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POR 2017 #174 · Agenda item attachment · Jun 26 2017
That the City Manager is requested to work with the appropriate City departments to accelerate the planning and installation of two or more protected bike lanes by September, to produce a plan by October 2017 for the roll-out of protected bike lanes on all major city thoroughfares, to ensure that the Bike Plan recommendations are fully implemented on all road projects, and that additional infrastructure changes to provide for safety are implemented when possible
City of Cambridge
O-10
ORIGINAL ORDER
IN CITY COUNCIL
June 26, 2017
COUNCILLOR DEVEREUX
COUNCILLOR CARLONE
COUNCILLOR CHEUNG
VICE MAYOR MCGOVERN
WHEREAS:
Riding a bicycle is the one of the most affordable transportation options in the flat,
dense city of Cambridge and therefore should be made safer for vulnerable
communities who rely on bicycles as well as for those who would like to bicycle but
are discouraged by unsafe conditions; and
WHEREAS:
The 1992 Vehicle Trip Reduction Ordinance (VTRO) requires the city to "make more
efficient use of mass transit, bicycling, walking, and other alternatives to drive-alone
trips"; and
WHEREAS:
The City of Cambridge has adopted a Complete Streets policy and has formally
committed to Vision Zero, with goals of eliminating transportation fatalities and
serious injuries, as well as continuing to reduce the crash rates for all modes; and
WHEREAS:
It has been one year since the death of 27-year-old Amanda Phillips, killed as she was
cycling on Cambridge Street just outside of Inman Square; and
WHEREAS:
In October of 2016, a petition with over 3,000 signatures was submitted to the City
Council calling for protected bicycle infrastructure on all major city thoroughfares and
the Council has unanimously passed more than 15 policy orders calling for a protected
network of protected bike lanes to be installed across major arterials; and
WHEREAS:
The City has put in short pop-up demonstrations of protected bike lanes on
Massachusetts Avenue and the public response has been overwhelmingly positive; and
WHEREAS:
A protected bike lane on the western segment of Cambridge Street will be installed
within the next month and was ushered in with overwhelming public support; and
WHEREAS:
The City is installing two more short sections of protected bike lane demonstrations on
Brattle Street and Massachusetts Avenue after winning public support via the
Participatory Budgeting process; and
WHEREAS:
The City has gained experience in installing protected bike lanes from both the
Massachusetts Avenue and Cambridge Street projects, including plowing during the
winter months; and
WHEREAS:
Pavement markings can only be done until November, and thousands of students will
be returning to the City’s universities in September; 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, Budget Department,
and other relevant City departments to accelerate the planning and installation of two
or more protected bike lanes of significant length, similar to the current project on
Cambridge Street, by September; and be it further
ORDERED:
That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with the aforementioned
departments to produce a plan and timeline by October 2017 for the roll-out on an
expedited basis of protected bike lanes on all major city thoroughfares; and be it
further
ORDERED:
The City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with the aforementioned
departments to ensure that Bike Plan recommendations are fully implemented on all
road reconstruction and paving projects, and additional infrastructure changes not
included in the Plan are implemented where they could ensure bicyclists are provide
safe, convenient connections to a city-wide network; and be it further
ORDERED:
That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report back to the Council on all
of these matters.