[caption id="attachment_4626" align="aligncenter" width="480" caption="East Boston teen Angel Alvarez speaks as MassBike Executive Director David Watson and other officials look on. Courtesy of the Boston Globe"][/caption]

On Wednesday, MassBike staff joined the East Boston-based Chelsea Creek Action Group (CCAG) for a ceremonial first rush hour trip with bikes on the Blue Line. This initiative, spearheaded by East Boston youth, will reduce rush hour restrictions on Blue Line trains to 7:00 am - 9:00 am inbound and 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm outbound.  This is a significant improvement for residents in the historically underserved neighborhood, who currently have to bike a circuitous and dangerous route through Chelsea and Revere to get to downtown Boston.  MassBike was happy to assist the youth members of CCAG as they turned their good idea into reality.

MassBike Executive Director David Watson was among the speakers at the kick-off event (Globe report here). "It is so important for young people to see that their opinions and actions can have a meaningful impact on their community. Without their leadership, this project could not have happened," Watson commented.

The Blue Line pilot project, which is currently slated to run through mid-September, is another incremental step forward in improving bike access on the T and a huge step for East Boston in particular. To learn more, visit mbta.com/riding_the_t/bikes/.

[caption id="attachment_4646" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="MassBike ED David Watson with MBTA management at new Bike Ports"][/caption]

As an added bonus for East Boston, the MBTA unexpectedly unveiled brand-new covered bike parking (Bike Ports) at Maverick Station, effectively doubling the number of spaces available. The MBTA continues to be responsive to the needs of its bike-riding passengers - thanks T!