CAMBRIDGE — In anticipation of a crucial City Council vote on Cambridge’s citywide bike lane network, Mayor E. Denise Simmons expressed reservations about the rapid expansion of bike lanes, particularly highlighting potential negative impacts on small businesses and elderly residents.
“I actually want cycling,” Simmons affirmed in a recent interview with The Harvard Crimson. “I love cycling safety, but I also have to balance it with the small business owner or the senior citizen.”
The upcoming council decision on Monday will consider a policy order to extend the construction deadline for about 25 miles of separated bike lanes, moving it from May 1, 2026, to November 1, 2027. This extension aims to provide additional time for the city to assess the impact of bike lanes on local commerce, responding to concerns that have persisted among bike lane expansion critics.
Though the economic study commissioned by the city returned inconclusive results, Simmons articulated worries about the elimination of parking spaces due to bike lane construction, which could adversely affect ground-floor retail businesses.
“If ground floor retail shrivels up, goes away, those are less opportunities for people to be in the streets, going into the restaurants and meeting their friends,” she explained.
Simmons also highlighted safety concerns for seniors, noting, “They’re always gonna say, ‘I’m afraid to go out. I’m afraid I’m gonna get hit by a bike. I can’t get to the pharmacy anymore.’”
The issue of bike lane construction was a pivotal topic in the 2023 local elections and remains a divisive issue within the community. Earlier discussions on the policy order witnessed significant public turnout, with nearly a hundred residents voicing their opposition.
Despite these challenges, Simmons remains hopeful for a compromise, aiming for an “unhappy medium” where, she said, “We’re not all going to be happy but hopefully we’ll be better off. You get a little, I get a little.”
Addressing the broader issue of reducing car dependency in favor of environmental benefits, the Mayor cautioned against a hasty transition away from automobiles, especially considering the needs of working-class families in Cambridge.
“A number of my constituents in particular, they can’t get out of their cars,” she stated, emphasizing the practical necessities over the environmental ideals.
Simmons also pointed out the economic implications of environmental enhancements, which could inadvertently increase rents and property values, potentially displacing long-time residents in favor of wealthier newcomers.
“If we want diversity, we have to be intentional,” Simmons concluded, advocating for a nuanced discussion over a simplistic dichotomy in city planning strategies.
