Explore resident ideas
Every idea residents submitted to Ideas in Action in 2024–25, 2025–26 and 2026–27. Search the words residents used, or narrow by cycle, theme, neighborhood, language or how the idea was submitted.
Themes grouped with AI from resident idea text. English titles and summaries written with AI.
39 ideas
- Keep Comm Ave Mall white lights on year-roundThe resident asks to keep the white lights on the Commonwealth Ave mall all year, ideally solar-powered, because they are beautiful and make walking in the dark safer.2024–25Back BayPublic safety & crime prevention
- Raised crosswalks on Comm Ave mallResident asks for raised crosswalks between each block of the Commonwealth Avenue mall to make it more accessible and pedestrian friendly.2024–25Back BayPedestrian & bike safety
- Extend curb for year-round Bluebikes dockResident asks to extend the curb at this location so the Bluebikes dock is not removed in winter, improving reliability for people without cars.2024–25Back BayTransit & getting around
- Safety marshals instead of police in tourist areasResident asks for less police presence in busy tourist areas, using public events and safety marshals to watch the street instead, because police presence does not make Black and brown residents feel safe.2024–25Back BayPublic safety & crime prevention
- Fund housing nonprofits instead of policing unhoused peopleResident asks the city to invest in nonprofits that provide housing access and care for people on the street without forcing recovery, rather than relying on police presence.2024–25Back BayHomelessness & shelter
- Ban valet parking on city streetsResident asks to ban valet parking on public streets because businesses have private parking and using public space this way is unfair and unproductive.2024–25Back BayTransit & getting around
- Physically protect Mass Ave east-side bike laneResident asks for physical separation of the unprotected bike lane on the east side of Mass Ave, which cars constantly park in.2024–25Back BayPedestrian & bike safety
- Make Newbury Street pedestrian priorityResident asks to make Newbury Street pedestrian-priority at all times, limiting vehicles to deliveries during off hours, as in other major cities.2024–25Back BayPedestrian & bike safety
- Mid-block crosswalks along Commonwealth Mall pathResident asks for mid-block crosswalks aligned with the Commonwealth Mall path so pedestrians aren't directed to corners to cross.2024–25Back BayPedestrian & bike safety
- Upgrade Comm Ave bike lanes in Back BayResident asks to upgrade the Commonwealth Avenue bike lanes so they integrate better with the mall and are more separated from vehicles.2024–25Back BayPedestrian & bike safety
- Pedestrian park bridge over vehicle underpassResident asks for a park bridge so the park paths stay continuous around the vehicle underpass, with a historically inspired design.2024–25Back BayParks, trees & climate
- Protected southbound bike lane on Arlington or ClarendonResident asks for a protected bike lane on Arlington or Clarendon Street for southbound travel from Back Bay, since no equally safe route exists compared with Berkeley Street.2024–25Back BayPedestrian & bike safety
- Pedestrianize Newbury Street like Montreal's Mont-RoyalResident proposes turning Newbury Street into a pedestrian street, modeled on Avenue Mont-Royal in Montreal.2024–25Back BayPedestrian & bike safety
- Subsidy to start a lesbian barGive a subsidy to an applicant to open a lesbian bar in Boston, since none are known to exist there, benefiting the LGBT community.2024–25Back BayArts & culture