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Cambridge Street Bicycle Safety Demonstration Project

Please find links to project evaluation materials below in the "The Latest" and in the the "Documents" tab.

Cambridge Street, from Inman Square to Quincy Street, is a busy transportation corridor with a variety of uses, ranging from the Cambridge Rindge and Latin High School/War Memorial complex and Cambridge Hospital to small retail shops and residential buildings. This is also a corridor without marked bicycle facilities and a higher than average rate of bicycle crashes compared to other streets in the city. In spring 2016 the City Council adopted a Vision Zero commitment to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries. Aligned with this commitment, the City of Cambridge has undertaken a demonstration project to create separated bicycle facilities from Inman Square to Quincy Street. The project was implemented August 2017 and created using temporary materials such as paint, flex posts, etc. The goal of the project is to improve the safety of all users and make this section of Cambridge Street a more attractive corridor for cycling, walking, taking transit and enjoying the neighborhood.

Cambridge street bicycle safety demonstration project rendering

January 2019

The following evaluation materials are now available in the Documents tab:

All evaluation materials are now available and posted in the Documents tab.

December 2018

Evaluation Materials Available

The following evaluation materials are now available in the Documents tab:

Fall 2018

The City is finishing its analysis of data and public feedback of the Cambridge Street project.  Results of that will be released for discussion later this fall.  

Spring 2018

As an important part of the project assessment, the City has collecting follow-up data and feedback from community members, including those who walk, bike, drive, and use public transit on the street, through a Wikimap public comment map. You can give feedback on the public comment map using the following link: bit.ly/CambridgeStWiki

August 2017

Installation of separated bike lanes on Cambridge Street, between Quincy and Fayette Streets, was completed in August 2017. 

Following a robust community process, the street design includes two travel lanes, one parking lane, and separated bicycle lanes in each direction. Implementation was completed through installation of new pavement markings and signage. With the completion of this project, cyclists off all ages and abilities now have a safer way to travel along Cambridge Street between Harvard Square and Inman Square. See the project flyer for a description of benefits and more information.

An evaluation process is planned for the project and will be completed in the spring of 2018 so that complete data can be collected on the project. Please send your feedback on the project here: TrafficFeedback@CambridgeMA.gov.

March 2017: Began public engagement – met with stakeholders and reviewed design issues

April/May 2017: Conducted parking study, first public meeting, began concept formulation and continued meetings with stakeholders

May 2017: Refined concept and held second public meeting, produced signage and pavement markings plans

August 2017: Implemented separated bicycle lanes and new pavement markings

Fall 2017 - 2018: Data collection/evaluation

Given the bicycle related tragedies in 2016, the community asked the City Manager to accelerate the implementation of the Cambridge Bicycle Plan and to implement projects including separated bicycle lanes more quickly. The Cambridge Street Bicycle Safety Demonstration Project, which included separated bicycle lanes, was implemented in August 2017.

In December of 2016, two sections of separated bicycle facilities were installed on Mass. Avenue, in Central Square and between Waterhouse Street intersection and Everett Street, in front of Harvard Law School. Inman Square is also being redesigned and more information on that project may be found here.

Additional separated facilities are being studied for implementation this spring and fall.

For questions please contact:

Bill Deignan, Cambridge Community Development Department, wdeignan@cambridgema.gov, 617/349-4632