The Connect Downtown: Southwest Corridor Extension project could complete a safe bike route all the way from the Southwest Corridor path to Downtown, Beacon Hill and out to Cambridge (via the Longfellow.) This would have an enormous impact in getting more people on bikes and getting people to bike more often — but we need to first convince Boston to fill this gap entirely with protected (not painted) bike lanes.

Here’s what you can do:

• Attend an Open House — The Boston Transportation Department will host 3 Open House meetings where you can advocate directly for protected bike lanes (PBLs). The next meeting is this Thursday, March 5, from 6-8 p.m. at the Central Library, followed by meetings on 3/11 and 3/14.
  
  (Full schedule and meeting info here.)
   
• Join our campaign team — Since this project has so much potential to impact bike ridership and bike safety in Boston, we’re creating a campaign team dedicated to seeing it through. We are especially seeking residents of Beacon Hill, Back Bay, Chinatown and the South End to help build neighborhood support for bike lanes. We are also looking to connect with those of you who work on a street impacted by this project. To get involved in the campaign team, please contact Stephanie at supson@bostoncyclistsunion.org
   
• Attend BTD Office Hours — If you can’t attend an Open House, BTD is also holding office hours over the coming weeks where you can comment about the project. (Full schedule here.)
   
• Comment online — In-person feedback is best, but you can also take BTD’s online survey here.

This is one of the most critical projects related to biking in Boston because of the large area it covers, the many cyclists it impacts, and its potential to complete commuter routes and invite thousands of more cyclists to switch to commuting via bicycle. 

The goal is to develop a concept design in 2020, and then implement changes over several years. That means now is your best opportunity to get involved and to help us ensure the city opts for bike lanes that, like the rest of the Southwest Corridor, are physically separated from traffic.