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POR 2016 #200 · Agenda item attachment · Jun 27 2016
That the City Manager is requested to work with the Traffic, Parking and Transportation Department, Department of Public Works, Community Development Department, Fire Department, Police Department and Budget Department and other relevant City departments to fast-track plans to completely redesign and reconstruct Inman Square’s dangerous 5-street intersection, prioritizing the safety of people who bike and walk
City of Cambridge
O-13
ORIGINAL ORDER
IN CITY COUNCIL
June 27, 2016
COUNCILLOR DEVEREUX
COUNCILLOR CARLONE
COUNCILLOR MAZEN
WHEREAS:
The City of Cambridge has committed to Vision Zero and Complete Streets policies to
improve safety for all modes, especially vulnerable users like people who walk and
bike; and
WHEREAS:
The City’s Traffic, Parking and Transportation Department held a community meeting
on June 22nd to present preliminary concept designs for reconfiguring the 5-street
intersection at Inman Square, whose crash rate exceeds the MassDOT average and
whose long and awkward crossings are known to be particularly dangerous to people
who bike and walk; and
WHEREAS:
The City of Somerville is reconstructing Beacon Street with protected bike lanes;
Beacon Street becomes Hampshire Street in Inman Square and the two streets carry a
very high volume of people commuting on bicycles to and from Kendall Square and
Boston; and
WHEREAS:
On June 23, 2016, a young Cambridge resident, Amanda Phillips, was tragically killed
on Cambridge Street near Inman Square; preliminary reports indicate that she was
riding past a line of parked cars when a car door was opened on the driver’s side,
knocking Amanda off her bike and into the path of a large truck; and
WHEREAS:
“Dooring" is well known to be one of the leading causes of crashes involving people
who bike, and protected bike paths are widely preferred by people who bike because
the potential for being accidentally doored is greatly reduced and because the potential
for cars and delivery trucks blocking on-street bike lanes is also greatly reduced; and
WHEREAS:
The City’s Bicycle Network Plan shows protected bike lanes on both Hampshire and
Cambridge Streets; now therefore be it
ORDERED:
That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with the Traffic, Parking
and Transportation Department, Department of Public Works, Community
Development Department, Fire Department, Police Department and Budget
Department and other relevant City departments to fast-track plans to completely
redesign and reconstruct Inman Square’s dangerous 5-street intersection, prioritizing
the safety of people who bike and walk; and be it further
ORDERED:
That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with all appropriate
departments to establish a firm and accelerated timetable and budget for the installation
of protected bike lanes on Hampshire and Cambridge Streets; and be it further
ORDERED:
That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with Public Safety officials,
the Public Information Office and other staff to launch a high-profile public education
campaign on the dangers of “dooring” to people who bike; and be it further
ORDERED:
That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to require all city contractors
operating trucks in Cambridge to install safety side guards as soon as possible; and be
it further
ORDERED:
That a future public plaza created as part of the redesign of Inman Square be dedicated
in memory of Amanda Phillips.