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Better Bike Lanes

We've installed many bike lanes in Boston. Now we're working to make them better: safe, connected, and comfortable.

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Enabling more trips by bike is essential to reaching our climate and public health goals. We need to make sure our streets are safe for the thousands of people who bike today — and for the many more who will choose to ride tomorrow.

While each block of safe, comfortable bike lane is important, it's more important that they connect to each other. A connected network is worth more than the sum of its parts.

Everyone in Boston deserves safe access to our bike network, no matter what neighborhood they're in. We're quickly closing gaps in Boston's emerging network of low-stress bike routes. We're also working intentionally with residents to design an expanded bike network that works for their communities.

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Our Plan

We're transforming Boston's streets to better serve people walking, rolling, and riding bikes. We're connecting our bike network and bringing safer streets to every neighborhood.

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About our work

Our growing bike network must include the types of bike facilities that make the most people feel comfortable: separated bike lanes and traffic-calmed streets.

Boston has a large network of conventional bike lanes. These lanes dedicate about five feet of space in the street for bicycling. As we’ve added bike lanes across the City, more people have chosen to ride a bike to work, to the T, to farmers markets, or just for fun.

But, many people don’t feel comfortable riding in conventional bike lanes. That’s why we are creating more routes with separation between drivers and bicyclists. We're also creating traffic-calmed local streets.

Seven types of bike facilities are depicted on a scale from least comfortable to most comfortable. The least comfortable types are shared lanes, including shared lane with all vehicle traffic and shared lane with bus traffic. Conventional bike lanes, including standard bike lane and buffered bike lane, are in the middle of the scale. In the “most comfortable” category are separated bike lanes, including quick build using interim materials and full build using concrete and granite, and traffic-calmed local s

Separated bike lanes are safe and predictable places for people to ride bikes. You and your family have your own space to ride. You can go at your own pace and ride side-by-side. If you're in a vehicle, you know where to expect people on bikes. You don't have to worry so much. A 13-year study of a dozen U.S. cities found that  separated bike lanes make streets safer for everyone, whether they are walking, driving, or biking.

Traffic-calmed local streets are designed for people. They discourage unnecessary through-traffic by drivers, while making useful connections for people walking or bicycling. These streets make it easier and safer to:

  • travel within your own neighborhood,
  • get to train stations or bus stops, and
  • connect with the city-wide bike network.

Citywide Bike Network Design

While we accelerate our work to close known gaps in our existing bike network, we will be working with residents to create a citywide bike plan. This planning process will embed local needs and priorities in the route selection and design.

Our work will be co-led by City agencies, including the Environment Department and the Public Health Commission. A working group of Boston residents will guide our work and advise us on outreach strategies. We aim to launch the working group in fall 2022.

All residents will be invited to participate in an iterative process with low-stakes opportunities to get involved. We will have honest and transparent conversations about trade-offs and work together to realize streets that help everyone travel safely.

Interested in learning more about the working group? 

Fill out the interest form

Events

Events
Lower Roxbury Transportation Study Office Hours
On Dec 7

Dec 7
Connect Downtown Office Hours
On Dec 7

Dec 7
Better Bike Lanes Office Hours
On Dec 7

Dec 7
American Legion Office Hours
On Dec 7

Dec 7
Connect Downtown Office Hours
On Jan 4

Jan 4
Better Bike Lanes Office Hours
On Jan 4

Jan 4

Bike Network Projects

We're working across the City to plan, design, and build bike lanes that are safe and comfortable. You'll find our projects listed below. We've grouped them based on when we anticipate to install the bike lanes: now, in 2023, and in 2024 and beyond.

In Construction Now

Boylston Street (Fenway)
We're making biking and walking better on Boylston Street in the Fenway.
Cambridge Street (Allston)
We are making safety improvements for Cambridge Street, between Harvard Avenue and Soldiers Field Road, in Allston.
Fenway Multiuse Path
The trail will start at the Muddy River path in Brookline and extend to Maitland Street.
Mass. Ave. Better Bike Project
We are building a safe, comfortable biking facility to connect Dorchester, Roxbury, and the South End.
North Washington Street Bridge
The new North Washington Street Bridge will feature separated bike lanes.
Nubian Square
We're redesigning the streetscape and streets in Nubian Square.
Ruggles Street
We're improving safety and connecting Nubian Square and the Southwest Corridor.
Tremont Street (South End)
We have begun construction on our project to improve pedestrian safety on Tremont Street in the South End.

In Design for 2023

A Street Better Bike Lanes
Ready Pending Resurfacing
We plan to improve the bike lanes when the street is resurfaced.
Albany Street
We plan to add separated bike lanes to Albany Street in the South End and part of Lower Roxbury.
American Legion
Crosswalks in Design
American Legion should be more comfortable for walking, waiting for the bus, crossing the street, and riding bikes with your family.
Berkeley Street
We will connect the South End, Back Bay, and Esplanade with a separated bike lane on Berkeley Street.
Boylston Street (Back Bay)
We plan to add a one-way separated bike lane from Massachusetts Avenue to Arlington Street.
Boylston Street (JP)
We will install a contraflow bike lane and speed humps.
Comm. Ave. (BU East)
Comm. Ave. was one of the first streets in Boston to have a bike lane. Now, it's time to make them better.
Congress Street
Construction Starts 2023
We're redesigning Congress Street in the Fort Point neighborhood.
Connect Downtown
Ongoing
We're redesigning downtown streets to prioritize walking and to create a connected bike network.
Cummins Highway
Construction Starts 2023
Our goal is to improve safety and access for every resident of Mattapan.
Eliot Street
We will make Eliot Street two-way for people on bikes and keep it one-way for vehicles.
Green Street and Seaverns Avenue
We are considering several ideas for this pair of streets, including contraflow and standard bike lanes.
Harrison Avenue (Chinatown)
Construction Starts 2023
We are working with Chinatown residents to make streets feel safer for people of all ages who walk, play, and live along Harrison Avenue.
Lower Roxbury Transportation Study
Construction Starts 2023
We're working with residents of Lower Roxbury to invest in their priorities.
McBride Street
The Public Works Department plans to reconstruct sidewalks on McBride Street. We will add a contraflow bike lane with that project.
North Beacon Street
We are adding separated bike lanes to North Beacon Street between Everett Street and Vineland Street.
Poplar Street
We will improve crosswalks and add speed humps on Poplar Street, as well as a short section of contraflow bike lanes.
South Street (Brighton)
We plan to add speed humps and allow people to bike in both directions.
South Huntington Avenue
Ready Pending Weather
We're adding separated bike lanes to South Huntington in Mission Hill and Jamaica Plain.
Winship Street
We propose adding a separated bike lane in the uphill direction.
Western Avenue
We will add separated bike lanes on Western Avenue as a near-term action from the WACRZ planning process.

In Design for 2024 and beyond

Harrison Avenue (Ink Block)
We're reconstruction a portion of Harrison Avenue and adding separated bike lanes.
Rutherford Avenue/Sullivan Square
Redesigning Rutherford Avenue and Sullivan Square to improve safety and access for all modes of transportation.
State Street
We're rebuilding historic State Street to meet today's needs.

Opportunities for Bike Lanes

Blue Hill Avenue Transportation Action Plan
The Blue Hill Avenue Transportation Action Plan seeks to improve the experience of all corridor users.
PLAN: Charlestown
PLAN: Charlestown is a comprehensive planning initiative to shape the future of Charlestown.
PLAN: East Boston
PLAN: East Boston is a neighborhood planning initiative.
PLAN: Mattapan
PLAN: Mattapan is a City planning initiative that seeks to ensure that we preserve wisely, enhance equitably, and grow inclusively.
South Boston Transportation Action Plan
The final Transportation Action Plan will provide a blueprint for improving how people move around South Boston by making it safer and more efficient for all.

About Bike Lanes

About Bike Lanes
An adult bicycles toward us in a green bike. A yellow school bus is in the adjacent travel lane.
Bike Lane Types

Learn about the different bike lane types in the City of Boston.

Bike Lane Types
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Design elements

View the different bike lane design elements in the City.

Design elements
Bicycle Network Map

View a map of bicycle facilities in the City of Boston.

Using Parking-Protected Bike Lanes

See our tips for parking your car, getting in and out of your car, and bicycling on streets with parking-protected bike lanes.

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