City of Boston Celebrates Bike to Work Day; Safe Streets Investments

BOSTON - Thursday, May 18, 2017 - Building on his commitment to make Boston a safe, welcoming place for all who use City streets, Mayor Martin J. Walsh and the Boston Transportation Department (BTD) will celebrate National Bike to Work Day on Friday, May 19, 2017. In total, 13 bike convoys will make stops at locations across the metro Boston area, and cyclists will meet at Boston City Hall Plaza from 7 a.m. - 9 a.m. for a festival that will include music, exhibits and breakfast.

In celebration of National Bike to Work Day, Mayor Walsh also today announced a commitment to increase Boston's Vision Zero investment by $1 million in Fiscal Year 2018 (FY18) to $4.1 million, dedicated to Boston's Neighborhood Slow Streets program, a new approach to traffic calming in Boston. With this new investment, five selected neighborhoods will be added to the Neighborhood Slow Streets program, and will work with the Boston Transportation Department and Public Works Department to plan and implement their traffic calming projects. Residents, neighborhood associations and other community-based organizations are able to apply for traffic measures in a specific neighborhood.

The Talbot Norfolk Triangle in Dorchester and Stonybrook in Jamaica Plain were already selected to be part of the Neighborhood Slow Streets in 2017, and have already completed an extensive design and community process.

"We are working hard everyday to ensure Boston streets are accessible and safe for all residents and visitors, whether they're on two wheels, four wheels or walking," said Mayor Walsh. "This commitment is backed up by investments: through Go Boston 2030 and Vision Zero, Boston is dedicating time, talent and resources to create an equitable City for all. I encourage all Bostonians to attend Friday's festival, and learn more about the City's transportation plan."

Go Boston 2030, the City's strategic transportation plan, will invest $709 million over the next five years to implement safer streets, more reliable and predictable transportation, and improved transportation access for residents.

Vision Zero, the City's plan to eliminate fatal and serious traffic crashes in Boston by 2030, leads Boston's strategy to reduce injuries for pedestrians and cyclists. Key Vision Zero accomplishments include lowering the City's default speed limit to 25 MPH; establishing dedicated, protected bike lanes; launching the Neighborhood Slow Streets program; and making pedestrian and cyclist safety a focus when planning major roadway construction. Earlier this month, the first Vision Zero annual report was released, detailing additional investments.

In addition to recently-completed separated bike lanes on portions of Massachusetts Avenue, the City is working on a number of projects set for construction in 2017 and beyond. Major projects include:

• 2.8 miles of dedicated, grade separated cycle track from the Boston Garden to the North End, under construction;

• Dedicated, grade separated cycletrack along Constitution Road in Charlestown, under construction;

• New bike lanes along Beacon Street in Audubon Circle that will be completed this winter;

• Connecting South Boston and the South End via the construction of the South Bay Harbor Trail, set for construction next year;

• Commonwealth Avenue will have new protected bike lanes with investments made over a multi-phase project;

• Summer Street will be in construction this fall, where the City is adding a cycle track from the Fort Point Channels to Boston Wharf Road; and

• This year, Harrison Avenue will gain a parking protected bike lane.

The City is also planning for longer-term investments, such as major reconstruction of Rutherford Avenue/Sullivan Square following interim improvements and the reconstruction of Melnea Cass Boulevard and the North Washington St Bridge. In addition to these cycle investments, the City funds an annual strategic bicycle network program that allows for planning and implementation of bike infrastructure.

Boston's investments will positively impact thousands of cyclists throughout the City. During automated bike counts taken in September 2016, BTD counted an average of nearly 30,000 bike trips per day across 60 locations. In some locations, bike traffic accounted for more than 15 percent of vehicles during peak commute times.

"On Friday, we'll be joining other cities nationwide in celebrating bicycling as a transportation option," said Boston Transportation Commissioner Gina N. Fiandaca. "Active forms of transportation, such as bicycling, walking and taking public transit, are green, economical and healthy. They also ease traffic congestion and the parking crunch in busy urban areas like Boston."

Ride leaders, who are familiar with the routes, will lead convoy riders from assigned meeting points to Boston City Hall Plaza.  Each convoy will make multiple stops along the way.  The convoys will meet and stop in the following areas:

• Brighton/Allston

• Concord/Bedford/Lexington/Arlington

• Dorchester

• East Boston/Chelsea

• Jamaica Plain

• Mattapan

• Melrose/Malden/Everett

• Needham/Newton/Watertown

• Quincy

• Roxbury

• Somerville/Cambridge

• West Roxbury/Roslindale

• Winchester/Medford/Assembly Row

For comprehensive information on Boston's Bike to Work Day Celebration, including how to join up with a convoy for the ride in, visit boston.gov.