We're Adding Separated Bike Lanes to Part of Main Street - and We Want to Hear from You

The City of Cambridge is looking for your thoughts as we launch the Main Street Safety Improvement Project! 

The Main Street Safety Improvement Project will add separated bike lanes on Main Street between Massachusetts Avenue and Portland Street. This quick-build project will change the layout of the street with new pavement markings, modified traffic signals, and flex posts. We will also improve existing crosswalks and make changes to parking and loading. 

Separated bike lanes are wider than regular bike lanes because they include an additional buffer area and flex-posts, which create distance between people biking and people driving or parking. In order to fit separated bike lanes on this section of Main Street, we will have to remove about half of the existing parking/loading. 

At a community meeting on March 16 and an in-person open house on March 22, City staff introduced the project and discussed current conditions on the street. Learn more on the project webpage. 

Now, the City is looking for more feedback that will help inform designs for the street. A few questions to get you started:

• How do you currently use Main Street?
• Where is it most important to keep parking or loading? Which parking or loading types are most important to you?
• What elements of the street do you like?
• Where do you have safety concerns while walking, riding, or driving on Main Street?
• What can Cambridge improve on Main Street?

There are a few ways to give feedback:

• Comment Map: Leave location-specific feedback on our comment map. Click 'Submit a comment" to leave a note at a specific location, or "heart" other comments that you agree with. 
• Feedback Form: If you have feedback or comments that aren't tied to a specific location, submit them using our feedback form.
• Emailing the Project Manager: If you're having trouble with the map or feedback form, email Project Manager Stephen Meuse at smeuse@cambridgema.gov.

The City takes all comments into account, so don't worry about which format you use—all forms of feedback will be considered.

More Ways to Get Involved:

• Learn more on the Main Street Safety Improvement Project website
• Sign up for the project email list
• Learn about other separated bike lane projects