Commonwealth Avenue

When the Auto Mile ran along Comm. Ave.

adamg — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 19:34:23 +0000

Just in time for Presidents' Day, Boston University's posted this photo of one of the many former car dealerships along Comm. Ave.

Via Jenny Mackintosh.

Citizen complaint of the day: Stupid cabs blocking the bike lane at BU

adamg — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 18:28:24 +0000

The day after local bicyclists celebrated the opening of bike lanes on the BU Bridge, an irate citizen forwarded this photo of lane-hogging cabs just a few blocks away outside BU's Warren Towers:

Apparently the bike lane on Comm. Ave. is now a cab stand. 8 cabs in a row were parked there this morning around 8:40.

Jumping the tracks on Comm. Ave.

adamg — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 15:09:36 +0000

A roving UHub photographer didn't have to rove very far last night - he went to his window - to take this shot of the Green Line tracks:

Last night a car lost control, jumped the median, and crashed on the tracks at Griggs St stop. Apparently the driver ran away immediately after the car stopped. No one apparently was hurt. -- Just many confused.

Robbery suspect, cops injured in Comm. Ave. chase, struggle

adamg — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 20:17:36 +0000

Boston University and Brookline police say they captured two of three men suspected in stealing a ski-shop worker's cell phone this afternoon - but not without a struggle.

Bicyclist critical after being hit by car on Comm. Ave.

adamg — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 10:28:21 +0000

The Daily Free Press reports on a collision around 6 p.m. Wednesday at Commonwealth Avenue and Buick Street. Both driver and victim are BU students.

Test-driving Hubway

JennyMack — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 15:17:20 +0000

BU Today's Leslie Friday takes Hubway for a spin to find out what all of the fuss is about:

All along Newbury Street and Comm Ave, habitual bikers whiz by me, their backdraft mocking my steady, but slower, speed. Hubway bikes are made for heavy-duty use by people of all skill levels—more like beach cruisers than speed racers, so I enjoy the sights. The Citgo sign looms as I cross back onto campus. By now my legs are burning, the setting sun is striking me squarely in the eyes, and I’m going uphill to my last stop: FitRec.

[...] So, lessons learned: visit Hubway’s site beforehand, bring a helmet and a cell phone, and don’t rely on these bikes if you’re on a tight schedule. I wasn’t, so I chalked it up as another urban adventure.

Have you tried Hubway yet? What have your experiences been so far?

Test-Driving Hubway | BU Today

Smashed cab

adamg — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 04:17:02 +0000

Historygradguy happened upon a smashed-in Cambridge cab on Comm. Ave. near the BU Bridge during the evening storm. He reports EMTs put the driver in a neck brace.

Earlier:
Smashed-in Boston cab in Cambridge.

Copyright Historygradguy. Tagged as universalhub on Flickr.

Pair charged with threatening to kill man at crowded Allston intersection - with a BB gun

adamg — Thu, 26 May 2011 16:29:21 +0000

5/25/11 - 10:46 pm

Boston Police report arresting two men for assault with a dangerous weapon following an incident last night at Harvard and Comm. avenues.

According to police, Aram Barseghyan, 28, of Brighton and Aleksandr Yeghiyan, 22, of Watertown, were in a silver BMW when they got into an argument with somebody on the sidewalk around 10:45 p.m.:

During the course of the verbal argument, the victim states that the individual sitting in the front passenger seat produced a firearm, pointed it at him and stated, "Next time. Bang. You're dead."

Officers found the pair not long after. According to police, an officer asked if they had any weapons:

[T]he operator stated, "No. You can check if you like." A search of the car enabled officers to see and take possession of a black firearm found under the front passenger seat. Upon further inspection, it was determined that the black firearm was, in fact, a replica style BB gun.

Innocent, etc.

Commonwealth Avenue Mall gets air spaded

adamg — Thu, 19 May 2011 14:05:06 +0000

Which is much better for the trees than getting David Spaded and cheaper than getting Kate Spaded. BostonZest reports on efforts to improve the landscaping and tree health in the linear park.

Police: Man grabbed wheel of T bus from driver and tried to ram oncoming traffic

adamg — Wed, 18 May 2011 13:55:47 +0000

5/17/11 - 7:35 pm

UPDATE: Lyons was ordered held in lieu of $10,000 bail in Brighton District Court, the Suffolk County District Attorney's office reports.

Police charge an Everett man who had trouble keeping his pants up had no problems wresting control of an 86 bus and trying to crash it - but was foiled by a fast-thinking rookie driver who managed to apply the emergency brake.

MBTA Transit Police say Donald Lyons, 52, reached across the 24-year-old driver - on the job for just 2 1/2 months - around 7:30 last night and grabbed the bus's steering wheel as it approached Commonwealth Avenue on Chestnut Hill Avenue:

Syringe-wielding man holds up BU convenience store

adamg — Wed, 18 May 2011 11:42:14 +0000

5/16/11 - 7:00 pm

The Daily Free Press reports the guy who held up City Convenience at 700 Comm. Ave. Monday night also claimed to have a gun.

Liquor is quicker

adamg — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 01:30:55 +0000

Historygradguy stopped to admire the view on Comm. Ave. in Allston.

Copyright Historgradguy. Posted in the Universal Hub pool on Flickr.

Boston meter maids have X-ray specs that really work

adamg — Sat, 05 Feb 2011 23:08:54 +0000

Cynicallife reports she parked on Comm. Ave. in Packard's Corner Thursday, fed the meter and then when she came out, found a $100 ticket for parking in front of a hydrant. Can you find Waldo, um, the hydrant, in the photo above? Obviously, it was clear as day to a passing meter maid. Here's the view from the sidewalk:

She's not a happy camper:

Good job, city of Boston. Why bother digging out a hydrant or even attaching a flag to make it visible to, ohidon'tknow, firefighters ~ much less regular folks like me ~ when you can leave them buried and ticket people for not seeing them instead?

Photos posted under this Creative Comments license and in the Universal Hub pool on Flickr.

Reflections on a mall

adamg — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 04:24:48 +0000

If nothing else, that snow/rain storm the other day meant some cool reflecting pools on the Commonwealth Avenue Mall, as Historygradguy shows us.

Copyright Historygradguy. Posted in the Universal Hub pool on Flickr.

Who's supposed to shovel out the space in front of bus shelters?

adamg — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 12:25:34 +0000

Because there seem to be some issues. A concerned citizen posted this photo of a bus shelter on Comm. Ave. at Mass. Ave. on the city complaint site this morning:

The city of Boston, for the safety of its public transit riding citizens, MUST shovel the snow off the curb at its bus stops. Many bus stops across the city do not have a cleared path of travel between the sidewalk and the bus, setting up a dangerous proposition for anyone getting on, or off, a city bus. Follow the lead of your neighbor to the north, Cambridge!