August 30, 2024 - (Cambridge, MA) In November 2022, Cambridge in Massachusetts, made a significant change to a half-mile section of Garden Street as a project of its Cycling Safety Ordinance (CSO), a 2019 law that requires the city to build 25 miles of separated bike lanes by 2026.
With the passage of that bill, Cambridge, located near Boston, became the first city in the USA to mandate separated bike lanes, making it one of the most-progressive safe-biking cities in the country (read more here).
The results of the Garden Street project were astounding as heads turned when after just four months, even into the heart of winter, the impact of installing fully separated bike lanes in both directions saw a 300% increase in bike mode share, with bike volumes skyrocketing by over 500%.
The Garden St. initiative was not without controversy as opponents tried to halt the project twice, claiming it violated the city’s traffic rules and regulations. But a judge sided with the City both times, stating that bicycle lanes are not rules and regulations, but rather are markings and other traffic control devices.
Given the sensitivities, City officials performed numerous traffic counts before and after the project was installed, further validating the incredibly positive response to the separated bike lanes.
If fact, the positive impact on ridership was even more widespread as the city’s Bluebikes bike share in the vicinity saw increases as well. According to the Boston Cyclists Union that helped execute the project, “There is clearly demand by residents to bike more, they are just waiting for safer streets, like the improved Garden Street.”
Since the CSO was implemented a Bicycling in Cambridge Data Report 2023 supports the City’s cycling, safety, comfort and Vision Zero goals.
• 80% more separated bicycle facilities since 2004
• 9% of residents bicycle to work, an all-time high
• 25% travel by bicycle to commercial districts
• 33% of all Cambridge households have no vehicles
• 3.5x more children on bikes, trailers, bike seats, or in cargo bikes
• Cycling levels increased 400% between 2002 and 2022
• Total miles of bicycle facilities more than doubled since 2004
• Bluebikes bike share trips reached highest-ever levels in 2022
• Bicycle crash rates decreased 67% and serious injuries declined 84%
Read more at the City of Cambridge here.
Read the Boston Cyclists Union report here
More on the controversy in the Cambridge Day here.
