Letter from Will Golay and Linh Pham Concerning City Manager's Agenda Item #5_ Support for Option #1

1 Macomber, Jennifer From: Will Golay <[email removed]> Sent: Sunday, March 30, 2025 2:01 PM To: City Council Cc: City Manager; City Clerk; Linh Thuy-Hoang Pham Subject: Concerning City Manager's Agenda Item #5: Support for Option #1 Dear Honorable Cambridge City Council, My name is Will Golay and I live at 1802 Mass Ave with my partner Linh Pham. I am writing concerning the "City Manager's Agenda Item #5" in support of Option #1. I work at 60 Garden Street and cross at Linnean Street every morning and afternoon on weekdays, and I often cross at least twice a weekend to reach the tennis courts. Additionally, I regularly walk in both directions between 60 Garden Street and Harvard Square at least three times a week. I have had some version of this routine before, during, and after converting from 2-way to 1-way traffic. I also own a vehicle and have experience driving along Garden Street, albeit far less often, since I am almost always a pedestrian. My partner is a regular car commuter and also occasionally drives on Garden Street. We strongly support keeping Garden Street in the existing 1-way configuration with protected bike lines, parking spaces, and pull-off space. We have several reasons for this: 1. As a regular pedestrian at the intersection of Linnean and Garden, I have witnessed far less accidents and close calls between commuters of all kinds (vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians) at this intersection since the conversion to 1-way traffic. This intersection is much safer now, which I believe should be prioritized for its proximity to the elementary school. It has regular traffic of walking kids before/after school hours, usually corresponding with heavy commuter traffic. 2. Parking along Garden Street provided much-needed relief of parking pressure with the added benefit of more manageable traffic along Garden Street. I regularly see delivery vehicles, etc., utilizing the pull-off space that allows 1-way traffic to proceed. If removed, a stopped vehicle would obstruct at least one way, and impatient drivers behind this vehicle will obstruct traffic in the other direction as they attempt to move around. Additionally, such loss of pull-off areas would likely be replaced by drivers parking in the bike lanes, making them more dangerous than if simply cycling in the vehicle lane. Indeed I regularly witnessed these things when Garden Street was 2-way. 3. I am concerned by the apparent signaling of overturning a public process for designing and adding new bike lanes throughout Cambridge. How can constituents be assured that public processes will not result in changes that are simply reverted several years later? Why is the research-based city report that concluded a return to 2-way traffic is unviable and will not reduce car congestion being ignored? Please do not hesitate to contact us for clarification. We are eager to hear updates on this matter. Sincerely, Will Golay & Linh Pham 1802 Mass Ave, Apt 21