Photo: Jay Willett/WBZ NewsRadio
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — A controversial bike lane plan is moving forward in Cambridge.
The City of Cambridge plans to install separate bike lanes along Broadway Street between Quincy and Portland streets, as part of an overall safety improvement project.
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The plan was unveiled in January and immediately met with criticism. Over a thousand residents filed a petition over their concern for losing parking spaces.
"The bike lane is necessary, but the roads are already small enough," one resident told WBZ NewsRadio Wednesday. "That just makes more traffic and makes people more upset that they’re sitting in traffic."
"Better to maybe just take it a little bit slow and really examine things before you just push ahead with plans like that," said Bob, who lives on Broadway.
Cambridge city councilors voted Monday to reject a proposed policy order to delay the project. During the hours-long meeting, dozens of speakers voiced their support for the planned bike lanes, describing the street as scary and hectic for cyclists and sharing stories about crashes. The council said it would seek out alternative parking solutions.
"I’m glad to hear that. I’m always for safety, extra safety," a Cambridge man said.
The earliest portion of the separated lanes is scheduled to go in this summer near Kendall Square. The remainder towards Harvard Square is slated for 2026.
WBZ's Jay Willett (@JayWillettWBZ) reports.