Cambridge Releases Second Annual Cycling Safety Ordinance Progress Report

The City of Cambridge this week released its second annual Cycling Safety Ordinance Progress Report, detailing progress made this year to install separated bike lanes and outlining work planned for the next year.

The Cycling Safety Ordinance passed by the Cambridge City Council sets ambitious requirements for the installation of approximately 25 miles of separated bike lanes and requires annual progress reports on improvements made each year.

From May 2021 to April 2022 ("Separated Bike Lane Year 2"), the City completed or began construction on 2.11 miles of separated bike lanes, and designed another .56 miles. Completed quick-build projects included sections of Massachusetts Avenue and Somerville Avenue. 

From May 2022 to April 2023 ("Separated Bike Lane Year 3"), the City plans to install the .56 miles of separated bike lanes designed in Year 2, and to install or start construction on an additional 3.67 miles, for a total of 4.23 miles. Planned projects include sections of Brattle Street, Cambridge Street, Garden Street, Holworthy Street, Huron Avenue, Main Street, Massachusetts Avenue and River Street. These planned projects could change; factors that could lengthen implementation schedules include the need for extended community engagement and coordination with utility work or other construction. 

Separated bike lanes create space that is physically separated from vehicle traffic, which improves safety and comfort for people biking. 

The Cycling Safety Ordinance requires the installation of separated bike lanes on:

• all of Massachusetts Avenue
• Broadway from Quincy Street to Hampshire Street
• Cambridge Street from Oak Street to Second Street
• Hampshire Street from Amory Street to Broadway
• Garden Street, eastbound from Huron Avenue to Berkeley Street, and westbound from Mason Street to Huron Avenue

The Ordinance also requires 11.6 more miles of separated bike lanes in other locations that are part of the City’s Bicycle Network Vision.

Learn more about the Cycling Safety Ordinance and related projects on the Cycling Safety Ordinance webpage.

Click here to read the Second Annual Cycling Safety Ordinance Progress Report, which details the quick-build and construction projects completed in Separated Bike Lane Year 2, and those planned for Year 3.