bike commute from Jamaica Plain to Kendall Square

Posted: June 19th, 2009 | Author: | Filed under: Bikes, Life | 2 Comments »

It’s been two weeks since I stopped doing the daily cross-state commute and we moved to Jamaica Plain. I’ve been exploring the best bike route from our new home in Jamaica Plain to work in Kendall Square.

The ride is very bimodal in its enjoyment level. Green = pleasant morning spin – 75%. Red = sucky roads with drivers trying to squish innocent bikers – 25%.

If some wiser veteran biker out there has suggestions, I’ve made the map editable…I’m refining this as I figure out the best ways to get between the two bike paths, and then to get from the end of the riverway bike path to the river.(Making the map editable was apparently a misplace of trust in the “crowd”, as the original route was deleted and I had to remake it. So much for collaboration with the unwashed masses.)

Note the difference in the way back to get around the Kenmore Square death trap. And a slight difference in getting back across Rt. 9 after getting off the riverway as well.

This route is taking me 25 minutes door to desk…45 minutes less than my old commute. 90 minutes a day back. Y to the E to the S. Also – on the few days where I’ve driven, it’s about 23 minutes door to desk. Ride your bikes, people. Good for the climate, good for the city, good for you. And a lot easier than you think.


Update #1:I’ve tweaked the way there to get to the river rather than dealing w/ Kenmore – go up Park Rd to Commonwealth, right on Commonwealth, and left (careful!) across Silber, straight to the ramp across Storrow.


Update #2:According the REI “Bike Your Drive” iPhone app, I save 11.4 lbs of CO2/day by not driving, which is worth $.10 according to (low) EU carbon prices. Willing to sell credits to qualified offset buyers.


View Jamaica Plain to Kendall Square Bike Commute in a larger map

…will make a different route for getting home cuz there are some differences.

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  • Jonathan

    Hey Matt,
    I was reading your post about your biking route, and feeling nostalgic for my old commute from Brighton to my old lab at Boston University. I can certainly recommend a nice shortcut which I think will increase the pleasantness of your trip. Please see the linked photo with a map.

    The only tricky bit here is crossing Beacon street without the help of a traffic light. But this is usually doable in at most 30 seconds (I used to do this every day).

    photo of route

    There are a number of advantages:
    - You stay in a bike lane for the maximum time (along beacon st.) rather than on Park Dr. (not such a bike-friendly street).
    - You avoid commonwealth ave. Although it has a “bike lane” you probably have noticed that all the motor vehicles abuse it (picking up/ dropping off students/ packages). I was once very badly doored by a kid getting out of a cab right along your morning route (in front of warren towers). Cummington street is a little better- but there is no bike lane, and there are idiots running to class from in between parked cars
    - I have circled a nice bike shop. I found it quite convenient to have a shop right along my route. You might not appreciate this as much as I have since you are obviously more prepared to fix a flat than I am. On a side note: I highly recommend getting a kevlar strip, I haven't gotten any flats since I got mine (not counting my own gross neglegence when I try to climb stairs with my road bike etc.)
    - You save a whole two traffic lights!

    Let me know what you think, and how it goes!
    -Jonathan