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‘Annoying and unsafe’: Boston cyclists frustrated over lack of bike lane snow removal – Boston News, Weather, Sports | WHDH 7News

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‘Annoying and unsafe’: Boston cyclists frustrated over lack of bike lane snow removal – Boston News, Weather, Sports | WHDH 7News


BOSTON (WHDH) – More than a week after Boston’s largest snowstorm in years, some bike lanes are still buried — and frustrated cyclists are calling on city leaders to clear the way.

Many cyclists say they are having to choose between riding in traffic or walking their bikes because there is no room for them to ride.

“It definitely feels a bit unsafe because many cars pass closely,” said Marvin Kinz, a cyclist. “Either you’re on the side and hope they don’t hit you, or you have to take the middle of the right lane so they can’t pass you.”

Packed snow and ice are covering many of the lanes that cyclists say are supposed to be plowed.

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“Commonwealth Avenue is not good, which is a pity because the bike lanes are really good in general,” said Kinz.

“Currently the majority of bike lanes look like a place to hold snow that has been removed from the roadways and from the sidewalks,” said Boston Cyclist Union Executive Director Tiffany Coggell.

Even when the lanes are clear, people say there’s another problem.

“When they clean the bike lane but don’t clear the parking spaces, so the cars park in the bike lane,” said Kinz.

Coggell said this is a citywide issue, and residents have taken matters into their own hands and reached out to city councilors.

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“The city has neglected to reach out to us,” Coggell said. “We have also had reports from inside the city that some counselors are talking to the chief of streets, as well as the Mayor, asking them when these bike lanes will be cleared.”

Coggell said the city did send out some plows to clear the lanes, but there are still issues.

“The entrances to the bike lanes are still huge amounts of snow so they are mostly impassable,” she said.

Cyclists said they hope the city takes action to fix this soon.

“I hope it gets better and I hope that they do something about it rather than just letting it melt,” said Nick Sheehan, a cyclist. “Which is very annoying and unsafe so definitely wish they would take care of this. It’s been two weeks.”

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7NEWS has reached out to Mayor Michelle Wu’s Office, but has not yet heard back.

(Copyright (c) 2025 Sunbeam Television. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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Boston, MA

Federal judge in Boston bars Trump from implementing proof of citizenship requirement to vote – The Boston Globe

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Federal judge in Boston bars Trump from implementing proof of citizenship requirement to vote – The Boston Globe


A federal judge on Wednesday permanently barred President Donald Trump’s administration from implementing most of his first executive order on elections, part of which sought to require people to show documentary proof of citizenship when they register to vote.

The ruling by U.S. District Court Judge Denise Casper in Boston effectively converts a preliminary injunction she issued a year ago, in which she temporarily blocked many of Trump’s efforts to overhaul elections, into a permanent ban.

Casper rejected the administration’s argument that the lawsuit to block the changes brought by Democratic state attorneys general was premature because the rules had yet to be implemented. Instead, she agreed that the Constitution gives states and Congress the authority to regulate elections, and that Trump’s requirements violated the separation of powers.

The Constitution “does not grant the President any specific powers over elections,” she wrote.

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Among other proposed changes, Trump’s order would have required people to provide documentary proof of citizenship when registering to vote, prevented mail ballots from being counted if they arrive after Election Day, even if they were postmarked by then, and punished states that failed to comply by withholding certain federal money.

It was the latest in a string of rulings against the elections executive order Trump signed just months after taking office for his second term. He has since signed another executive order on elections, seeking to create a national voter list and limit mail balloting. That directive also faces multiple legal challenges.

Last fall, a federal judge in Washington, D.C., overseeing a separate challenge to the first election executive order by civil rights and Democratic Party-aligned groups blocked the government from taking steps to include the proof-of-citizenship requirement on the federal voter registration form. That judge later barred the Secretary of Defense from requiring documentary proof of citizenship when military personnel register to vote or request ballots.

In an apparent nod to the difficulty of implementing a proof-of-citizen requirement by executive order, Trump is pushing legislation in the Republican-controlled Congress to create such a mandate. The SAVE America Act has passed the House but has stalled in the Senate, leading Trump to advocate for eliminating the filibuster that is blocking the legislation.

On Wednesday, he abruptly cancelled the expected signing of a bipartisan housing bill, saying he won’t sign legislation until Congress passes his proof of citizenship requirement for voting.

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Woman killed in Mattapan carjacking crash honored at vigil

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Woman killed in Mattapan carjacking crash honored at vigil


Three days after an alleged carjacker hit and killed a woman in Boston’s Mattapan neighborhood, members of the community came together to honor her life.

A candlelight vigil was held Tuesday evening for 32-year-old Mabinty Janneh of Dorchester. She died after being hit Saturday afternoon on Blue Hill Avenue.

Ibraim Matos, 37, of Hyde Park, is charged with murder in the crash. He allegedly stole a vehicle and drove it onto the sidewalk, fatally hitting Janneh.

Ibraim Matos of Hyde Park has been charged with murder in the deadly crash.

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Heartbroken family, friends and community members gathered near the site of the crash to remember Janneh Tuesday.

“We need justice for Mabinty,” said her aunt, Mbalu Tarawally.

“I just felt like I needed to be present,” said Rev. Dr. Barbara Simmons. “If the family lost a person, the least I can do is come here and show my face.”

“She was young, vibrant. Hard worker. Wants to do everything,” said Ahmad Thorley, a family member of Janneh.

The suspect in a deadly carjacking and crash in Boston’s Mattapan neighborhood appeared in court to face charges including murder.

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Witnesses said Matos dragged Janneh several hundred feet after hitting her.

The stolen Toyota RAV4 crashed into an MBTA bus, and people at the pulled Matos out of the car and holding him there until police arrived.

Matos pleaded not guilty Monday to charges of leaving the scene of personal injury and death and motor vehicle homicide by reckless operation, along with murder and carjacking. His defense attorney spoke briefly on Monday, saying they will evaluate “where we stand” in a few weeks after the mental health evaluation.



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Your next Uber ride in Boston could be a taxi

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Your next Uber ride in Boston could be a taxi


Boston taxis will be able to pick up passengers who request Uber and Lyft rides under a new pilot program announced by Mayor Michelle Wu Tuesday.

Customers who get a cab through a ride-hailing app will still see the cost upfront on their phone as opposed to the typical taxi fare structure. 

“The goal of the pilot is to give Boston passengers more options to hail a taxi and to allow Boston’s licensed taxis to participate directly in meeting the demand for trips generated through Uber and Lyft,” the city said in a news release.

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Wu said the yearlong pilot will allow cab drivers to earn more while reducing wait times for passengers. 

“We’re thankful for the collaboration and advocacy from our taxicab drivers to introduce this new transportation service, and excited to support the people who keep our city moving,” the mayor said.

The program excludes taxi trips to Boston’s Logan Airport, and allows the Hackney Division to make exceptions during some special events in the city.

Uber’s website informs users “you might get matched with a Boston taxi driver.”

“If so, you’ll enjoy the same 24/7 availability and affordable prices you know with UberX while riding to your destination in a cab,” Uber says.

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The city said it expects taxi drivers will now be able to “access a significantly larger number of trips than most currently serve.”

“This change is a major boost for taxi drivers in Boston and the passengers we serve,” said Balwinder Gill, who has owned and operated a Boston taxi for 25 years.



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