Pedestrian & bike safety
Consistent prioritySafer 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.
324 ideas across three cycles
| Cycle | Ideas | Share of all ideas | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024–25 | 157 | 12.9% | 1 of 20 |
| 2025–26 | 53 | 4.4% | 10 of 20 |
| 2026–27 | 114 | 8.6% | 3 of 20 |
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
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
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
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
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
The largest and most varied set of ideas, with many hyper-local speed bump requests (especially Norwell Street), many pedestrian overpass and underpass proposals across Hyde Park, Roslindale and Dorchester, and requests for bike connections.
2025–26
A smaller set of ideas focused on protected or raised bike lanes, longer pedestrian signal times and crosswalk fixes, with an equity framing about residents without cars and Black and brown neighborhoods.
2026–27
Dominated by requests for raised, concrete-protected bike lanes (especially in Allston-Brighton) and physical barriers in place of paint or flexposts, along with signal retiming and protection against illegal parking in bike lanes.
New in 2026–27
Newly prominent are requests for sidewalk-height raised bike lanes with concrete barriers, enforcement and 311 reporting of lane-blocking cars, more crossing guards, and quick-build temporary curb extensions and planters.
Funding so far
No winning resident-vote projects relate to this theme, so every recurring ask (protected bike lanes, safer crossings and signals, traffic calming, enforcement and education, pedestrian-priority streets) has yet to be addressed by a winning project.
Projects are linked to themes by matching each project's description to the themes; this is not an official City classification.
No winning project has addressed this theme yet.
Departments that often lead this work
- Boston Transportation Department
- Public Works
Suggested with AI; not an official assignment of responsibility.
Ideas in Pedestrian & bike safety
324 ideas
2024–25: 157 · 2025–26: 53 · 2026–27: 114
- More speed limit signs near schools and daycaresAsks for more signs showing the speed limit, especially near schools and daycares, to make roads safer for children.2026–27City-wide
- Better bike lanes on Dorchester AvenueAsks for improved bike lanes on Dot Ave.2026–27Dorchester
- Improve street safety at Forest HillsAsks for street safety improvements at Forest Hills.2026–27Jamaica Plain
- Repaint crosswalk at Heath Street stopAsks for the crosswalk at the Heath Street stop to be repainted because it is dangerous.2026–27Jamaica Plain
- Stricter rules for cyclists and scooters on sidewalksResident asks for stricter rules to keep cyclists, scooters and motorcycles out of pedestrian-dominated areas such as sidewalks.2026–27City-wide
- Redesign Union Square in Allston for pedestrian safetyResident asks to redesign the dangerous Union Square intersection for pedestrians and to expand the empty plazas with events, food trucks and picnic tables to support the neighborhood.2026–27Allston
- Pilot bike 'school bus' system for studentsResident asks for a city-run pilot of supervised group bike commutes to school, with bikes provided to kids, so it isn't limited to families with money and time to organize.2026–27City-wide
- Community-requested temporary traffic calming via 311Resident asks the transportation department to stockpile planters, barriers and paint so community members can request low-cost temporary lane-narrowing traffic calming through 311.2026–27City-wide
- Resident co-design panels for safer streetsResident asks for funding for facilitation and expert advice so representative community panels can design feasible street safety improvements in key areas, extending participatory budgeting into design and implementation.2026–27City-wide
- Signs teaching shared sidewalk and bike lane etiquetteResident asks for citywide signage explaining rules and respectful behavior for sidewalks and bike lanes shared by cars, bikes, scooters and pedestrians, citing Providence's bike path signs as a model.2026–27City-wide
- Redesign Harvard Ave in AllstonResident asks to redesign Harvard Ave with protected bike lanes, wider sidewalks, and pickup zones instead of street parking, addressing litter, broken sidewalks, dangerous crossings, and double parking.2026–27Allston
- Close Linden and Reedsdale crossing over Green LineResident asks to close the crossover letting drivers on Linden and Reedsdale Streets cross the Green Line tracks, which delays trains and creates hazards for pedestrians.2026–27Allston
- Fix signals at Harvard Ave and Commonwealth AveResident asks to overhaul signals at Harvard Ave and Commonwealth Ave with transit signal priority and safer pedestrian timing, since crossing is dangerous and Green Line trains get stuck.2026–27Allston
- Retime signals on bike corridors for cyclistsResident asks to retime traffic signals on primary bike corridors like Comm Ave and Mass Ave to suit cycling speeds and prevent dangerous driver turns.2026–27City-wide
- Free bike lights, helmets and visibility gear for youthResident asks for free high-visibility gear, bike lights, and fitted helmets at community centers and youth hubs in underserved neighborhoods.2026–27City-wide
- Physically protected bike lanes with flex postsResident asks to replace painted bike lines with flex posts and rubber curbing on key routes to physically separate cyclists from traffic.2026–27City-wide
- Walking distance signs to libraries, parks, health centersResident asks for clear directional signs in commercial hubs showing walking distances and times to libraries, parks, and health centers.2026–27City-wide
- Close Market and Washington lip lane, add plazaResident asks to permanently close the lip lane at Market and Washington, turn the traffic island into a mini plaza, and improve the pedestrian signal to cut wait times and help Brighton Center businesses.2026–27Brighton
- More stop signs and crosswalks in Allston-BrightonThe resident asks for more stop signs, crosswalks and yield signs in Allston-Brighton to reduce accidents and make the area safer and more accessible.2026–27Allston
- Resident reporting and ticketing of lane-blocking parked carsThe resident asks for a way, via 311 or a new system, to report cars illegally blocking bike, bus and car lanes, linked to ticketing to make streets safer.2026–27City-wide