Cambridge takes major steps towards expanding its network of protected bike lanes
On Monday, June 26th, after hearing testimony from dozens of residents and business owners, including many of you, the Cambridge City Council passed an ordinance asking the City Manager “to accelerate the planning and installation of two or more protected bike lanes by September, produce a plan by October 2017 for the roll-out of protected bike lanes on all major city thoroughfares, and ensure that the CambridgeBike Plan recommendations are fully implemented on all road projects.” (Wicked Local Cambridge)
To add to this fantastic news, this week the City created a new stretch of protected bike lane on Mass Ave, as well as a 2-way protected bike lane on a stretch of Brattle Street in Harvard Square! The Brattle Street protected bike lane is a particularly welcome change because it creates a safe and legal way for people biking to ride contraflow (which was very common before the change), and motor vehicle traffic now flows slowly and safely on Brattle Street thanks to the lane reduction.
Mass Ave (top) and Brattle Street (bottom). Photo courtesy of Cambridge Bike Safety
These steps are thanks to the passionate advocacy of the Cambridge Bicycle Safety group, as well as continued pressure from the Bike Union and other neighborhood activists. We can’t wait to see the City’s plan for implementing protected bike lanes on its major thoroughfares! If you want to help the City decide where these new protected bike lanes should go, fill out this survey!
Want to see even more protected bike lanes in Cambridge? The City is currently accepting ideas for the 2017 Participatory Budgeting ballot! In past years, protected bike lanes have been the most popular ideas in the Participatory Budgeting process, and in fact, these two projects were funded through the Participatory Budgeting process! Click here to submit your ideas!