Cambridge Cyclist Injuries Doubled with New Lanes

Separated cycle lanes required by Cambridge’s 2020 Cycling Safety Ordinance have multiplied risks for both cyclists and motorists according to a new report. The report based on Cambridge Police Department injury crash data was submitted for consideration at tonight’s meeting of the City Council.

Cyclist injuries on the 1.3 miles of roadway with new mandated separated bike lanes jumped from 5.4% of city-wide injuries pre-Covid to 18.9% in 2022. By contrast, cyclist injuries for the rest of the city were 11.5% lower. Motorist injuries also increased significantly from 1.5% to 6.3% of city-wide while the rest of the city was essentially flat.

 In the absence of any city evaluation of the Cycling Safety Ordinance, John Hanratty, a Porter Square resident, analyzed the City’s crash reports for three street segments before and after recent separated bike lane installations and compared trends with other city streets.

The analysis shows that 2.5 times more cyclists’ injuries and 3.5 times more motorist injuries occurred on street segments after separated bike lanes were installed. About two thirds of all cyclist crashes resulted in transport to a hospital. These findings are both surprising and concerning especially given the 23% drop in bike traffic in the last 12 months compared with pre-Covid levels as measured by the Broadway Eco-Totem counter.

“Cycle lane advocates, including members of City staff, have been promoting the new separated cycle lanes as “safety improvements.”  It's time for city staff to provide a balanced review of the impacts of the Cycling Safety Ordinance,” said Joan Pickett of Cambridge Streets for All.

She went on to say, “This Ordinance is moving the city in the wrong direction by increasing traffic congestion, reducing parking for residents, and hurting businesses where parking and curb access are removed. And, now we have evidence the separated bike lanes are not making the streets safer for anyone. The city council should be very concerned about this report’s findings.”

The 1.3 miles analyzed are some of the first road segments installed under the CSO. These segments are:    Mass Ave between Harvard Square and City Hall, North Mass Ave near the Arlington border, and Porter Square in 2021 through mid-2022.

The ordinance, passed in 2020, mandates installation of about 25 miles of separated bike lanes on Cambridge’s arterial streets on a strict schedule over six years. The Ordinance contains no safety requirements, and no provision for interim review or adjustment for impacts on congestion, residential parking, or businesses.