The Boston Planning Department held a virtual meeting last week on the city’s side of renovations for Cleveland Circle.

The plan comes because, according to Boston Planning Transportation Planner Colin Fredrickson, the MBTA will, hopefully, soon be ripping up the street to place new tracks to accommodate the new Type 10 Green Line Trolleys, and he said that makes an opportunity for Boston to put back something better when that happens, as the current layout traps a lot of traffic islands where they are now. This meeting was the first phase in that plan.

Planner Jack Halverson said the presented work is based on improving pedestrian and cyclist safety by shortening crossing times for both modes of travel and keeping cars, pedestrians and cyclists as separate as possible. This method of traffic design is intended to reduce conflicts between modes and increase safety for all.

So the work includes bump-outs – that’s wider sidewalks at intersections to get pedestrians off the street faster – at the major road intersection of Chestnut Hill Avenue and Beacon Street, as well as bigger public realm areas on the east side of Beacon Street. The biggest is the reconfiguration of Sutherland Road to create a public space there for residents to enjoy.

“We think this could still be raised to sidewalk grade, but still provide access for loading purposes, potentially parking, a food truck, it could be anything,” Fredrickson said. “We wanted it to be built to a condition so it could handle multiple types of activities to support the businesses and the community nearby.”

Below that, the existing archipelago of traffic islands would be consolidated into one, where planners said greenspace could be put in, but the existing right lane slip lane for vehicles would be removed. The last change would remove the entry and exit on Beacon Street to Cassidy Playground and have access in and out on Chestnut Hill Avenue.

These are draft recommendations only. Planners said they would take community input on the proposal.

They got a lot to take, that’s for sure.

One contingent of residents balked at any changes that would impact vehicle traffic.

“I’ve heard a great deal about pedestrian crossings, bicycle infrastructure, truck delivery and train access but what consideration is being given to overall traffic flow?” asked resident Ari Zacepitzky. “During peak hours, traffic regularly backs up in both directions and creates significant congestion. I live on Englewood Avenue, which is frequently used as a cut-through by drivers trying to avoid traffic. My hope is any proposed changes would carefully consider their impact on traffic congestion and neighborhood streets, not just pedestrian, bicycle and transit access.”

“My concern is that there will be a reduction of overall traffic lanes on Beacon Street, and therefore an increase in congestion for motor vehicle traffic,” said Leland Webster.

Fredirckson said the lane configuration isn’t being considered right now, and currently there are no plans to change it.

“Over the past 10 years there has not been an increase in bicyclists in Cleveland Circle,” said resident Cheryl Weinstein. “We’ve got to figure out a way for cyclists to be safe; they are a very small group of people. Pedestrians have to be safe, and cars have to move easily through Cleveland Circle… I’m not saying bicyclists aren’t important, but cars are the majority going through. People have families going through, and they need cars and they can’t use bicycles, or won’t.”

Planning Department Community Engagement Manager Grey Black piped in after this to say that, at least in the chat, residents were “pretty 50/50” on how they travel through the circle.

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“Every time we have a meeting that has to do with transportation issues, many of us in the neighborhood feel we’re being outnumbered by cyclist activists,” said Eva Webster. “I am the first one to admit that cyclist safety is important, because even if you are a driver, you care about not hitting people who are more vulnerable as cyclists. But I would really like the city, at the beginning of each meeting, to ask that commenters say if they live in the area in question, or whether they learned about the meeting from the Boston Cyclists’ Union email or text list. It’s just very disparaging, because when we are voicing our opinions and our concerns, we are kind of juxtaposed against people who have no other concerns but cycling convenience and safety.”

There were many residents for cycling and pedestrian infrastructure at the meeting, however, only one of them admitted to being a member of the Boston Cyclists Union.

“I do want to say safety does beget increased ridership, so the more people actually want to go through that intersection on the bikes, the more of them will [do that] instead of taking their cars,” said resident Natasha Buckman. “Which reduces car traffic, which makes traffic flow better. So wins for everybody on that front.”

“This is a major, major improvement just to pedestrian safety,” said resident Cobi Frongillo. “I would feel much safer if this was my circle than current conditions.”

“This is one of the most difficult intersections to navigate, either on bicycle or as a pedestrian, and looking at the changes proposed, I don’t see how it would materially affect vehicle traffic,” said Brookline resident David Kroop, who then went into a response to earlier comments. “I think it’s fine for speakers to talk about their own experiences and what experiences they have getting around in motor vehicles, but to start casting aspersions on people who get around by bicycle by suggesting they’re part of some group outside of the community is particularly offensive, and I don’t know what evidence you have. I am a member of the Boston Cyclists Union, and I never received any communication about this meeting. I assume it’s just not on their radar.”

“I think it’s astounding that people have the audacity to claim that I and other people on this call have been called in by the Cyclists Union or some conspiratorial group that’s trying to push bicycles and prevent people from driving anywhere ever again,” said resident Ryan Kelso. “I’m not a member of the Cyclists Union, I’m just a ‘psychopath’ who bikes around this neighborhood, because that’s exactly what you have to be. It’s so unsafe, it’s ridiculously unsafe, and you’re taking your life in your hands every time you go on the street. So for you to say everyone cycling should just ‘suck it up’ is ridiculous.”

Kelso continued, saying he felt these arguments were overused, to say the least.

“I just don’t understand why people are still complaining at every one of these stupid meetings about the same old crap, and you know what? It’s just all garbage, total garbage,” he said. “So my advice to the planners here is to disregard any of these people who are telling you, ‘Oh, we got to think about the parking, the cars, how’s the traffic flow going to work?’ Traffic is not a problem in Allston-Brighton. It’s just not a big problem. What is a problem is getting around on a bicycle, or without a car when you can’t afford the insurance, gas or to pay for any of these things.”

Black said they were not going to disregard anyone’s comments, and encouraged residents to “take a breath” and think about what they want, not what they disagree with.

For more information on the project, go to https://gvimes.link/clvlndcirpln