The way points of this bicycle route:
Can sometimes get a great morning tailwind; main arlington center lights go [left turn and cross street's right turn], [straight and pedestrians], [right turn and cross street's left], [cross street and pedestrians]
if you run reds, you can outpace cars from here up until harvard square, but a near to complete stop at every one is still advised (you know, boston drivers and all that); light order at this intersection is opposite of main Arlington center in that the left turns are after the straight, not before
watch out for car doors the entire length of Mass Ave
few things can make you happier than passing by cars stuck in traffic around Porter Sq. Watch out for cops handing out tickets for running the red at Beech St.
be careful around the buses
if you keep your eyes open while you're passing church st, you can usually catch an opening; then stick close to the cabs (especially since they're most likely to open doors to the curb, not to the street); it's so quick you're on Dunster before a cop can say anything (works even better if you look vaguely like a college student)
onto the bike path!
I love being next to the river.
(stay on the bike path, of course)
at the end of the bridge there's a curb cutout, but on your way down the hill check over your shoulder for cars intending to go into the right-only lane; oh yeah, great morning views of Boston to either sid of the bridge, plus seasonal birds on the water
nice little hill for speed pickup to and around the corner
if the upcoming light is green when it comes into view, you will probably not make it
tricky merge, I advise going as fast as you can, actually: match the speed of the cars (and be ready with your brakes) for safety (like you would merging onto the highway in a car
if parking in the BIDMC East Campus bike cage, use the light here to cross and then use the parking lot in front of Kirstein to get to the access road and then into the garage
or, continue on access road to cross Binney for Brigham and Women's or turn onto Longwood for HMS (intersection of Brookline and Longwood isn't worth the trouble)
