Boston to expand bike network and public bike-share

Boston plans to expand its bike network by almost 20 per cent by next winter and is growing its public bike-share programme.

The announcement builds on mayor Michelle Wu’s commitment to create safe streets for all modes of transportation.

 A 9.4-mile expansion of bike lanes will provide key connections within the city’s existing bike network.

Safer streets

The mayor and the Boston Transportation Department (BTD) are also launching a citywide design process to bring safer streets to every neighbourhood.

To do this, Boston is expanding the public bike-share Bluebikes programme to accommodate rising demand, designing traffic-calmed streets by building speed humps and raised crosswalks, and hiring more staff to aid in the design process.

“Now more than ever, the health, wellbeing, and economic empowerment of our communities depend on people having safe, reliable ways to get where they need to go,” said Wu. “We’re working to transform our streets so all road users are protected and everyone can benefit from the opportunities across our city.

“Bikes and e-bikes will play an important role in increasing access to reliable, affordable transportation in Boston and in helping to address the climate, safety, and congestion impacts of our overreliance on automobiles”

“Building out a safe, connected cycling network will help close transportation gaps across our neighbourhoods and advance our efforts to make Boston a city for everyone.”

 Over the next three years, the City will:

• expand its bike network so that 50 per cent of residents will be a three-minute walk from a safe and connected bike route, prioritising links with a history of safety incidents
• grow the Bluebikes public bike share by 40 per cent, adding more than 100 new stations
• build speed humps in 30 neighbourhood zones, starting with 10 neighbourhood zones next year
• add 75 raised crosswalks at parks, libraries, and schools across the city
• help 600 women gain confidence in riding bikes through Boston’s free learn-to-bike workshops for women and gender-diverse adults.

Enabling more trips by bike is also essential if the US city is to achieve its climate and public health goals. Approximately one-third of Boston’s greenhouse gas emissions come from transportation. Of that, two-thirds comes from passenger vehicles.

“Bikes and e-bikes will play an important role in increasing access to reliable, affordable transportation in Boston and in helping to address the climate, safety, and congestion impacts of our overreliance on automobiles,” said chief of streets Jascha Franklin-Hodge. “Today’s announcement moves us closer to a future where biking is a safe and convenient option for people of all ages and abilities in every neighbourhood of Boston.”