[SBC] FW: Boston Mapping projects

Mon Aug 27 10:38:35 EDT 2007

If you saw the paper this weekend .. Boston Mayor Menino has suddenly taken an interest in bicycling... I am forwarding some comments to Boston on connections from Somerville to Boston.. eg. need to connect Washington Street bike lanes into Sullivan Square, Sullivan Square sucks etc. My comments are in a huge file format so let me know if you can handle a 6 meg e-mail... 

If you want mark up your own suggestions please feel free to send them to Nicole.. (I'd appreciate a copy). 

Steve
-----Original Message---- 
From: Freedman, Nicole [mailto:Nicole.Freedman.bra at cityofboston.gov]
Sent: Thursday, August 23, 2007 5:56 PM
To: cseiderman at cambridgema.gov; Stephen Winslow
Subject: Mapping projects

Hi Cara and Steve,

Thank you again for your input and advice a few weeks ago.  We are still moving forward looking to establish a formal cycling program here in Boston.  I thought I would bring you up to date on some of our projects in case our work has relevance to Cambridge or Somerville.  We have a couple initial projects going on.  

First, we are trying to get an understanding of where cyclists ride in Boston as well as what people believe are the best cycling roads.  We are asking a number of commuters, residents, etc to either trace their routes for us online and/or mark up maps with roads they believe are good for cycling.  The information we get from them will help us create a decent bike map as well as pinpoint areas for improvement.  The maps they are marking up are just Boston. The routes they trace are from wherever they start or finish their ride into Boston.    We are also getting ready to do some bike/ped counts in Boston, including on many of the bridges leading into Boston. I suspect it would be no problem to share this data, if you would be interested.

Please feel free to participate in the mapping/ route tracking projects and/or forward along to those that might want to participate.  I am pasting below information on the route tracking project and also attaching information on both.  So far, we are getting excellent input.

Many thanks and keep up the great job.

Nicole Freedman

Director of Development

Boston Digital Bridge Foundation

One City Hall Square, Suite 932

Boston, MA 02201

617.918.4456 (office)

617.429.8440 (cell)

Nicole.Freedman.bra at CityofBoston.gov

August 20, 2007

Dear Boston Area Cycling Friends,

We are looking at the array of programs and services available for cyclists in Boston and we want your input.  We are hoping to gather information on cycling patterns to use as a guide when updating and evaluating cycling routes, lanes, rack disbursements, etc.  We hope you will help us gather information on cycling behavior in Boston by tracking your rides through Boston. 

We invite everyone who rides a bicycle within or to/from Boston to participate including commuters, racers, recreational riders, families, and even people who exercise once a year...  All ages are welcome.

Participation takes just a few minutes.  We will ask you to go on-line and track an actual day of riding for us using a website we have created.  We want you to record exactly where you biked on this given ride.  

If you have passed through Boston anytime on a ride today, please start today.   Otherwise, please record the very next day that you pass through Boston on a ride.   We want to see both weekend and weekday activity.  And, feel free to record multiple days of riding.  You do not have to contact us to participate.  Just follow the directions below.

Please forward this email other cyclists as you wish.  Feel free to contact Amy McGuire, 617-918-4343, Amy.Mcguire.bra at cityofBoston.gov.

Thank you for your assistance.  We sincerely appreciate your help in making Boston a great place for cyclists and pedestrians.

Sincerely,

Nicole Freedman

City of Boston

Hub On Wheels

Instructions for Tracing Routes

It should just take you a minute or two to map your routes. You have my word.  Please note, if you rode twice in a day (for example morning commute to work; afternoon commute home) please map each leg as a separate ride.  

1.	Go to: http://maps.google.com/ 

2.	Click Sign in  located in the upper right corner 

3.	Login with the following information 

*	Username: bikeboston 

*	Password: bikesurvey 

If you are already signed in with a personal gmail account, please logout and re-sign in using the above information.

4.	Click the My Maps tab located under "Google". 

5.	Click the Create New Map button located under the My Maps tab. 

6.	An input box will appear. 

*	In the Title box, please write your full name, date of ride, and start time of the first one-way leg of your ride. 

*	Example: John Doe, 8/14, 5:45 AM.  

*	In the Description box, please write a current email address and the purpose of the ride, i.e. commute to job, errands, social, fun/exercise, work (messenger, courier) 

*	Example: johndoe at AOL.com <mailto:johndoe at stillusingAOL.com> , commute to work. 

7.	You are now ready to trace your route. 

*	To Zoom in, click "+" 

*	To Start, single click the in the upper left corner of the map. Single click on the map location corresponding to your ride origin. 

*	To Change directions, single click along the intersections. 

*	To Finish double click on the map location corresponding to destination. 

*	To Edit after saving, hover the "hand" symbol over the route. When the route appears click  and click once where you want to make edits. 

8.	After double clicking, an input box will appear. Please enter the reason you chose this route (i.e. most direct, most scenic, fewest cars, safest...) and/or anything else you want to share with us. 

9.	Click the Save button. 

10.	 If you rode twice in the day, please go to #5 above and repeat to trace the second or return ride.  

  _____  

The substance of this message, including any attachments, may be confidential, legally privileged and/or exempt from disclosure pursuant to Massachusetts law. It is intended solely for the addressee. If you received this in error, please contact the sender and delete the material from any computer. 

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