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Frequently Asked Questions about Biking in Cambridge
- Riding a Bike in the City
- Bicycle Parking
- Getting Around
- The Streets of Cambridge
- Police and Enforcement
- Additional Sources of Information and Services
Riding a Bike in the City
1. What are the traffic laws and regulations governing bicycling in Cambridge?
In general, bicyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as motorists when traveling on the public ways in Massachusetts. There are a few differences, such as those surrounding bicycling on sidewalks; using lights at night; and wearing helmets (see below for links). Bicyclists have the right to travel on all public ways except limited access highways.
Go to Massachusetts
State Laws
Go to Cambridge
Traffic Regulations
2. Am I allowed to bicycle on the sidewalk?
State law permits bicyclists to travel on sidewalks in the interest of safety except as directed by local ordinance. In general, it is more appropriate and prudent to bicycle in the street, and Cambridge is making every effort to making the city streets safe and comfortable for bicycling. However, it is recognized that there are times when sidewalk riding will be used, for example, with young children. Cambridge traffic regulations require that bicyclists on sidewalks travel at a walking speed and yield to pedestrians.
Sidewalk riding is not permitted in the business districts of Harvard Square, Central Square, Porter Square, Inman Square, Huron Ave., and sections of Mass. Ave. north of Harvard Square.
Go
to Maps of the Districts
3. What types of lights do I need on my bike and when do I need to use them?
Massachusetts law requires bicyclists to use a white front light from 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise. Visibility is a critical matter for bicyclists. Nearly half of all cycling deaths nationally involve cyclists riding at night without lights, although only 3% of biking occurs after dark. It is important for cyclists to understand that front lights are important primarily so that other travelers can see them. Reflectors alone do not make a bicycle visible at night. Light from a reflector bounces directly back to where it came from, so reflectors are of no use when car headlights are not pointed directly at the bike. Only a front light makes the bicycle visible to pedestrians, to drivers about to open a car door into the street, and to drivers who are backing up.
The law also requires a red rear light or reflector and reflectors on the pedals or reflective material on the rider’s ankles. .Lights are strongly encouraged on the back of the bicycle, as these provide stronger visibility.
Go
to Full Text of the Law
4. What are the laws about wearing helmets?
Massachusetts law requires any person 16 years old or younger riding a bicycle to wear a helmet. Helmets are a good idea for everyone. Wearing a bicycle helmet is the single most effective way to lower your risk of traumatic brain injury and death when you or your children ride a bike. A helmet protects your head by absorbing the force of an impact that otherwise would hurt you. Thick plastic foam inside the hard outer shell of the helmet provides padding so the helmet takes the force of the blow, instead of your head.
For more information on helmets:
Go to Bicycle
Helmet Safety Institute
Go
to Information on How to Wear a Helmet Correctly
5. How can I register my bike?
Bicycle registration is free and is done through the Cambridge Police Department. It is very important to register your bike; should it ever be taken, it is through the registration that the bicycle can be returned to you.
Go
to Information
on How to Register a Bike
6. How can I get a “Watch for Bikes” sticker?
The City of Cambridge distributes “Watch for Bikes” decals to put on the side and/or rear view mirrors of cars, to remind drivers to Watch for Bikes when turning and opening car doors. You can get one by sending an email to cseiderman@cambridgema.gov or calling 617/349-4604.
Bicycle Parking
7. Where am I allowed to park my bicycle?
Bicycles are permitted to park on a bicycle rack or street sign pole, against a building, or on another facility specifically intended for that purpose. Under no circumstances shall a bicycle obstruct the pedestrian path of travel or handicap access ramps. A parked bicycle must leave at least a 36-inch obstruction-free path of travel. Bicycles are not permitted to be parked to: fire hydrants, hand railings, benches, trees, trash receptacles and parking meters.
8. Is there a limit to how long a bicycle is permitted to be parked on the sidewalk/public way?
Time limits for bicycle parking apply in the city’s designated business district:; Harvard and Central Squares. See maps of the districts for exact streets that are included.
Bicycles are permitted to be parked for 72 hours (3 days), after which they may be tagged. Once a bicycle is tagged, an owner will have 72 hours (3 days) to remove it, or it may be taken by DPW and stored for a minimum of 30 days prior to disposal.
9. How can I report an abandoned bike?
If you see a bicycle on public property that appears to be abandoned – not used, in dysfunctional condition – you can report it to the DPW. In order to be removed, the bicycle must meet the legal definition of being abandoned. DPW will tag it and remove it, after which it will be held at DPW for a minimum of 30 days prior to disposal.
10. My bicycle is gone from where I parked it. What do I do?
You can call two places: the Department of Public Works (DPW), 617/349-4800 or the Police Department, 617/349-3204. If you think your bicycle may have been taken by DPW because you left it parked illegally (e. g., attached to a bench or tree) or because it was left in a business district for a long time, try DPW first. If you think it more likely that it was stolen, and that none of the above apply, contact the Police Department. Retrieving your bicycle in either case will be much easier if registered.
Go
to Registration
Information
11. How can I ask for more bike racks in a particular area?
Go
to Instructions
on How You Can Request Bicycle Racks
12. How can I get more information about bicycle parking on private property?
Go
to Comprehensive Information on Providing Well-Designed and Placed Bicycle Parking Facilities.
13. What are the zoning requirements for providing bicycle parking?
Bicycle parking is required in most new projects and renovations for commercial and multi-unit residential buildings. Zoning covers how many racks are required, what design they must have, and how they must be placed.
For more information see Article
6 of the Cambridge Zoning Ordinance.
Learn
more about the Cambridge Zoning Ordinance.
Getting Around
14. How can I find the best route for my trip?
The following web sites have maps and route information that may help you identify good travel routes by bicycle in the Boston/Cambridge area:
Go to MassBike
Go to Bikemaps.com
15. Where are there off-road bicycle/multi-use paths in the area?
Go
to Map
of Bicycle Facilities in Cambridge (373 KB)
There are two major regional bicycle paths that are in Cambridge and connect to neighboring communities:
Dr. Paul Dudley White Bike Path
The official name of the path along the Charles River is the Dr. Paul Dudley White Bike Path. It is owned and managed by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR). For more information: 617/626-1250. To report problems on the path call 617/626-4973.
Go
to Information about the Charles River Paths as Well as
Other Bicycle Paths Managed by DCR
Minuteman Commuter Bikeway
The Minuteman Bikeway runs from Alewife to Bedford.
Go
to Minuteman Bikeway Web Site
Go
to MassBike's Bikeway Web Page
The Streets of Cambridge
16. How can I report street defects and potholes?
The Department of Public Works is responsible for the repair or reconstruction of streets and sidewalks in order to ensure that all public right if ways are safe and accessible at all times. If you would like to report a street or sidewalk defect, please call the Operations Center at 617/349-4800, 617/349-4846 or email theworks@cambridgema.gov and leave your name, phone number and the address of the defect.
To
report potholes, please call the pothole hotline at 617/349-4854 or email theworks@cambridgema.gov.
Please provide the street address closest to where the pothole is located.
17. How can I get information about roadway construction?
Information about major projects that are under development or construction can be found at:
Go
to Information on Roadway Projects – Planning and Design
Go
to Roadway Projects – Construction
Updates
For
construction
information call: 617/349-4863
18. How can I report a missing or broken sign?
To report a sign that is missing, vandalized, faded, illegible, twisted, damaged, pointing or facing in wrong direction, go to:
Go
to Street Signs Web Page
19. How can I report a problem with a traffic signal?
Go
to General Information about Traffic Signal Operations
in Cambridge
Go
to Form for Reporting a Problem or Concern
about a Traffic Signal
Police and Enforcement
20. How do I report a bad driver?
To complain about a driver who drove so as to endanger you, whether through extreme carelessness or malevolence, send a letter describing the incident with the license plate number to the Registry of Motor Vehicles "Office of Driver Control, PO Box 199150, Boston, MA 02119-9150".
21. How do I report an accident/crash?
Go
to How to Report a Crash
22. How do I report traffic-related problems such as double parking?
If you would like to report a specific or general problem, you can contact the following divisions. It is helpful if you can identify the exact location(s), such as with nearby street addresses:
- Traffic, Parking and Transportation Department Enforcement Division 617/349-4731
- Cambridge Police Department Traffic Unit 617/349-3307
Additional Sources of Information and Services
Go
to an Excellent Public Clearinghouse for Information about Bicycling
23. Where can I find bicycle advocacy organizations?
Boston:
Go
to Bike the Hub
Go
to MassBike
Massachusetts:
Go
to Bike the Hub
Go
to MassBike
National:
Go
to America Bikes
Go
to League of American Bicyclists
Go
to Rails to Trails Conservancy
Go
to National Center for Bicycling and Walking
24. Where can I find a local bicycle store?
Listed below are bicycle shops in Cambridge. This list is for informational purposes only; the City does not endorse private enterprises.
- ATA Cycle
1700 Mass. Ave.
617/776-2100 - The Bicycle Exchange at Porter Square
2067 Mass. Ave.
617/864-1300 - Broadway Bicycle School, Ltd.
351 Broadway
617/868-3392 - Cambridge Bicycle
259 Mass. Ave.
617/876-6555 - Eastern Mountain Sports
1 Brattle Square
617/864-1540
For More Information
For more information about bicycling in Cambridge, please contact Cara Seiderman, cseiderman@cambridgema.gov, at 617/349-4629. The Community Development Department TTY line is 617/349-4621.
Return
to Bicycle Programs
Return
to Environmental and Transportation Planning Division
Return to Community
Development Department home
