A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 19-96, regarding supporting documentation as it relates to cyclists running red lights

C I T Y O F C A M B R I D G E Community Development Department 1 IRAM FAROOQ Assistant City Manager for Community Development SANDRA CLARKE Deputy Director Chief of Administration KHALIL MOGASSABI Deputy Director Chief Planner To: Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager From: Iram Farooq, Assistant City Manager for Community Development Re: Awaiting Report 19-96 (O-9 dated 7/30/19) regarding supporting documentation as it relates to cyclists’ running red lights. Date: November 13, 2019 In response to the above-mentioned Awaiting Report 19-96 regarding supporting documentation as it relates to cyclists’ running red lights, we submit the following background information, including educational outreach and enforcement: Since 2002, Cambridge has been conducting counts of the numbers of people bicycling at a set of intersections throughout the city, as a way of tracking changes over time. This data, which documents an increase in people bicycling, also includes the percentage of people running red lights at certain intersections as observed on specific dates and times. At the City’s 2020 Bicycle Plan Open House on June 13, 2019, data regarding red light running was included in a bicycle and data trends graphic. The analysis of the data indicated that the proportion of cyclists running red lights had decreased by 82% from 2008 to 2018. This graphic was based on data collected at (8) eight key intersections during the City’s biennial bike counts. The intersections included 1) Broadway at Hampshire St.; 2) Brookline St. at Waverly St./Granite St.; 3) Cambridge St. at Hampshire St.; 4) Mass Ave. at Cedar St.; 5) Mass Ave. at Memorial Dr.; 6) Mass Ave. at Sidney St.; 7) Somerville Ave. at Mass Ave.; and 8) Western Ave. at Memorial Dr. The summary data for this graphic is indicated below; details for each intersection are in Attachment-A, Red Light Running History at 8 Intersections. Year Total Bikes Number of People on Bicycle Proceeding on Red Percent of People on Bicycle Proceeding on Red 2008 3118 582 19% 2010 3168 337 11% 2012 5282 805 15% 2014 5500 432 8% 2016 5819 305 5% 2018 5430 183 3% Information about the Cambridge Bicycle Plan 2020 and additional documents presented at the open house are available at: https://www.cambridgema.gov/CDD/Projects/Transportation/2020bikeplanupdate.

2 Educational Outreach The City of Cambridge, as part of its sustainable transportation programming and the Vision Zero initiative, conducts a robust education and outreach campaign for people who bike, walk, drive, and take transit through the city. Each year the City distributes educational materials and hosts dozens of outreach events. Messaging about safe operations and adherence to the traffic regulations regarding signals is included in the educational materials and training. These efforts include: 1) The Getting Around Cambridge Street Code: Rules and Etiquette for Getting There Together publication was translated into four languages (Bangla, Amharic, Spanish, and French). The Street Code includes several references to the importance of people bicycling, as well as those driving, to stop at red lights. 2) The Getting Around Cambridge map and brochure was translated into four languages (Bangla, Amharic, Spanish, and French) and includes information about traveling safely in Cambridge. 3) Free Bicycle Education Workshops are offered to people who live, work, or study in Cambridge. As part of the curriculum, participants learn the rules of the road, including the importance of following traffic signal rules. 4) The Safe Routes to School program educates all 2nd and 6th grade students in Cambridge Public Schools on how to safely commute to school by walking or biking. This includes instruction on rules of the road, including the importance of following traffic signal rules. 5) The 2019 Getting Around Cambridge magazine, which was delivered to 50,000 households in Cambridge and distributed at events throughout the year, includes a center section devoted to driver, pedestrian, and cyclist road safety. Enforcement Law enforcement promotes bicycle safety, as it helps to decrease both intentional and unintentional infractions. Community education and support of enforcement together build respect between bicyclists and motorists. Enforcement is primarily seen as an educational tool applied to all road users to emphasize the importance of safe travel. The Cambridge Police Department sponsors numerous educational efforts designed to engage with people on bikes around the rules of the road. This includes enforcement and education concerning the importance of adherence to rules of the road for safety, including red light running. Enforcement efforts are focused in the busiest areas of the city where potential conflicts are the greatest.

3 Attachment - A Red Light Running History at 8 Intersections 1) Broadway at Hampshire St. Year Total Bikes Number of People on Bicycle Proceeding on Red Percent of People on Bicycle Proceeding on Red 2008 486 52 11% 2010 454 119 26% 2012 923 155 17% 2014 803 23 3% 2016 919 63 7% 2018 1038 45 4% 2) Brookline St. at Waverly St./Granite St. Year Total Bikes Number of People on Bicycle Proceeding on Red Percent of People on Bicycle Proceeding on Red 2008 153 1 1% 2010 229 2 1% 2012 349 38 11% 2014 392 42 11% 2016 439 79 18% 2018 340 36 11% 3) Cambridge St. at Hampshire St. Year Total Bikes Number of People on Bicycle Proceeding on Red Percent of People on Bicycle Proceeding on Red 2008 562 60 11% 2010 701 19 3% 2012 1008 93 9% 2014 999 47 5% 2016 1008 31 3% 2018 899 8 1% 4) Mass Ave. at Cedar St. Year Total Bikes Number of People on Bicycle Proceeding on Red Percent of People on Bicycle Proceeding on Red 2008 290 65 22% 2010 289 8 3% 2012 368 0 0% 2014 397 23 6% 2016 437 17 4% 2018 412 26 6%

4 5) Mass Ave. at Memorial Dr. Year Total Bikes Number of People on Bicycle Proceeding on Red Percent of People on Bicycle Proceeding on Red 2008 494 106 21% 2010 550 N/A N/A 2012 852 286 34% 2014 1044 102 10% 2016 953 40 4% 2018 1095 25 2% 6) Mass Ave at Sidney St. Year Total Bikes Number of People on Bicycle Proceeding on Red Percent of People on Bicycle Proceeding on Red 2008 396 100 25% 2010 616 33 5% 2012 648 74 11% 2014 824 110 13% 2016 920 54 6% 2018 723 18 2% 7) Somerville Ave. at Mass. Ave. Year Total Bikes Number of People on Bicycle Proceeding on Red Percent of People on Bicycle Proceeding on Red 2008 341 98 29% 2010 477 149 31% 2012 608 150 25% 2014 575 78 14% 2016 505 16 3% 2018 470 13 3% 8) Western Ave. at Memorial Dr. Year Total Bikes Number of People on Bicycle Proceeding on Red Percent of People on Bicycle Proceeding on Red 2008 396 100 25% 2010 402 7 2% 2012 526 9 2% 2014 466 7 2% 2016 638 5 1% 2018 453 12 3%  Data on the number of people proceeding on a red light at Mass Ave/Memorial Dr. intersection for this year is not available and marked as N/A. Total bikes at this intersection for this year is not included in overall calculations.