I’m anything, but an avid bicyclist. In order to become one I would need to overcome a rather daunting fear – Boston area traffic. This is a leap of faith that I am not quite ready to take. However, I have an affection for those who do bike, and I am quite aware of the positive implications this particular mode of transportation has on the environment.

Earlier this week I set out to observe the Alewife T station as part of a Hub2 assignment. The task was to observe public space – more specifically how individuals and/or groups interact with such space. Though before I could even begin to observe people I was immediately drawn to the may-lay of bicycles outside the station.

Every inch of the racks were covered. It was quite apparent that the designated space was not nearly enough. Bicycles littered every railing feasibly available throughout the station. Needless to say the space provided was far from adequate. With the bike path easily accessible to city goers the lack of parking must be a point of frustration as well as a deterrent to those who might consider biking if they were guaranteed a parking space.

Today there is an urgency and a need for environmental responsibility. Biking provides an easy solution to cutting down emissions especially in a city like Boston. However, how can alternative modes of transportation be promoted when the proper means to do so are not offered? I guess it’s all an issue of infrastructure. It’s all well and good to foster environmental action (which I am very much an advocate of), but in order to ensure sustainability the proper infrastructure needs to be put in place.

While it would be easy to place all the blame on the city, a portion of the problem rests in the hands of the community. Residents, like myself, need to speak up in order to ensure that these problems and needs are noted in order foster an effective solution. Which means that while I may not be a biker I have a certain responsibility as a resident to not only observe the problem, but to advocate on behalf of its solution.