Boston Gets High Marks for Parks
Bostonians regularly enjoy our parks, whether it’s large like Boston Common or small like Ringgold Park. But according to new national rankings, Boston’s parks are some of the best in the entire country. Boston’s parks were ranked third in the United States by the Trust for Public Land, tying with San Francisco and Sacramento, and coming in just shy of Minneapolis and New York City. The ranking report used mapping technology and demographic data to determine how well the 50 largest cities in the United States are meeting the need for parks, including how much access citizens have to parks and park amenities. “We are proud of the fact that Boston has so many easily accessible parks and welcome the recognition,” Mayor Thomas Menino said. “From the pastoral expanses of the world-famous Emerald Necklace to our smallest neighborhood playground, Boston’s residents have a wide variety of well maintained parks providing them with opportunities to exercise or just relax within a short walk from their homes.” The ratings were based equally on three factors: park access, which compares the percentage of residents living within a half-mile walk to a park; park size, which is based on the city’s median park size; and services and investment, which looks at the number of playgrounds and park spending per 10,000 residents. According to Boston’s ratings, 97 percent of Bostonians live within a 10-minute walk of park, and 16 percent of the city is devoted to parks. Which is your favorite park in the South End? Tell us in the comments. SOUTH END PATCH: Facebook | Twitter | E-mail Updates South End Patch
With High Ridership, Bike Crashes Spike Slightly
Bike-related crashes spiked a small amount given the higher ridership in the Boston area over the course of the last two years. Mayor Thomas Menino’s office released the City of Boston Cyclist Safety Report May 15. The report, which analyzed data from the last four years, found that bicycle related crashes were up 2 percent according to the Boston Police Department and 9 percent according to Boston EMS between the period of 2010 and 2012. Boston Police data shows an increase of 11 bike crashes, from 477 to 488, between 2010 and 2012, and the EMS data shows a spike of 44 crashes, from 477 to 521, during the same period, according to the report. The discrepancy exists because The Boston Police Department reports crashes only on Boston roads, and EMS reports crashes at which Boston Police may not have been called, according to the report. During that same period ridership went from 47,600 riders per day in 2010 to 56,644 rides per day in 2012. The ridership increase is an estimate based on a 2000 ridership baseline which is then extrapolated to 2010 using American Community Survey data showing increased trips by year, the report says. As such, the report estimates ridership increased between 16 and 28 percent in the two-year span. The Hubway bicycle share system was launched during this time, which likely contributed to the increased ridership. Hubway estimates there were 675,000 total rides taken on the system between its launch in July 2011 and winter shutdown in 2012. There were nine bicycle-related deaths reported between 2010 and 2012, with five taking place in 2012, according to the report. Other key report findings, provided by the Mayor’s office: Injured cyclists are less likely to be wearing a helmet than the average cyclists. A majority of incidents that resulted in injury involved motor vehicles. Cyclist accident incidents involving and/or injuring pedestrians are minimal. Pedestrians comprised only 2-3% of incidents and injuries in all cyclist incidents. Key behavioral factors associated with accidents included cyclists not stopping at red lights or stop signs, cyclists riding into oncoming traffic, drivers not seeing cyclists and drivers/passengers opening doors. Young adults, particularly men between 19 and 31 comprise more than half of all injured cyclists. The report recommends that the city expand its efforts to provide helmets to riders. Currently, the city makes low cost helmets available at 32 retail locations and farmers’ markets throughout the area, the report says. The report also recommends the city look into one-day distribution options. Plans are underway to install helmet vending machines this year, according to the report. The city will […]
Two South End Students Make BC High Honor Roll
South End Patch
Mass. To Install High Speed, Cashless Toll System
Want less waiting in line and sifting for loose change on the Mass Pike? According to state transportation officials, you’ll soon get your wish. The Massachusetts Department of Transportation will install electronic tolling system that replaces the current E-ZPass and toll-taker set up with overhead censors that read E-ZPasses on cars traveling at high speeds and would generate a monthly bills to drivers who do not have an E-ZPass, according to WBUR. The system would cost $ 100 million to build, but if the toll takers are eliminated, the system will pay for itself in about two to three years, the story says. The new system could put about 400 toll collectors out of work, but some could be retained and placed in other state position, according to the story. WBUR reports the Tobin Bridge tolls will be replaced by 2014 and the Mass Pike tolls will be gone before 2016. SOUTH END PATCH: Facebook | Twitter | E-mail Updates South End Patch