Boston Extends Outdoor Dining at Restaurants, Adds Bus and Bike Lanes – NBC Boston

Out of doors eating in Boston is right here to remain, no less than throughout the coronavirus pandemic, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh introduced Tuesday, together with new bus and bike lanes.

The outside eating season was initially supposed to finish Oct. 31, however eating places will be capable of hold tables on sidewalks and behind boundaries in parking spots till no less than Dec. 1. If their outside seats are on non-public property, they’ll keep indefinitely, till the tip of the general public well being emergency Walsh declared due to the pandemic.

“We’re attempting to assist our eating places proceed to make the most of our outside house so long as attainable,” he stated Tuesday at his common coronavirus information convention.

He additionally addressed the newly announced mayoral run of City Councilor Michelle Wu. And he introduced new investments in public transit that can change the make-up of metropolis streets.

Michelle Wu is operating on a marketing campaign message of a “people-powered” transition to new management in Boston’s government workplace.

The town will set up new bus lanes on Columbus Avenue in Egleston/Jackson Sq., North Washington Road within the North and West ends and Washington Road in Roslindale, all locations “the place working individuals depend on MBTA buses very closely,” Walsh stated.

And lots of pop-up bike lanes created in downtown Boston will likely be made everlasting, the mayor stated, asking for endurance as building employees make the adjustments.

As for outside eating, which has been a lifeline for a lot of restaurant house owners, 550 permits have been issued up to now. Waiting for fall and winter, many have began to place out propane heaters.

Walsh famous that he is heard meteorologists forecast that the remainder of the yr will likely be gentle, and joked, “please stick with it so we may help our eating places.”

Usually, followers could be cheering collectively at crowded bars as they watched the Boston Celtics win Sport 7 and transfer on to the Jap Convention Finals, however the pandemic has modified that.

Boston has helped eating places put up boundaries and ramps, however past waiving charges for permits to make use of heaters, institutions received’t be getting any help to purchase gear to maintain diners heat.

“We received’t come up with the money for, I feel, to have the ability to construct infrastructure round these services,” Walsh stated, including, “we’re going to attempt to proceed to be inventive as we transfer ahead.“

Eating places may even should proceed to abide by security rules.

Final week, Gov. Charlie Baker prolonged the window for outside eating throughout Massachusetts as effectively.