Cambridge Cycling Safety Ordinance
Cycling Safety Ordinance
In October 2020, the Cambridge City Council amended the Cycling Safety Ordinance to require the installation of approximately 25 Miles of Separated Bike Lanes Across the Entire City, Including the Whole Length of Mass Ave., within the next five to seven years. Their design has severely impacted businesses, pedestrians, traffic and all who use Mass Ave. A design is needed that allows for safe streets, and supports our residents, businesses, elderly and disabled.
The Map shows the City of Cambridge’s proposed network of protected bike lanes, from its 2015 Bicycle Plan, Updated in 2020. Proposed amendments to the city’s Cycling Safety Ordinance would require at least 22.6 lane-miles of this network – including the specific segments highlighted in red dashed lines – to be built by 2026.
Click on Map for Larger image, Map Courtesy of the City of Cambridge.
Mass Ave Partial Construction
MassAve4 Partial Construction Project was initiated in response to the City’s Cycling Safety Ordina
Project information available here:
- Improve safety for people biking in the project area
- Improve safety for people walking at existing crosswalks
- Improve safety for transit riders with enhanced markings and signage at bus stops
- Improve travel times and reliability of MBTA buses
- Maintaining loading and short-term parking access to support local businesses
- Implement changes in line with the Cambridge Bicycle Plan and Vision Zero Action Plan
- Meet the requirements of the Cambridge Cycling Safety Ordinance, which includes the requirement to add separated bike lanes
In the Cycling Safety Ordinance, four segments of Mass Ave that have complicating factors were identified as the “MassAve4”
- Segment A - Massachusetts Ave Dudley Street to Beech Street
- Segment B - Massachusetts Ave Roseland Street to Waterhouse Street
- Segment C - Harvard Square Bus Stop Garden Street to Church Street
- Segment D - Harvard Square Bus Stop Dunster Street to Plympton Street
MassAve4 Mass Ave Partial Construction Project click for larger image
Brattle Street: Between Mason St & Mount Auburn St
Installation Updates
Next week, the City will install Phase 1 of the Brattle Street Safety Improvement Project, between Mason Street and Sparks Street. The City of Cambridge plan to use tube-style cones to separate people biking from vehicle traffic until concrete curbing becomes available this winter. These cones are taller and have a heavier base than a typical traffic cone.
Starting 11/07/22
The City of Cambridge plan to put down all final pavement markings. This includes:
- Adding a two-way separated bike lane between Mason Street and Sparks Street
- Reconfiguring the intersection of Brattle Street with Craigie Street
- Painting all remaining crosswalks
- Finalizing all other remaining road markings, including parking stalls, turn arrows, and lane lines
Parking Restrictions
On Tuesday, November 8, City crews will remove all parking signs on the north side of the street and replace them with "No Stopping" signs. You will start to notice temporary signage beginning on Monday, November 7, to let people know that these changes are coming.
Timeline
Wednesday, November 9, at 8 p.m. Additional nights of work may be needed on an ongoing basis. This work is weather dependent and we will communicate any changes we make to the schedule.
We anticipate having all curbing installed by January 2023. Curbing will be installed by a city contractor, E.M. Lofgren, under city supervision.
More Information
Plan to install Phase 2 of the project in 2023, with community engagement continuing this winter. We look forward to hearing your feedback. Please let us know if you have any questions in the meantime
Garden Street: Huron Ave to Mason St. near Cambridge Common
Current Status: Installation Begins October 24
Project information available here:
- Converting Garden Street to a one-way for vehicles traveling eastbound (toward Harvard Square/Cambridge Common) between Huron Avenue and Concord Avenue.
- Installing separated bike lanes in both directions between Huron Avenue and Mason/Berkeley Street. (see FAQs below for more details)
- Improving crosswalks
- Making changes to parking and loading.
Timeline
We will begin installing this project on Monday, October 24, if weather permits. It will take about one week to install new traffic signals, update metal street signs, and add major markings on the road. We will add bicycle stencils, flex posts, and colored surface treatments in November.
Parking Restrictions
Temporary parking restrictions will be in place during this work. We will post signs on these restrictions at least 48 hours in advance.
Upcoming Bike Lane Projects
Three other quick-build separated bike lane projects between the fall of 2022 and spring 2023
The Hampshire Street Project
Connecting Inman Square to the Port and Kendall Square. We’ll install quick-build separated bike lanes along Hampshire Street between Inman Square and Broadway. We'll host a community open house next Monday, November 7, and the first community meeting on Tuesday, November 15. learn more at www.cambridgema.gov/HampshireStSafety.
Main Street Project
Connecting the Port and Kendall Square to Central Square. We’ll install quick-build separated bike lanes along Main Street from Lafayette Square (near Central Square) to Vassar Street (near MIT).
As part of the Mt. Auburn Street at Aberdeen Avenue Intersection
installing quick-build separated bike lanes on the left side of Aberdeen Avenue between Huron Street and Mt. Auburn Street. The project also involves traffic signal phasing changes to improve safety for all users and increase reliability for transit riders. The signal change portion of the project may involve some construction, but there shouldn’t be significant parking changes in the area