Amendment to the Municipal Code to create a new Chapter entitled "Cycling Safety Ordinance"

CITY OF CAMBRIDGE In the Year Two Thousand and Nineteen AN ORDINANCE In amendment to the Ordinance entitled “Cambridge Municipal Code.” That the Municipal Code of the City of Cambridge be amended by adding in Title Twelve entitled “Streets, Sidewalks and Public Places” a new Chapter 12.22 entitled “Cycling Safety Ordinance,” which reads as follows: Chapter 12.22 Cycling Safety Ordinance Section 12.22.010 Short Title This Chapter may be cited as the "Cycling Safety Ordinance" of the City of Cambridge. Section 12.22.020 Purpose This Chapter seeks to eliminate fatalities and injuries on City streets in accordance with the City's Vision Zero goals through safety improvements and the construction of a connected network of permanent separated bicycle lanes across the City. Section 12.22.030 Definitions A. “Adequate Directionality” shall mean (1) a two-way street with a separated bicycle lane or lanes that allow bicycle travel in both directions, or (2) a one-way street with a separated bicycle lane or lanes that allow bicycle travel either in the direction of the flow of vehicular traffic or in both directions. B. “Connectivity” shall mean the provision of a Permanent Separated Bicycle Lane system that reflects desired routes between all major origins and destinations in the city. C. “Cambridge Bicycle Plan” shall mean the plan adopted by the City of Cambridge in October 2015 to create a framework for developing a network of complete streets, and which is entitled “Cambridge Bicycle Plan: Toward a Bikeable Future”. D. “Five-Year Sidewalk and Street Reconstruction Plan” shall mean the City of Cambridge Department of Public Works’ five-year work plan of May 1, 2018, as it may be amended from time to time. E. “Improvements” shall mean the construction of new City-owned streets, or the reconstruction of an existing City-owned street, including but not limited to full depth reconstruction, expansion, and/or alteration of a roadway or intersection.

Improvements shall not include routine maintenance, repairs, restriping of the road surface, or emergency repairs to the surface of a roadway (collectively “Maintenance”), provided that existing bicycle lanes will be restored to existing conditions or better. F. “Permanent Separated Bicycle Lane” shall mean a bicycle lane separated from motor vehicle traffic by a permanent vertical barrier that shall remain in place year-round, including but not limited to granite or concrete barriers and raised curbs, provided, however, that the bicycle lane need not be separated from motor vehicle traffic by a permanent vertical barrier for short stretches to accommodate crosswalks, curb cuts, accessible parking, intersections, and public transportation, and provided further, that existing bicycle lanes may be temporarily removed during construction of Improvements or Maintenance, so long as they are restored to existing conditions or better. G. “Separated Network” shall mean the proposed set of bicycle facilities identified in the Cambridge Bicycle Plan (Figure 5.14), or any plan superseding it, provided, however, that any such plan shall maintain Connectivity.
 Section 12.22.040 Requirements A. Whenever Improvements are made to a City-owned street under the City’s Five-Year Sidewalk and Street Reconstruction Plan, the City Manager shall cause such Improvements to comply with the Cambridge Bicycle Plan, or any plan superseding it; provided, that if Improvements are made to a segment of the Separated Network, a Permanent Separated Bicycle Lane with Adequate Directionality shall be installed along that segment. B. Full compliance with the provisions of Subsection A above is not required where the City Manager can demonstrate through a written alternatives analysis, to be made public, why it is impractical to comply with the provisions of Subsection A above, and where there will be a loss of Connectivity if the provisions of Subsection A are not complied with, how Connectivity could be otherwise advanced, if possible. Full compliance with the provisions of Subsection A above will be considered impracticable only in those rare circumstances where the City Manager determines that the characteristics of the physical features or usage of a street, or financial constraints of full compliance prevent the incorporation of a Permanent Separated Bicycle Lane with Adequate Directionality.