Boston outlines three-minute bike route plan

Boston’s Transportation Department (BTD) has announced a 15-kilometre expansion of the city’s bike lane network as part of plans to ensure that 50 percent of residents are within a three-minute walk of a bike route by 2025.

The city also plans to grow its public bike-share scheme by 40 percent, adding more than 100 new stations over the next three years.

“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 Jascha Franklin-Hodge, Boston’s Chief of Streets.

“[This] 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.”

Safety

In 2019, almost 700 people were seriously injured while walking Boston’s streets, with another 365 seriously injured while cycling.

To boost safety, the city will build new speed bumps in 30 neighbourhood zones and add 75 raised pedestrian crossings at parks, libraries and schools.

To expand access, a US$1.5 million rebate programme is being created for older adults and people with disabilities to help with the purchase of e-bikes.

“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 Boston Mayor Michelle Wu.

“We’re working to transform our streets so all road users are protected and everyone can benefit from the opportunities across our city.

“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.”

Bluebikes, Boston’s public bike-share programme, served 2.95 million trips in 2021, an increase of 17 percent from 2019.

The service has experienced a surge in use since the MBTA’s Orange and Green Line shutdown, with the city offering free 30-day passes for all trips up to 45 minutes.

Public support

The city’s current bike network consists of 95 kilometres of off-street paths and 28 kilometres of separated bike lanes.

During peak times, people on bikes are regularly 10-25 percent of all Boston traffic, with research showing that more people would cycle if they had access to separated bike lanes.

According to a survey by MassINC Polling Group in 2021, 50 percent of Boston residents probably or definitely would bike more if separated bike lanes were in their neighbourhood.

A further 77 percent of respondents supported building separated bike lanes even if some space for driving or parking was removed.

Approximately a third of Boston’s greenhouse gas emissions come from transportation. Of that, 65 percent are from passenger vehicles.