“2020 Cycling Safety Ordinance” be forwarded to the Ordinance Committee for discussion and recommendation

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 eliminate fatalities and injuries on City streets in accordance with the City's Vision Zero and transportation mode-shift goals through safety improvements and the construction of a connected network of permanent separated bicycle lanes across the City. The benefits of this Chapter are intended to flow to all roadway users.

For every project undertaken pursuant to this Chapter’s requirements, the City is committed to a design that best achieves the City’s Vision Zero and mode-shift goals, recognizing, in particular, that this will require improving efficiency and reliability for bus users and safety for pedestrians.

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. Bicycle Lane Miles” shall mean the combined distance of Separated Bicycle Facilities. A two- way facility or one-way facilities in both directions on a one-mile street segment shall count for two Bicycle Lane Miles. A one-way facility on a one-mile one-way street segment shall count for one Bicycle Lane Mile. If a gap in a Separated Bicycle Facility of any distance occurs for any reason other than those specified in the definition of the particular Separated Bicycle Facility, the distance of the gap shall not be counted toward Bicycle Lane Miles.

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. “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.

E. “Five-Year Sidewalk and Street Reconstruction Plan” shall mean the City’s Department of Public Works’ five-year work plan of May 1, 2018, as it may be amended from time to time.

F. “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.

G.

“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 and accessible loading, 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.

H. “Public Transportation” shall mean bus and shuttle stops for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), Charles River TMA, the Medical Academic and Scientific Community Organization (MASCO), and college and university bus and shuttle stops that exist prior to May 1, 2020. If the City Manager determines it is appropriate to add a particular bus or shuttle provider to the definition of Public Transportation, any such bus or shuttle provider may be added to this definition upon the approval of the City Council.

I. “Quick-Build Separated Bicycle Lane” shall mean a bicycle lane separated from motor vehicle traffic by flexible delineator posts, or a similar separator, that shall remain in place year-round, provided, however, that the bicycle lane need not be separated from motor vehicle traffic for short stretches to accommodate crosswalks, curb cuts, accessible parking and accessible loading, 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.

J. “Separated Bicycle Facilities” shall mean either a Permanent Separated Bicycle Lane, a Quick-Build Separated Bicycle Lane, or a Temporary Traffic Control Device Separated Bicycle Lane, provided that any such Temporary Traffic Control Device Separated Bicycle Lane is not removed at any time except during significant snow events and is converted to a Permanent Separated Bicycle Lane or a Quick-Build Separated Bicycle Lane by no later than the applicable deadline for the completion of Separated Bicycle Facilities along the street segment on which the Temporary Traffic Control Device Separated Bicycle Lane is constructed.

K. “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.

L.

“Temporary Traffic Control Device Separated Bicycle Lane” shall mean a bicycle lane with painted lines separated from motor vehicle traffic by traffic cones, traffic barrels, non-permanent flex posts, or a similar bicycle lane separator, that shall remain in place year-round except during significant snow events, but shall be reinstalled as quickly as is feasible following significant snow events, provided, however, that the Temporary Traffic Control Device Separated Bicycle Lane need not be separated from motor vehicle traffic for short stretches to accommodate crosswalks, curb cuts, accessible parking and accessible loading, 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.

Section 12.22.040 Requirements

A. Whenever Improvements are made to a City-owned street under the 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.