Bike Ride & Transportation Discussion

Yesterday, cyclists from around the city came out to join me on a bike ride through Jamaica Plain. The ride gave me the opportunity to highlight my transportation plan, at the heart of which is a focus on “Complete Streets,” an approach to transportation planning that puts cars, bikes, pedestrians and public transit on an equal footing. Many people turned out despite the misty rain, including many voters who enjoyed getting to meet and speak  with for the first time. At the end of the ride, we gathered at Cafe Bartlett Sq for a discussion about cycling and other means of transportation in Boston.
More and more Bostonians are using their bikes to get around the city, and that means better health, less congested streets, and cleaner air. Bostonians in every neighborhood should have real choices about how they get around the city. Reliable, affordable transit and walkable, bikeable streets are about more than safe transportation - this is about connecting people to jobs and educational opportunities and making it possible for everyone to participate fully in the life of this city.

My transportation plan includes the following:

• Prioritizing ‘Complete Streets’ planning;
• Prioritizing cycle tracks in the city’s capital budget;
• Expanding the Hubway bike share program;
• Promoting transit-oriented development;
• Improving safety at intersections for pedestrians;
• Advocating for strong investments in the MBTA;
• Pushing for late-night MBTA service;
• Looking for cost-effective ways to expand MBTA service; and
• Modernizing Boston’s taxi system.