who often won't try to go somewhere by bike unless there is a safe and convenient infrastructure in place.

Here in New England, I would add one more measure - the number of people who ride bikes in winter. This really tells a lot about Boston and its suburbs. Is the infrastructure well-maintained during winter months or are bike lanes just a free storage for snow? Is plowing of bike paths given a priority? Are drivers aware of winter cyclists or do they just wave the finger? Still too much animosity. Friction is good, but under the tires.