Cambridge Sets Timeline To Complete Protected Bike Lane Network

CAMBRIDGE, MA – The city took a major step forward Monday night, when the Cambridge City Council passed an ordinance requiring that the vast majority of Cambridge’s network of protected bike lanes be built within six years.

Supporters say this sets the most ambitious such target in the nation.

The move comes after years of petitioning and work from residents and activists. Although Cambridge committed to Vision Zero campaign to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries, it continues to see cyclist deaths and serious injuries every year. Community members repeatedly called for protected bike lanes throughout the city.

"It's heartbreaking that people have lost lives and health because these safety improvements didn't happen sooner," said Cambridge Bicycle Safety member Janie Katz-Christy.

The updated Cycling Safety Ordinance sets a May 1, 2026 deadline for Cambridge’s 22.6 mile network of protected bike lanes to be installed, and includes milestones for yearly progress updates.

The ordinance amends last year’s landmark Cycling Safety Ordinance, which required protected bike lanes to be included when streets are reconstructed, by also adding a timeline for a connected network of protected bike lanes to be installed.

Each street segment in the network is slated to be designed following the City’s usual community process, with public meetings gathering feedback to help the City improve their designs.

“The ordinance was designed with a robust community process in mind, and the process of designing each street segment will also provide an exciting opportunity to make improvements that reduce delay for busses, improve pedestrian safety, and make it easier for businesses to receive deliveries," Cambridge Bicycle Safety co-founder Nate Fillmore said.

During the last City Council election cycle, it was such a hot topic, several candidates pledged to push for rapid implementation of a network of protected bike lanes.

In the City’s 2018 bi-annual resident survey, the survey asked residents if they agreed with the statement: “I would like to see the City install more protected bike lanes in Cambridge.” Of those who expressed agreement or disagreement, 71 percent of online respondents and 70 percent of telephone respondents agreed, according to the Cambridge Bicycle Safety group.

“This ordinance builds on the ground breaking ordinance passed last term, and brings us closer to creating a bike safety network that will increase safety for all modes of transportation,” said City Councillor Marc McGovern, who was the lead sponsor of the original Cycling Safety Ordinance and co-drafted the updated ordinance along with the office of City Manager Louis DePasquale, City Councillors Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler and Cambridge Bicycle Safety, an all-volunteer cycle activist group.

“City streets and sidewalks are public property and as such we need to ensure the best use of public property,” said City Councillor Patty Nolan. “The Cycling Safety Ordinance is a step in the right direction.”