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BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — A bicycle safety pilot was announced to be coming for Massachusetts Avenue Bridge (the Harvard Bridge). The new development was revealed by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT), and was the result of a partnership between multiple parties such as the City of Boston, City of Cambridge, and the Department of Conservation and Recreation.
According to MassDOT's statement, the pilot "will reduce the number of vehicular travel lanes to one lane in each direction and will increase the available width of the bicycle lane to provide additional buffer space to separate cyclists from vehicles and trucks."
The separated bike lane was set to be installed by 5 A.M on Monday, November 22.
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“As we work to promote low-carbon travel options, our City needs to move urgently to protect the safety of our commuters and residents,” said Mayor of the City of Boston, Michelle Wu. “Boston is grateful to our local and state partners for helping this safety pilot come to fruition, connecting our communities and laying the groundwork for safer, more sustainable transportation infrastructure throughout the region.”
The news came across pleasant to local bikers, as many petitioned for a bike lane to be put in on Harvard Bridge. The Boston Cyclists Union sent a coalition statement to MassDOT last month, requesting a partnership be made to construct a separated bike lane on the bridge. They said that nearly 100% of vehicles traveling on Harvard Bridge exceed the speed limit of 25 miles per hour, with a median speed of 41 mph during daytime hours.
The letter was sent on behalf of organizations like MassBike, LiveableStreets Alliance, TransitMatters, Cambridge Bike Safety, and WalkBoston, all of which were included in MassDOT's announced partnerships for the scheduled project.
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