Photo: Carl Stevens / WBZ NewsRadio
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio 1030) — Back in 2020, the Cambridge City Council set a goal of installing 25 miles of separated bike lanes.
That goal was an amendment to the city’s ‘Cycling Safety Ordinance’ which set strict deadlines and requirements for separated bike lanes through 2026. But now, some residents are questioning the millions of dollars needed to build the lanes.
Cambridge is no different than other cities where motorists share congested streets with bicyclists. Accidents, injuries, and fatalities between vehicles and bicyclists are fairly common in Cambridge, especially in busy areas such as Porter Square and along Mass. Ave.
Creating safer conditions for bicyclists such as adding bike lanes is a balancing act for city leaders taking into account other concerns that include business owners who don’t want to lose parking spots for their customers.
This Cambridge bicyclist wants the City Council to approve the money for separated bike lanes. ”Having more bike lanes would be beneficial to bikers,” he said. He added that car drivers don’t respect bikers. “Cars sometimes make it difficult to get around.”
Meanwhile, some residents are saying the tens of millions of dollars needed to fund the additional bike lanes is just too much money to spend.
WBZ's Carl Stevens (@carlwbz) reports.
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