To the honorable City Council of Cambridge MA:

·       Whereas, the Cycling Safety Ordinance requires separated bike lanes be installed on Broadway, removing at least 60% of current on-street parking spaces. 

·       Whereas, separated bike lanes have already been installed on Mass. Ave., and Cambridge, Hampshire and Main Streets, reducing on-street parking spaces and thus making parking and traffic more difficult in the Port & Mid-Cambridge neighborhoods. 

For these and the following reasons we ask that the City Council remove Broadway from the Cycling Safety Ordinance:

·       Many residents living on or near Broadway between Quincy and Portland Streets (including families, seniors, homeowners and tenants) depend on on-street parking for transportation and access to home (to get to work, shop for food, socialize with friends and family, along with deliveries, healthcare, building maintenance and other essential services); further loss of parking on Broadway would make their lives more difficult and impose hardship for many on a daily basis. 

·       Broadway is also home to many schools, civic and commercial establishments which rely on Broadway for parking and access by students, visitors and staff (i.e. Rindge & Latin High School, Longfellow School, City Hall Annex, Fletcher-Maynard Academy, Main Public Library); removing on-street parking from Broadway would make a difficult situation worse.

·       Other separated cycle lanes already provide alternatives for east-west cycling through the same area.

·       Broadway was not in the 2015 Cambridge Bicycle Plan or original Cycling Safety Ordinance and many of the affected residents are only now finding out about the planned removal of parking on Broadway and deserve consideration.