Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

What do you think of them making Central St. a one way from Summer St. to Highland Ave.?

They widened the bike lane and the sidewalk. They left a small path for vehicles. This was the subject of my Facebook poll. All new readers comments are in quotes.

“They want everyone to be careless and bike or use the T. It is getting so dangerous”

“In West Somerville on a crazy rainy cloudburst morning where you couldn’t see 5 ft. in front of you. I blew out a tire on one of those curbs making a left turn”

“The whole neighborhood (and I live right down the street) is a mess. There have been at least five major accidents at Summer, Harvard and Benton plus the bikes that have plenty of room on those wide paths still ride in the street, still go the wrong way on both ends of Central Street. Emergency vehicles avoid this area whenever possible. There are much better ways to have made these changes but the city doesn’t listen to all of its constituents only those with the loudest voices that haven’t lived here very long.”

“Well, didn’t they pretty much say they wanted to make it a ‘walking’ city. If you have a car and no driveway the parking will be a real deal breaker for tenants.”

“I am a senior citizen (75) and handicapped and there is no way I can get to my many doctors using anything but a car. Guess this is the thanks I get for living here my whole life.”

“My husband and I have this conversation often. He asks, where did all these cars come from?”

“We grew up in the 60’s, one car – if any car – families. We grew up with families of 3, 4, 5 – even 10 kids. All those kids – ok – most of those kids worked hard to buy a car at age 16. So, in just a household of 5 siblings – 5 more vehicles need parking. I think you get the picture.

Somerville is a great walking city. We have gotten so used to driving everywhere ever since our first vehicle. And now as we age, walking can be difficult.”

Thank you to all who contributed to this story.