Cambridge Bicycle Plan 2020

In June 2021, the City of Cambridge published Cambridge Bicycle Plan 2020, an update to the 2015 Cambridge Bicycle Plan: Toward a Bikeable Future. The Bicycle Plan lays out a vision for where we as a City want to be, with the guiding principle to enable people of all ages, abilities, and identities to bike safely and comfortably throughout Cambridge. It provides the framework for developing a network of bicycle-friendly streets and supporting programs and policies that will help meet this goal.

There were a number of important policy, planning, and program updates in Cambridge between 2015 and 2020, including:

The City adopted a Vision Zero Policy and a Complete Streets Policy.
Metro Boston's public bike share system, Bluebikes, grew significantly in terms of stations, members, and participating cities and towns.
The Safe Routes to School program was fully established in every public school, with educational programs in elementary, middle, and high school.
Public bike workshops and events grew in frequency and breadth, occurring routinely throughout the year.
The network of bicycle facilities continued to grow, with new requirements for separated bike lanes as part of the Cambridge Cycling Safety Ordinance passed in 2019.

Through the Bicycle Plan 2020 process, the City incorporated these changes and others, and engaged with the Cambridge community to learn how things have been working and what people’s hopes are for the future.

The video below gives an overview of the Bicycle Plan and some of the highlights of the update. Closed captions are available and can be manually turned on and off at the bottom of the video screen.

Below the video you will find a brief description of each of the chapters in Bicycle Plan 2020, and links to read the full chapters and appendices. Additional information can be found at the bottom of this page.

Bicycle Plan 2020 Chapters

Click on the "Full Chapter" button in the corresponding box to view a high-resolution version that full chapter. To view a lower-resolution version of the entire Bicycle Plan, click here.

Cover Page, Credits, and Table of Contents

Bicycle Plan 2020 cover

Full Chapter

Preface

Highlights of the 2020 update and adaptations made in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

inman dining

Full Chapter

Chapter 1: People, Policies, & Goals

Recognizing barriers to biking and striving to make biking safe and comfortable for all members of our diverse community; Policies and plans supporting bicycling in Cambridge; The City's vision, goals, and targets for bicycling; Process for updating the Bicycle Plan.

parent and child on bike

Full Chapter

Chapter 2: Bicycle Transportation

Benefits of bicycling; How people use bikes and how they feel about biking; How we can support people to bike more.

bike plan yard sign park

Full Chapter

Chapter 3: Information and Reporting

How the City gathers feedback and data on bicycling; Analysis and trends of biking in Cambridge.

Eco-totem

Full Chapter

Chapter 4: Bicycle Facility Toolbox

Principles and tools that guide bicycling planning in Cambridge; Different types of bicycle facilities and infrastructure and how they are used.

quincy two way facility

Full Chapter

Chapter 5: The Bicycle Network Vision

The process, methodology, and tools for prioritizing high-quality bicycle infrastructure improvements; Updated Cambridge Bicycle Network Vision map.

Bike plan maps

Full Chapter

Chapter 6: Bicycle Programs

Community outreach and engagement programs, events, and strategies; Collaborations, initiatives, and regulations that support bicycling in Cambridge.

power pedal flyer

Full Chapter

Chapter 7: Bicycle Parking and Public Bicycle Repair Facilities

Types of bicycle parking and bicycle parking regulations; Public bicycle repair stands.

annex covered bike parking

Full Chapter

Chapter 8: Public Transportation and Public Bike Share

Integrating biking and the MBTA; Overview, benefits, and growth of Bluebikes, Greater Boston's bike share system.

bluebikes

Full Chapter

Chapter 9: Operation and Maintenance

How bicycle infrastructure and road surfaces are maintained; Reporting maintenance needs; Construction management.

filling pothole

Full Chapter

Chapter 10: Action Items

Status of action items; Ongoing bicycle planning work.

action items

Full Chapter

Appendix A: Cambridge Community Survey Summary (2014)

Overview and results of 2014 community survey on bicycling behavior and preferences.

Full Chapter

Appendix B: Cambridge Community Needs Survey Summary (2020)

Overview and results of 2020 community survey on bicycling behavior and needs.

Full Chapter

Appendix C: Cambridge Bicycle Conversations Summary

Overview and results of the Cambridge Bicycle Conversations, interviews with Cambridge residents and workers about biking and transportation that took place in 2019 and 2020.

Full Chapter

Appendix D: Existing and Planned Bicycle Facilities Map

Map of existing and planned bicycle facilities in Cambridge, as of May 2021.

Full Chapter

Appendix E: Bicycle Level of Comfort Criteria

Factors for determining the Bicycle Level of Comfort of a street or path.

Full Chapter

Appendix F: Bicycle Network Vision Map

High resolution map of the 2020 Cambridge Bicycle Network Vision.

Full Chapter

Appendix G: Bicycle Network Vision Reponse

More details about the Bicycle Network Vision.

Full Chapter

Appendix H: Quick-Build Bikeway Project Selection, Concept Development, and Prioritization Process

Background on quick-build implementation and the steps for selecting and prioritizing quick-build projects.

Full Chapter

Appendix I: Cambridge Bicycle Parking Guide

Guide to bicycle parking regulations in Cambridge.

Full Chapter

Additional Information

Community Process

The 2020 Cambridge Bicycle Plan Update included a robust community process in 2019 and 2020. To learn more about the events, activities, and opportunities included in the community process, view Chapter 1 of the Bicycle Plan or contact the Bicycle Plan team at bikeplan@cambridgema.gov or 617-349-4600.

2015 Cambridge Bicycle Plan

Click on the links below to view the chapters for the 2015 Bicycle Plan.

More Information

Click the links below for more information about the following topics:

Contact

For more information or questions about the Cambridge Bicycle Plan, contact the Bicycle Plan team at bikeplan@cambridgema.gov or 617-349-4600.

Accessibility Statement

The City of Cambridge does not discriminate, including on the basis of disability. We may provide auxiliary aids and services, written materials in alternative formats, and reasonable modifications in policies and procedures to people with disabilities. For more information contact bikeplan@cambridgema.gov, 617-349-4600 (voice), or via relay at 711.

Bicycle Plan 2020 Chapters

Cover Page, Credits, and Table of Contents

Preface

Chapter 1: People, Policies, & Goals

Chapter 2: Bicycle Transportation

Chapter 3: Information and Reporting

Chapter 4: Bicycle Facility Toolbox

Chapter 5: The Bicycle Network Vision

Chapter 6: Bicycle Programs

Chapter 7: Bicycle Parking and Public Bicycle Repair Facilities

Chapter 8: Public Transportation and Public Bike Share

Chapter 9: Operation and Maintenance

Chapter 10: Action Items

Appendix A: Cambridge Community Survey Summary (2014)

Appendix B: Cambridge Community Needs Survey Summary (2020)

Appendix C: Cambridge Bicycle Conversations Summary

Appendix D: Existing and Planned Bicycle Facilities Map

Appendix E: Bicycle Level of Comfort Criteria

Appendix F: Bicycle Network Vision Map

Appendix G: Bicycle Network Vision Reponse

Appendix H: Quick-Build Bikeway Project Selection, Concept Development, and Prioritization Process

Appendix I: Cambridge Bicycle Parking Guide

Additional Information

Community Process

2015 Cambridge Bicycle Plan

More Information

Contact

Accessibility Statement

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