Poor Design Process: Many residents argue that the current bike lanes were implemented hastily, without a comprehensive master plan or adequate community involvement. Meetings for public input were perfunctory, which has led to frustration among residents who feel sidelined in the decision-making process.

• High Accident Rates: There is a perception that the bike lanes are poorly designed, increasing the risk of accidents. In particular, high-traffic streets like Commonwealth Avenue are seen as hazardous due to the absence of continuous, protected bike lanes, which expose cyclists to vehicle traffic.
• Lack of Enforcement: Residents point to the lack of enforcement of bike and electric scooter safety regulations, such as speed limits, as a safety risk. Unlike motor vehicles, bikes and electric scooters are not subject to registration or consistent enforcement, which can create chaotic and unsafe conditions for all road users.

Many of Boston’s streets were not designed to support bike lanes alongside vehicles, leading to narrow or poorly protected lanes that force interactions between bikes and cars. This setup is particularly dangerous at intersections, where there are frequent "interfaces" with pedestrian crosswalks and vehicle paths.

Creating truly safe bike lanes would require substantial investment—far more than has currently been allocated. We see Boston’s approach as a low-cost, short-term concept that sacrifices safety for budget savings. Due to lawsuits and constant repairs and reconstruction, this approach will end up being more costly in the long run.