Photo: James Rojas/WBZ NewsRadio
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — Some protective barriers were removed from bike lanes while the City of Boston determines a better solution.
According to a city spokesperson, “The Arlington Street flexposts were removed for routine maintenance after sustaining heavy damage during winter storms in February. The Mass Ave flexposts were removed in response to feedback from community members and object markers were installed at key locations."
The city also said that the flexposts were meant to be a temporary solution, and that they’re working to better bike infrastructure for both drivers and bikers as soon as possible.
Flexposts have been contentious amongst drivers for how easy they are to crash into on the road.
“They’re a pain in the butt, they just keep you a little bit farther from the bike path,” one delivery worker said. “Being a truck driver for 50 years, you try to get away from the middle of the road.”
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Even with his frustration, the delivery driver did feel that the barriers do protect bikers to an extent.
Matt from Brookline was less gracious about the barriers.
“They do get knocked over,” Matt said. “I think they’re unreliable as a barrier.”
He was a bit more conflicted on the best way forward for the city.
“I don’t know, I think if you’re going to put concrete barriers here then you’re going to disrupt a lot of other traffic flowing through,” Matt said. “I think bikers just have to be comfortable, in the city you have to be comfortable and in with the traffic and out with the traffic.”
WBZ NewsRadio’s James Rojas (@JamesRojasMMJ) reports.