Pedestrian & bike safety

Safer streets for people walking and biking through traffic calming, crossings, signals and protected bike lanes.

Residents consistently ask for physically protected bike lanes, safer crossings and signals, slower residential streets, and more space for people walking.

Theme grouped and summary written with AI from this theme's resident ideas.

Needs that keep coming back

• Protected, separated bike lanes

  Residents want bike lanes with real barriers or physical separation, on specific corridors and as a connected citywide network, instead of paint alone.

  Raised in 2024–25, 2025–26, 2026–27

  2024–25: Protected bike lanes on every city street2025–26: Protected bike lanes2026–27: Connected protected bike lane network citywide

• Safer crossings and better-timed signals

  People ask for raised, well-marked or signalized crosswalks, longer walk times, and fixes at dangerous intersections such as Cleveland Circle and Union Square.

  Raised in 2024–25, 2025–26, 2026–27

  2024–25: Retime pedestrian signals for longer crossing2025–26: Longer WALK times at crosswalks2026–27: Retime signals to allow safer street crossing

• Speed bumps and traffic calming on local streets

  Residents on residential streets report speeding, crashes and hit parked cars, and ask for speed humps, raised crosswalks and similar measures, often citing children and seniors.

  Raised in 2024–25, 2025–26, 2026–27

  2024–25: Speed humps on Fuller Street2025–26: Make streets transit, bike and pedestrian oriented2026–27: Speed bumps on Welles Ave

• Enforcement and safety education

  Residents ask for enforcement against red-light running, texting and blocked lanes, plus campaigns teaching drivers, cyclists and pedestrians to share streets safely.

  Raised in 2024–25, 2025–26, 2026–27

  2024–25: Enforce red light and stop sign violations2025–26: Enforcement against texting drivers and crosswalk violations2026–27: Pedestrian safety education campaign

• Pedestrian-priority streets and plazas

  People ask to close or pedestrianize streets such as Newbury Street and Hanover Street, or give them more space for walking and gathering.

  Raised in 2024–25, 2025–26, 2026–27

  2024–25: Pedestrianize Hanover Street2025–26: Year-round Sunday Open Newbury Street2026–27: Make Newbury Street a full-time pedestrian space

Departments that often lead this work

• Boston Transportation Department
• Public Works

Suggested with AI; not an official assignment of responsibility.