2009 SBC Annual Bike Report — File 189307

Somerville Bicycle Advisory Committee 2009 Annual Bicycle Report Page 1 Somerville Bicycle Advisory Committee 2009 Annual Bike Report March 26, 2010

Somerville Bike Advisory Committee 2009 Annual Bicycle Report Page 1 COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVES Brian Postlewaite, Chairman Charles Denison, Vice Chairman Enid Kumin Peter Coyle Jim Gallagher Alan Moore Ron Newman Steve DaSilva, Secretary Alex Epstein Jing Dai EX-OFFICIO Janice Delory, Offi ce of the Mayor Bob Trane, Board of Alderman Commissioner Stanley Koty, Department of Public Works Terry Smith, Traffi c & Parking Kathleen Ziegenfuss, Offi ce of Strategic Planning and Community Development Police Department 2009 ANNUAL BIKE REPORT Somerville Bicycle Advisory Committee

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Somerville Bicycle Advisory Committee 2009 Annual Bike Report Page 3 The Somerville Board of Aldermen established the Somerville Advisory Bicycle Committee (SBC) in 2001. The SBC works to improve conditions for bicyclists in the city, promote bicycling as a means of transportation, improve safety conditions for bicyclists, and to help implement bicycle policy, programs, and routes for all ages and abilities. Approximately 5% of Somerville residents commute by bicycle1. This is nearly a three-fold increase over two decades (1990, 2%; 2000, 3%)2. The increase of bicyclists in the city has paralleled the improving conditions for bicycling in Somerville (see Map 1: Existing Bicycle Facilities). These improvements over the past two decades include traffi c calming measures, the Community Path, bicycle lanes and City-sponsored community bike rides. The SBC plans to continue with these improvements over the next decade in order to increase both bicycle facilities and public outreach to encourage new bicyclists in Somerville. Our overall goal is 10% of Somerville residents traveling by bicycle in 2020. GOALS FOR 2020 To continue the growth of bicycling in the city, and attain 10% bicyclists by 2020, the SBC has charted the following key elements to reach this goal: Complete the Community Path, to • provide a direct, car-free route from Somerville to Boston via Brickbottom & North Point. The path currently ends at Cedar Street. 1 US Census, 2008 Community Survey. 2 US Census, 1990 & 2000. Provide Bike Route Signage, to help • bicyclists navigate our neighborhood streets and avoid roads with greater motor vehicle traffi c where possible. Provide Bicycle Facilities on all Major • City Roads, to provide safe and effi cient facilities for bicyclists to travel throughout the city. Increase Access to Bike Parking: • Install public bike racks in all business » areas and at most 1/4 mile apart in residential areas, and Provide centralized and preferably » sheltered parking facilities at main commercial centers, civic areas and transit stations. Institute City-Wide Bike Share • Program with the MAPC (Metropolitan Area Planning Council), to facilitate fl exible, seamless bicycle travel with neighboring cities and transit. Update Zoning to Anticipate Increased • Bicycle Use, which will place a greater demand on private bicycle parking facilities than currently required by zoning. Calm Street Traffi c, so bicyclists • of every age and ability can travel comfortably throughout the city. Educate Grade School Students to • Operate Bicycles in the City, such that, with calmed vehicular traffi c, 20% or more of Somerville students will bicycle to school. Educate Everybody about City Cycling, • so drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians, of all languages and backgrounds, know the rights and responsibilities of bicycling in Somerville.

Somerville Bicycle Advisory Committee 2009 Annual Bike Report Page 4 Prepare More Bicycle Promotion • Programs and Materials, to provide all Somerville residents with the encouragement and support to be a Somerville Cyclist. Each of these elements will help Somerville residents to bicycle more. The following measures will allow the City to chart its progress and provide feedback to optimize available funds. Annual Bicycle Counting, to chart • bicycle usage; led by the SBC in coordination with the OSPCD. Regular Enforcement and Recording of • Dangerous Traffi c Behavior; led by the Police Department. Annual Bicycle Accident & Incident • Report, to assess both problem locations and problem behaviors; led by the SBC in coordination with the OSPCD (data sources may include MassDOT, MAPC, CTPS, City Police Reports, and other local sources). Together, these efforts will help the SBC achieve its long term vision of a network of bicycle facilities throughout Somerville (see Map 2: Bicycle Facilities, Long Term Vision). ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF 2009 The SBC has advanced the above goals throughout 2009, through the successful partnerships with the following city organizations and departments: Mayor’s Offi ce • Offi ce of Strategic Planning and • Community Development Traffi c and Parking • Historic Preservation Commission • Department of Public Works • Police Department • Shape up Somerville • Somerville Arts Council • With the help of the City the SBC has accomplished the following: Annual Historic Bike Ride, 2009 • theme: Somerville’s Houses of Worship Annual Tour De Somerville, 2009 • theme: The City’s Seven Hills Bicycle Valet Parking and Outreach • Table during Art Beat Advised the City to increase bicycle • accommodations in City, State and private projects: Washington St (between Union Square » and Charlestown) Somerville Avenue (between McGrath » Highway and Porter Square) Assembly Square » Union Square » Community Path » Green Line Extension Stations » Mystic River Parkway Alewife Brook » Bridge Alewife Brook Multi-Use Paths » City’s Comprehensive Plan » Magoun Square » East Broadway (in support of East » Somerville Main Streets) Updated Somerville Bicycle Map with • on-road bicycle facilities Created and launched the • Somervillebikes.org website

Somerville Bicycle Advisory Committee 2009 Annual Bike Report Page 5 Installed shared lane markings • (sharrows) on: Park Street » Mossland Street » Washington Street (between Union » Square and Beacon Street) Elm Street » Joy Street » New bike backs throughout the city • INITIATIVES FOR 2010 The SBC intends to explore of a few key initiatives for 2010 (see Map 3: 2010 Bicycle Proposals). These initiatives would build on the City’s past accomplishments and work towards our 2020 goals. We plan to work with the City on the following: Expand the on-street bicycle facilities • network, potential facilities include: Extend the Willow Avenue bike lane » with sharrows to Ball Square Install bike lanes and advisory bike » lanes on Cedar Street Install advisory bike lanes on Mossland » Street Install advisory bike lanes and/or bike » lanes on Summer Street Install sharrows, advisory bike lanes » and/or bike lanes on College Street Explore the potential to add bike • parking in Union and Davis Squares, where bicycles regularly exceed available bicycle racks, by providing large on-street bicycle racks. Develop a bicycle wayfi nding network • built upon the Community Path and neighborhood streets to link major commercial, civic and transportation centers. Include cyclists’ need for pavement • quality into the City’s annual road reconstruction process. Assist the City and MassDOT in design • and funding of the Community Path extension. Assist the City to install 100 bike racks • in business districts and commercial corridors throughout the city.

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SOMERVILLE BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE For more information: http://www.somervillema.gov/Department.cfm?orgunit=BICYCLE http://www.somervillebikes.org/