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Residents urge Cambridge council to approve cycling-safety amendments; council extends deadlines
Summary
Dozens of residents urged the Cambridge City Council to pass the cycling-safety ordinance (CSO) amendments as written and without delay. The council adopted an amendment extending implementation deadlines and added a regular status report on the Grand Junction multiuse path.
Dozens of Cambridge residents pressed the City Council on Jan. 6 to approve amendments to the cycling-safety ordinance as written and to avoid further delays, citing recent cyclist deaths and the safety benefits of a connected network of protected bike lanes.
"It was very upsetting to hear about the 3 cyclist deaths in Cambridge last year," said Katie Blair, a resident at 351 Concord Ave., during the public-comment period, urging the council to "pass the amendments as is with no further changes or delays." Other commenters, including longtime cyclists, parents and business owners, described routine near-misses and called for a faster rollout of protected bike lanes on Cambridge Street, Broadway and Main Street.
Supporters argued that high-quality bike lanes improve safety for people walking and driving as well as cyclists, encourage healthier transportation, and boost local businesses by increasing foot traffic. "When bike lanes are safe, comfortable, and well kept, cyclists will prefer them over riding on the sidewalk or in the traffic lane," said Matthias Remillard, who works in Central Square and testified in favor of the ordinance.
City staff and councilors debated the ordinance's timeline and implementation details during the meeting. Councilor Toner successfully offered a noncontroversial amendment to require periodic status reports on the Grand Junction multiuse path as part of the ordinance's reporting obligations.
The council voted to ordain the cycling-safety amendments as amended; the roll-call vote was recorded as nine members in favor. The ordinance text retains the revised deadlines the council discussed earlier and adds a requirement that staff provide periodic updates on implementation status and on the Grand Junction multiuse path, which staff indicated is eligible for mitigation funding. City staff said the amended ordinance gives the administration more time to coordinate installation and adjustments while preserving the project's aims.
The ordinance change comes after an extended public comment period and months of planning and design; CDD and transportation staff told the council they will report back ahead of further implementation steps scheduled in the ordinance.
