Description
The potholes on Prospect street are so bad! It is the only north-south street that directly connects Inman Sq to Central Sq. It is appallingly bad. There are so many patches on the road that it is near impossible to bike down it. Also, the lack of a bike lane is ridiculous. Why don't they just have traffic going one way, each way, with bike lanes on the side, rather than a one way going south, and a two lane going north? It doesn't make sense. Repave and paint bike lanes, please.
7 Comments
Grimlocke Von Hecht (Registered User)
Grimlocke Von Hecht (Registered User)
John W. (Registered User)
The lane reduction and bike lanes would be best for everyone, especially pedestrians. I actually think walking down Prospect is worse than biking. It's loud, hot with exhaust, dusty, cramped, and generally unfriendly.
John W. (Registered User)
Reid Wolfenstein (Registered User)
It's a shame that, in our modern society, people are forced to use Prospect street for any purpose. When I drive south, it is usually crowded, and I create an obstacle with the cyclists that I share the road with. I'm nervous that I'm going to hit one of them.
When I drive north, no one knows what to do. There are two lanes, but are they for passing or turning? There usually isn't a lot of room for passing, but people do it anyways. What nepotism lead this road to be designed in this way?
And yes, along the sides of the road are bizarre scars where decades of patching has left a bumpy, ugly surface. It's annoying to drive over, and it forces cyclists in front of me.
John W. (Registered User)
The rain has reminded me of another reason why walking down Prospect is so awful, and why this street makes a joke of the whole 'Most walkable city' hoopla. The potholes from Union to Central fill with water that is frequently splashed, sometimes with great ferocity, upon the pedestrians braving the rain. And, of course, once the rain has stopped, the water-filled potholes remain--one of the many indignities of traveling by foot in Cambridge. The area in front of Carberry's cafe is possibly the worst.
As for sharing the road with cyclists, thanks! Really share, though. Cyclists shouldn't have to ride in the "gutter". They're perfectly right to take the lane, and on a street like Prospect it's actually wise to do so. Besides, traffic rarely moves faster (red light-to-red light) than a cyclist. So if someone on a bike ends up in front of you, enjoy a relaxed trip to the next intersection.
For cyclists going to Union from Central (or beyond) consider taking Harvard St. East, and using Columbia St. to Webster to Prospect. It's really only a few extra blocks, and it's a much safer route. This detour is not, however, a reason why the city shouldn't redesign this road.
Closed scott.sanders@gmail.com (Registered User)