Enjoyed your video. I have used my bike to reach the Salem train station for a number of years. This spring I decided to begin making the trip from my home in Danvers to Boston by bike alone. I also found the trip both elusive and at sometimes very dangerous. Wildlife and geography both presented a sometimes hostile environment. And yet I continue to make the 20 mile trip 6 times a week. I have documented my adventures on my blog....SteveHauck.com , you might find this interesting. Unfortunately National Geographic declined to pick up the rights to film a documentary or a reality show based on my adventures.

Steve

Great video. I do wish though you'd spent more time plumbing the curvature and depths of Beacham St. on your Chelsea leg of the impossible journey. I always fancy myself the Buzz Aldren of bikers whenever I'm there.

Excellent video. I tried my own version of the journey a few times and settled on this longer-but-less-death-defying version, which goes through Lynnfield and Winchester: mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/ma/marblehead/828124302594646587

It is maddening that politicians and policy-makers have so disadvantaged the North Shore compared to the western suburbs. Just look at Route 2 (for cars) and the Minuteman Trail (for bikes) compared to the Lynnway (unfit for either).

i really enjoyed this. For me, you capture what it feels like to be a cyclist and keep running into these god-awful traffic infrastructure pieces that to a cyclist trying to get from A to B are nothing other than an incredibly obnoxious obstacle.

Very nice job. Having used to live in Boston I can appreciate your issues. In Charlotte I commute 5 miles and planners have made it a little easier allowing about half of the trip on paths. It takes vision and money to make things possible for alternative transport. Denver is the best example I have found...

“A place without sidewalks privileges the automobile, and therefore the richer people in cars have more rights; this is undemocratic.”
Enrique Peñalosa, former mayor of Bogotá (Colombia) who revolutionized the transportation and parks in that city.
journal.davidbyrne.com/2006/10/101306_pealosa_.html

Hi Calvin,

I linked to your video from the Conservancy newsletter which I am in the process of posting to the conservancy web site. (I am the web master in charge of updates to the site.) Very interesting video. In one of my past lives I worked in Lynn at Electric Insurance Company which was located just past the entrance to the GE plant not far before the General Edwards Bridge. I often commuted by bicycle when the weather was good. Yes, it was scary at first, but no, I did not cicycle on the sidewalk.

I also tried cicyling into Boston once or twice when working in Boston. Route 99, yes I figured out that it was the only way to get there by bike. (Except if it was a time when the subway allowed bicycles, then you could take your bike right on the subway car and let it be brought in for you. I never did that, but saw others taking advantage of it.) I tried it on a week-end when the traffic would be manageable, and arrived too exhausted to do much work! But I sure was proud.

Thanks so much for making the video. Felt like I was watching Alton Brown. Did you have your own camera mounted for all the pictures or did someone accompany you to take some of the pics?

Carol Geis
geocarol@comcast.net