Jeer: It rains hard inside Back Bay station

We've been living in Boston for about 7 years now. Every day, our commute takes us into the bowels of Back Bay station along with thousands of other rat-racers. And every time it rains, all of us have to be extra careful to watch our steps, avoid the variety of orange cones and yellow tape blocking off sections of the station due to the absurd amount of leaks in the roof.

Mayor Tom Menino has said more than once that he considers Boston to be a "world class city".

Maybe he should let the MBTA in on this view.

Funny, but I can't imagine New York's Grand Central Station, or Paris' St. Lazare train station ever subjecting its tax payers to watery obstacle courses.

Granted, Back Bay isn't as large or busy as North Station or South Station, but in a city deemed by the current, long standing Menino administration as "world class", can't someone find the resources to fix the roof?

Talk about making a horrible fist impression upon national and international tourists (who we depend upon to infuse needed revenue into our local economy) and students (thousands of which are enrolled in our colleges and universities) who must wonder how a city like Boston can allow the continued disrepair.

And not just commuters are affected.

as this poor vending business owner has to battle torrential rain INSIDE of the station and all around his equipment.

The following is MBTA fodder for another day and another posting, but methinks this information might be contributing to the cause of the lack of basic station infrrastructure. See what I'm talking about here. In particular the "One day/one year provision" which grants some public employees an entire year of creditable service for as little as one day of work which can boost a pension by thousands of dollars a year. Thank god MBTA workers have the ability to drain the taxpayers in so many ways.

Now, where o where can Boston find money to patch leaky roofs?

If Boston really is a "world class city", then is it too much to ask that basic building maintenance of one of the city's three major stations be addressed?

Maybe we need to reconsider what it means to truly be "world class".

Jeer: Boston's Wet and Slippery Back Bay Station

Jeer: Boston drivers - stay out of the crosswalks please

Boston has a well earned reputation for producing some of the most rude, aggressive and hostile drivers anywhere in the U.S.

On March 5th, at 10:45 in the morning, I was struck by one of them.
A classic hit-and-run.

At the intersection of Columbus and Dartmouth, I was crossing Columbus, in the crosswalk, when a small pickup truck tried in vain to beat the traffic light and as the police report indicates: "Struck the victim into the air".

I think this means I'm going to be late for work!

After the blinding stars in my head cleared, I opened my eyes and saw the bright blue morning sky. I also heard several shocked and vocal witnesses telling me not to move and that an ambulance was already on the way.

Thankfully, at least one person was calling the police and giving a description of the car that struck me and the direction it was headed.

While all of the post accident commotion was swirling around me, I realized that I was still sprawled on my back while more and more people were gathering around, mostly just to gawk at the poor bastard lying squarely in the middle of a busy intersection.

Not wanting to draw the ire of another Boston driver who might be dreadfully inconvenienced by my inopportune landing spot, I decided to get slowly up (with the aid of a passerby) and hobble to the closest sidewalk where I sank to the ground, leaning against a large mailbox.

I wondered how many dogs had relieved themselves on the very spot where I now slumped.

I also heard the nearing blare of an ambulance and at least two police cars.

All of this commotion swirling around me, the guy that prefers to be squarely under the radar and steers away from attention, I had no choice but to be that guy, that victim, that suddenly center of attention.

That split second on that Friday morning has now drawn me into the frustrating beauracracy and intertwining of doctors, insurance companies and lawyers. I can only imagine how helpful and efficient the insurance ccompanies will be.

And all because a Boston driver (who by the way was 22 and driving with a suspended license) felt she needed to beat that light and ended up plowing through me and my 44 year old frame.

I'm scheduled to have knee surgery April 13th and will be laid up for at least a month post-op. I'll also require an undetermined amount of physical therapy. Though the results could easily have been more serious, my life has been most unpleasantly impacted.

So keep your eyes and ears open and never assume the safety and security of a Boston crosswalk. If not, you just might be the center of attention yourself one day!

Big Jeer: Boston Drivers