A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 19-156, regarding bicycle marking on Broadway

MEMORANDUM To: Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager From: Joseph E. Barr, Director Date: December 16, 2019 Subject: Awaiting Report 19-156 – Bicycle Markings on Broadway This memo is in response to Order 2 from the November 25, 2019 City Council Meeting (Awaiting Report 19-156) in reference to a request to restore shared lane markings (also known as sharrows) on Broadway between Windsor Street and Portland Street. Prior to the summer of 2019, Broadway provided a single wide travel lane in each direction with shared lane markings located approximately 11 feet from the curb (see cross section in Figure 1). During the summer of 2019, the Traffic, Parking, and Transportation Department upgraded the striping on Broadway to provide bicycle lanes within the existing space of the vehicular travel lane. The lanes were placed consistent with other roadways of similar width across Cambridge, including a 7-foot parking lane, a 5-foot bicycle lane, and a 10-foot general purpose vehicle travel lane (see cross section in Figure 2). This cross section is consistent with several other major bicycle corridors in Cambridge, including Broadway east of Portland Street, Hampshire Street, Main Street, and Cambridge Street east of Prospect Street. The new bicycle facilities have several beneficial impacts for both cyclists and other users of the roadway. The narrower vehicular travel lanes have been proven both locally and nationally to reduce the travel speeds of motorists. By defining the 5-foot wide bicycle facility, cars are encouraged to drive farther to the left and provide more space for cyclists in the adjacent bike lane. The Department’s policy for shared lane markings is to install them in locations that are identified as bike routes where bike lanes, separated bike lanes, or off- street paths do not exist. We do not install shared lane markings adjacent to existing bike facilities unless there is a need to identify a path for turning bicycles entering a shared turn lane. Providing parallel markings for shared lanes and exclusive bike lanes would provide a confusing message to both cyclists and drivers. In addition, guidance for the installation of shared lane markings indicate that the markings should be placed 11 feet off of the curb in

locations with on-street parking. This would place the markings within the recently installed bike lane, where they previously were located. In September of this year, staff from the Traffic, Parking, and Transportation and Community Development Departments met with a group of cycling advocates to discuss the concerns that had been expressed about this new layout. This led to a better understanding of the reasons behind the change in the street layout, as well as some suggestions for additional signs to help communicate with both cyclists and pedestrians. Based on the meeting, we determined that additional changes to the cross-section of Broadway were not necessary at this time. While this segment of Broadway was not designated as a corridor for separated bicycle lanes under the 2015 Bicycle Network Plan, the recently installed bike lanes would not preclude future additional upgrades to the corridor to provide separated facilities. The process for the development of a revised bicycle network plan is underway and expected to be complete in mid-2020, and this segment of Broadway was been mentioned as a possible addition to the network. If improved facilities are called for on Broadway, they would be evaluated as part of a future capital or quick-build project, including performing public engagement to explain the benefits and impacts. Figure 1: Prior Broadway Cross-Section

Figure 2: Current Broadway Cross-Section