Stop the delay of separated bike lanes on Cambridge St and Broadway to 2027
Mayor Simmons, Councilor Nolan, Councilor Pickett, Councilor Toner, Councilor Wilson
On April 29 the Cambridge City Council voted 5 to 4 to start a process that would result in delaying separated bike lanes on Cambridge St and Broadway to as late 2027, instead of 2025 as currently planned. These projects not only reduce crashes for people on bikes by 50%, they also include safety improvements for pedestrians, particularly important as Broadway and Cambridge St are used by many school children. Our deepest thanks to Councilors Azeem, Siddiqui, Sobrinho-Wheeler and Vice-Mayor McGovern for voting against the delay, and for for their continued support for residents’, workers’, and visitors’ safety while biking and walking.
Why is this proposed delay so harmful?
On Cambridge St alone, since 2021 there have been at least 65 crashes of pedestrians and people on bikes (+ other forms of active transportation), which led to at least 43 people being injured. Of those injured, at least 27 left in an ambulance. And that's just Cambridge St!
Every additional year's delay to safety improvements means more injuries, and the risk of people dying. Please sign our petition to help prevent this; we'll also keep you updated on our progress, and how else you can help.
This delay isn't final: there are still multiple meetings and 3 to 4 votes ahead of us before the delay becomes law.
The petition is addressed to Mayor Simmons, and Councilors Nolan, Wilson, Toner, and Pickett, all of whom voted in support of this dangerous delay. We hope that they will reverse course and instead choose to keep our residents, visitors, and workers safe.
Note: Even if you don't live in Cambridge, please fill out this petition if this issue affects you—we want shoppers, workers, and visitors to Cambridge to be safe too!
To:
Mayor Simmons, Councilor Nolan, Councilor Pickett, Councilor Toner, Councilor Wilson
From:
[Your Name]
Please continue to expand our network of safe streets with the urgency it deserves. Specifically, do not vote to amend, weaken, or delay the 2020 Cycling Safety Ordinance. The city-wide network of separated bicycle lanes and their associated improvements to pedestrian safety, public transit, and accessibility, should be completed on schedule and without compromises to safety.