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I said, "Pull over!"

While I was out picking up some food early Saturday morning, I heard two people outside of the Shaw's at Packard's Corner in Allston discussing the speed limit on Comm. Ave. The discussion centered around whether 6 mph was too slow for traffic or not. This seemed like a crazy discussion so I turned to see where they were pointing...

IMAGE(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2177/2796707558_a15c57930b.jpg)

Two radar gun stands were set up on the track side of the road, one for each direction. The speed limit said "06" which matches the signs for the T drivers for that section of track as they take the 70 degree turn to continue following Comm Ave without derailing (particularly the just purchased Breda cars). Really? They needed radar reminders to show the T drivers how fast they are going? They spent money on radar guns for a fixed track vehicle? Between stops, the only thing the drivers have to deal with is the track ahead and the speed they're going...and now they need to have the latter pointed out to them? What if they speed through a radar gun? Does a Transit Officer pull onto the tracks behind them and tell them to pull over?

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Comments

I was over by the BU bridge when another cyclist and I were waiting for the light to change. It did, and as we got up on our bikes, a green line train blasted through the intersection full-tilt...maybe a week or two after that girl smashed her train into the back of another in Newton.

I called 911, asked for the transit police, was transferred, explained what happened and gave both the exact time and the lead car number. Thy circular pastry consumer could not believe a driver of a motorized rail carriage in his organization's employ would runnith a crimson indicator at a horseless carriage crossing!

CPC: "You're SURE the operator ran a red light?"
Me: "YES. Our light changed green, and 2-3 seconds later, the train blasted through the intersection."

CPC: "Uh-huh. Was your light a turn-only light?"
Me: "NO, from our direction, there is only a general light."

CPC: "You're SURE?"
Me: "YES, I am. As was the cyclist next to me, who said 'can you believe that asshole just ran the light?'"

CPC: "OK, I'll report it. *click*"

I'm sure they got right on that, just like they got right on that operator who fell asleep at the controls, until it turned out the complainer was a big-shot reporter and made a lot of fuss. After all, The Illusion of Safety is their NUMBER ONE PRIORITY!

Speaking of the Green Line and safety, what ever happened to the investigation into the Newton crash? Last I heard, they eliminated train and signal mechanical problems, and visibility...

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I walk by the BU bridge every other day. The green line drivers run that light all the time. They don't seem to behave as badly at other lights though.

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The T's are always running the red light at Packard's Corner as well. Then they have to go so slow there, they end up eating the entire green light cycle for the eastbound traffic from Brighton Ave.

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Oh wait, it's the Green Line. So it would be more like an OJ-style low-speed chase.

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I just buzzed by that on my scoot this morning and was wondering if that was some sort of joke.

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Sobriety checkpoints for trolley drivers at random stops along Comm. Ave.

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Do the trains have reliable readouts of speed at 6 mph? Do they show speeds below 10 mph at all? Are they digital? Analog?

Perhaps the T doesn't trust the speedometers on the trains, or they don't read at the posted speed. I know some cars have these issues - does anybody know if some of the trolleys do too?

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