My Vision for Transportation in Cambridge
As your City Councillor, I believe safe, accessible, and balanced transportation is absolutely essential to Cambridge’s future. I’m a strong proponent of a multimodal approach that genuinely supports walking, cycling, mass transit, and yes—driving. After all, a truly vibrant and inclusive city must accommodate all of its residents, workers, and visitors.
Balancing Bike Safety and Parking Needs
I strongly support building a connected network of protected bike lanes to ensure the safety of cyclists and to encourage more people to choose biking. However, I also recognize that parking is essential for many—especially older adults, caregivers, service workers, and families. That’s why I’ve consistently worked to balance bike infrastructure with the real needs of drivers. For instance, I voted to proceed with bike lanes on Broadway because they are vital for our safety network, but I also introduced a policy order to study parking alternatives in that corridor. When that specific proposal didn’t pass, I then supported an alternative one drafted by Councillor Patty Nolan, seeking to provide much-needed parking relief.
I also supported restoring Garden Street to two-way traffic due to valid complaints from abutting neighbors about traffic being rerouted into their neighborhoods. My colleagues and I are still actively working on providing loading zones and parking for elderly and disabled neighbors who will be impacted by parking loss there.
Enhancing Transit and Exploring New Options
I’m leading efforts to explore a municipal shuttle system to supplement the MBTA and better connect residents across the city. I’ve also championed the increased use of car shares and better promotion of existing shuttle options like the free EZ Ride and Harvard shuttles.
Transportation should work for everyone. That’s why I chaired a Transportation Committee hearing specifically focused on accommodating drivers while simultaneously promoting sustainable travel. We heard from MIT professors and local leaders about smart ways to reduce car dependency—like encouraging residents to give up second cars—while also recognizing that many people still genuinely need to drive.
Planning for Cambridge’s Evolving Needs
Our city is constantly evolving. With more residents, more visitors, and major infrastructure projects ahead—from Memorial Drive to I-90—we absolutely need thoughtful planning. I’ve supported zoning changes and Parking and Transportation Demand Management (PTDM) ordinance updates that could create up to 3,400 new off-street parking spots, even as we expect to lose up to 900 on-street spaces to new bike and bus lanes.
Ultimately, I want a city where everyone feels safe getting where they need to go—whether on foot, by bike, on transit, or by car. That means investing in safer intersections, consistently enforcing no-parking zones in bike lanes, and demanding more accountability and follow-through in City-led transportation rollouts.
Above all, I believe in practical solutions, active listening, and evidence-based policy. Let’s keep Cambridge moving—safely, sustainably, and together.
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Upper photo by Jay Connor. Lower photo by Pexels – Brett Sayles