Mayor Menino recently signed a deal worth nearly $6 million to have 61 bike stations installed across Boston. The system called Hubway will open in July with 600 bicycles being available for rental. The program was inspired by networks in Washington and Paris.  The hope is to have as many as 5,000 bikes at more than 300 kiosks within the next few years. So my one question would be this: does anyone know what city this is?

The streets of Boston are notoriously cramped. Now granted, this plan could go over without a hitch and I could be eating crow within a few years. But really though, do you want to be the person stuck behind a bike brigade in bumper to bumper traffic while trying to get home from work? I certainly don’t. It is bad enough when I get stuck behind one person on a bicycle, let alone 19. I mean I’m not saying that I would ever go Grand Theft Auto or anything and start taking out bikers. That’s not to say the thought hasn’t crossed my mind.

Now I don’t want to be too negative about this. Maybe it will be a great program that will be able to put some money in the pockets of some teenagers that are desperately looking for summer employment. It could also help people to become healthier and encourage kids to exercise more. Hell, I might even rent a bike with a group of friends and take a ride through the city. It doesn’t seem like it would be anything less than relaxing and enjoyable.

Wait, that’s right: THIS IS BOSTON. Boston is a northeastern city. Have we forgotten the animalistic mentality that people from the northeast have? Let me first start by saying the majority of Bostonians have never lived by the saying “Patience is a virtue”. I can already see the conflicts arising. It’s not like bikers are going to be giving the right of way. In fact, I don’t think I would personally ever let a biker get ahead of me in any sort of fashion. Call me biased, but you’re on a bike dude. I’m in a car. Winner = me.

Let’s not forget about the wonderful group of people we call cab drivers. I’m sure they are going to love the fact that their horrible driving tendencies are going to be cut off due to this new movement. If I was a betting man, I would put my money on a cabbie being the first person to hit someone on a bike.

And on top of that, why is New York not on board with this? I mean this seems right up Mayor Bloomberg’s alley. Why is Boston the only city in the northeast that gets stuck with the Tour De France? This is just one more reason why New Yorkers feel that they are better than us. At least they don’t have to worry about the safety of people on bicycles at every turn they make. Even Philly looks better than us on this one. That’s right, I said it. PHILLY.

If you ask me, I would say this is a horrible idea. I like it for other cities, but not for Boston. And also the fact that we are basing this plan off of a prototype from Paris just seems wrong to me. Bostonians and the French are not cut from the same cloth. People can tell me that this is not another attempt to make this city mini San Francisco, but I know better (I’m on to you Menino). So power to the bikers I guess. Live long and ride hard. And just remember, Lance Armstrong may or may not have been a giant fraud. Just saying.