Thousands of protesters took to Boston Common on Saturday as part of the third wave of national "No Kings" protests. Click here to see photos from the event, which included Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey and Attorney General Andrea Campbell. Now, to the news: Tired tires: Welcome to pothole season, that special time of year when weak spots in the pavement make their presence known — often on your car. Potholes occur when water seeps into cracks in the road and then freezes. The expanding ice breaks causes the pavement to heave, weaken and eventually crater. "It's that freeze-thaw cycle that really wreaks havoc," John Westerling, commissioner for the Worcester Department of Public Works & Parks, told WBUR's Amy Sokolow. According to AAA Northeast , potholes tend to rapidly multiply in mid- to late-March. Last year, Somerville residents filed 1,300 requests for potholes to be filled, according to Mayor Jake Wilson. He says requests for 2026 have already begun to roll in. "I'm very, very eager to get these particularly nasty ones filled," Wilson told Amy. While his city and others start plugging potholes, here's what you can do to mitigate damage to your car: - How to avoid potholes in the first place: AAA recommends adjusting your driving habits this time of year. Slowing down on the road can give you more time to spot a pothole and steer clear of it. Big puddles could also have potholes hidden beneath them — so keep an eye out. And it helps to make sure your tires are properly inflated before driving. (Low-profile tires are more vulnerable to blowouts and tire damage, according to AAA.)
- What if it's too late to avoid hitting it? AAA suggests taking your foot off the gas and steering as straight as possible to reduce the potential damage to your suspension. Also, it may be counterintuitive, but don't brake as you're going over the pothole (doing so compresses your suspension and puts extra force on tires). If something feels off, or you're hearing unusual noises or vibrations after driving over the pothole, that might be a sign to get your vehicle inspected.
- See something, say something: If you spot (or drive over) a bad pothole, don't hesitate to call it in. "Report them via 311," Wilson said. "You can use the mobile app, you can text, you can call, you can email. Please get that request in. That'll tell us what we need to be doing as a city."
Lend a hand: Boston is looking for more women to volunteer as coaches for local youth sports teams. WBUR's John Bender reports that city officials have launched an ad campaign , "She Coaches," to address the gender gap in youth sports and encourage more women to try coaching. "We know that typically girls are more likely than boys to drop out of sports around the age of 12 to 13," said José Massó, who helps organize citywide youth sports initiatives as Boston's chief of human services. Having a strong female mentor is key to keeping girls engaged in a sport, he added. - How to get involved: Women who are interested in coaching can fill out this form and share which sports they'd like to coach, which sports they've played in the past and what Boston neighborhood they live in. City leaders would like the majority of Boston's kids involved in youth sports by 2030, according to Massó.
Train dreams: With a busy summer of events ahead, the Healey administration is announcing new MBTA commuter rail discounts today for the months of June, July and August. The perks are intended to encourage more people to take public transportation and, hopefully, make for a less frustrating season on the roads. Here’s a look at the perks in effect for this June, July and August: - Free summer Fridays: All commuter rail service will be free on Fridays during those three months (except for the CapeFLYER, World Cup game trains and any other special event trains to Foxboro station).
- Half-off passes: All monthly commuter rail and ferry passes for June, July, and August will be discounted by 50%, except for Zone 1A passes.
- Expanded weekend travel: All monthly commuter rail passes (except for Zone 1A passes) will also be good for rides to any zone on weekends.
- $1 weekend guest passes: On the weekends, monthly pass holders can bring one companion on any commuter rail trip covered by their pass for $1 each day.
P.S.— Meanwhile, starting today through mid-May, there will be reduced midday train service on the Newburyport/Rockport commuter rail line to allow for track improvement work. Click here for the line's adjusted schedule. |
Comments
Post a Comment