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
- Protected bike laneResident asks for a protected bike lane, without giving a location or further detail.2025–26Dorchester
- Protected bike lane on Dudley and StoughtonResident asks for a protected bike lane on Dudley and Stoughton streets because many people bike and scoot into the city from Dorchester and aggressive drivers make it dangerous.2025–26Dorchester
- Address red-light running with traffic signal improvementsResident asks the city to prioritize traffic lights and red-light safety at locations where drivers run red lights and endanger people.2025–26City-wide
- Longer WALK times at crosswalksResident asks for longer, consistent crosswalk WALK times so people with disabilities and children can cross safely without relying on driver patience.2025–26City-wide
- Better-timed pedestrian signals across the cityResident asks for well-timed, consistent pedestrian signals, including audible chirps for blind pedestrians, so people stop jaywalking and disabled and older residents can cross more safely.2025–26City-wide
- Better traffic signals at Roslindale intersectionsInstall better, more visible traffic signals at Roslindale intersections, especially Metropolitan Hill, where frequent accidents endanger drivers, pedestrians, bikers and MBTA buses.2025–26Roslindale
- Raised bike lanes on Western AveInstall raised bike lanes on Western Ave because traffic and deliveries make the current bike lanes ineffective, so people can move safely without driving.2025–26Brighton
- More traffic calming and treesAdd more traffic calming measures and trees at the location, with no further detail provided.2025–26City-wide
- Signals and raised crosswalks at Brooks and FaneuilAdd lights and raised crosswalks on Brooks and Faneuil streets because drivers do not stop for pedestrians and a car has driven into a home there.2025–26Brighton
- Raised bike lanes on Brooks Street, BrightonInstall raised bike lanes on Brooks Street in Brighton, which is dangerous for cyclists, to make it safer for both pedestrians and cyclists.2025–26Brighton
- Car-free, greener Rockford St. in RoxburyResident proposes turning Rockford St. (formerly Brook Ave) in Roxbury into a car-free, shaded public space for walking and biking, reducing heat and providing safe routes to school.2025–26Roxbury
- Pedestrian walkway at Cleveland CircleResident asks for a pedestrian walkway at Cleveland Circle to improve safety at a very busy and dangerous intersection.2025–26Brighton
- Shade awnings at street cornersResident asks for awnings or shade structures at intersections where pedestrians face long waits for the walk signal, to protect them from the elements.2025–26Jamaica Plain
- Small street closures in front of schoolsResident asks for small-scale street closures in front of schools to calm traffic and improve safety.2025–26City-wide
- Extend Mass Ave protected bike lanes southResident asks to extend protected bike lanes on Massachusetts Avenue as far south as possible for safety, less driving and reduced speeding.2025–26Fenway
- Redesign Centre Street with bike lanes and sidewalksResident asks to redesign Centre Street in Jamaica Plain like Inman Square in Cambridge, with protected bike lanes, wider sidewalks, parklets and seating while keeping two-way traffic.2025–26Jamaica Plain
- Sidewalk on street with heavy navigation-app trafficResident asks for a sidewalk or pedestrian walkway on a side street where map apps send many cars, making it dangerous for residents.2025–26Brighton
- Better streets and more traffic lights in busy areasImprove streets and add more traffic lights in busy areas to reduce danger for people passing through.2025–26City-wideSubmitted in Spanish
- Bike paths linking Charles River and Brighton CenterBuild bike paths connecting the Charles River to Brighton Center.2025–26Brighton
- Free or subsidized helmets for BluebikesMake helmets available at Bluebikes stations or subsidize helmets for riders.2025–26City-wide