For cities debating whether protected bike lanes are worth the investment, new data from Cambridge, Massachusetts offers, yet another, a clear answer. Over the past two decades, the city has dramatically expanded its cycling network—and the number of people riding bikes has surged right alongside it.
The latest transportation report released last month from the city shows that cycling has reached record levels as Cambridge has built out a network of protected and connected bike lanes. The findings add to a growing body of evidence across North America showing that safe cycling infrastructure is one of the most effective ways to increase ridership, improve safety and make cycling a practical everyday transportation option.
Ridership Up 250 Percent
The scale of growth has been striking. Data collected at 16 bicycle count locations across Cambridge recorded more than 21,000 riders in 2024. In 2004, the same locations recorded just over 6,000 cyclists. That represents a 250 percent increase in bicycle traffic over two decades.
The growth has coincided with a major expansion of the city’s bike network. Cambridge now has more than 100 miles of bike lanes, many of them designed with physical protection separating cyclists from motor vehicles.
Commuting by bike has also risen steadily. Census and local survey data show that just over 10 percent of Cambridge residents now commute to work by bicycle, up from 8.2 percent reported in earlier census estimates covering 2009 to 2013. That puts Cambridge among the North American leaders in bicycle commuting.
Bike share has also played a role. The regional Bluebikes system has made it easier for residents and visitors to make short trips by bike without owning one, helping normalize cycling as part of the transportation mix.
Families and Kids Are Driving the Next Wave
One of the most notable trends in the report is the surge in children riding bicycles. Between 2014 and 2024, the number of children cycling independently or riding as passengers increased by 283 percent.
The locations where children ride most frequently are the same places where infrastructure provides the greatest protection. Intersections with physically separated bike lanes—where barriers, curbs or buffers separate bikes from motor traffic—show the highest numbers of child cyclists.
The pattern reinforces a consistent finding from cycling research around the world: families are among the most sensitive to traffic stress, and protected infrastructure is often the deciding factor that determines whether children ride.
In areas where bike lanes are fully protected or separated from traffic, families are increasingly using bicycles for short daily trips such as school runs and neighborhood errands. In contrast, busy corridors without protected lanes continue to discourage independent cycling for younger riders.
Safety Improving Even as Cycling Grows
One of the most important findings in the report is that the growth in cycling has not resulted in higher injury rates.
In fact, the opposite has occurred.
The citywide bicycle crash rate in 2024 was 41 percent lower than in 2004, even though far more people are riding. In practical terms, that means a person cycling in Cambridge today faces a significantly lower risk of injury than two decades ago.
While collisions have increased slightly since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic—largely due to rising travel activity overall—they remain below pre-pandemic peaks. The report also notes that bicycle crashes are frequently underreported, meaning the true number of incidents may be somewhat higher than official statistics suggest.
Crash data shows that incidents tend to cluster in areas with the highest cycling volumes, particularly on major corridors and at complex intersections where important bike routes connect. Many of these locations have recently received protected bike lanes or are scheduled to receive them as streets are redesigned.
Cambridge bike lane (photo: Cambridge Department of Transportation)
A Broader Range of People Riding
Another clear trend is the widening demographic of people using bicycles.
As the network has expanded and more protected lanes have been added, cycling in Cambridge has become more appealing to riders beyond the traditional group of younger, confident cyclists. Older adults are increasingly visible on city streets, and many residents now use both bikes and cars depending on the type of trip.
The presence of safer infrastructure has made cycling feel more comfortable for riders who might otherwise avoid riding in traffic. Health benefits, climate concerns and the convenience of short urban trips have all contributed to the rise in everyday cycling.
Policy Changes That Enabled the Shift
The transformation of cycling in Cambridge did not happen by accident. It followed a series of policy decisions aimed at making streets safer and more accessible for people outside of cars.
In 2016, the city adopted a Vision Zero Action Plan, committing to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries. As part of that strategy, Cambridge lowered speed limits to 20 miles per hour on most streets, helping reduce the severity of crashes.
In 2019, the city council adopted a Cycling Safety Ordinance, later amended in 2020, requiring the installation of separated bike lanes whenever certain major streets are reconstructed. The ordinance effectively ensured that the bike network would grow steadily as road projects moved forward.
These projects are guided by the city’s Cambridge Bicycle Plan, first released in 2015 and updated in 2020, which identifies priority corridors needed to create a safe and connected cycling network across the city.
A Blueprint for North American Cities
For cities across the United States and Canada, Cambridge’s experience illustrates what can happen when cycling infrastructure is built systematically rather than piecemeal.
Over two decades, the city has created a network that now spans more than 100 miles. As the network expanded, cycling increased dramatically. Families began riding more. Safety improved. And cycling became a more common part of daily transportation.
The results reinforce a principle that transportation planners and cycling advocates have long emphasized: when cities build safe, connected bike networks, people respond by riding more.
As urban areas across North America look for ways to reduce congestion, improve public health and cut transportation emissions, the data coming out of Cambridge provides a powerful reminder that investing in safe cycling infrastructure delivers measurable results.