Transit

Cambridge has launched an aggressive policy to add more bicycle lanes citywide, replacing travel lanes and parking places to do this. Three rationales are in play: lowering the level of vehicle ownership/use in Cambridge, addressing climate change, and bicyclist safety. Meanwhile city and area public transportation opportunities have dramatically declined due to cost and other factors.

Additional documents on Transit (Bicycling etc. in Cambridge and Globally) also are found under our Envision Tab

Cambridge Transportation Study (June 30, 2025)

Important findings of the June 30, 2025 transportation study report: Despite the massive cost, we are seeing very, very little change. Use of Public Transportation is way down. Little increase in the number of people riding bicycles regularly to work. Nearly 40% of people living in apartments own cars (so lots of need for parking). 17% of our businesses are not meeting thee commitments that they had agreed to implement. And, bicycling is very low in priorities for most here re. transportation planning. We need more information on city workers.

2023 US Census data on Cambridge transit

Based on the U.S. Census Data:
27% of city residents who are 16+ of age and who work have no vehicle and 46.6% have 1 vehicle; 29.9% have 2 vehicles; 5.5% have 3 or more.

Let’s look further at the census data.:

Approximately 88.0% of Cambridge residents aged 16–19 are full-time students (not likely to own a car, drive a car to work)

Total residents of Cambridge aged 16–19: 3,907
Full-time students in that group: 3,438
Total % of residents in this age who are students: 88%

Approximately 68.3% of Cambridge residents aged 20–24 are full-time students (not likely to own a car, drive a car to work)

Total residents of Cambridge aged 20–24: 15,109.
Full-time students in that group: 10,312
Total % of residents in this age who are students: 68.3%

This number is not insignificant!
Approximately 79.2% of Cambridge residents aged 16 to 24 are (full- or part-time) students
In total 31.2% of all Cambridge residents are full- or part-time students.
Here are the census data;

Total Cambridge residents (age 16 and over): 94,804
Total full-time students: 27,174
Total part-time students: 2,426
Combined full- or part-time students:

27,174+2,426=29,60027,174+2,426=29,600
Approximately 31.2% of Cambridge residents aged 16 and over are full- or part-time students.
Total high school students at Rindge or area schools: 1,721
Total College students in degree-granting institutions: 27,335
Of all Cambridge residents who are full- or part-time students:

Approximately 5.8% attend high school in Cambridge or nearby.
Approximately 92.3% attend college.

The total students enrolled in Cambridge colleges: 41,523
This number of college students does not include post docs or interns.
And while some of the college students in Cambridge may vote in Cambridge, a large majority are from outside the area, they vote instead in their hometowns.

Public Transit: Boston Bus Priority Vision
(Cambridge is Not Part of It)

Bicycling & Street Use: Two Often Divergent Advocacy Groups

Bicycle Safety Group

Cambridge Streets for All

Bicycling in Cambridge 2023 Data Report

The Disheartening News in Cambridge's 2023 Bicycling Report (CCC analysis)

Bicycling in Cambridge Data Report (2023)

Cambridge Citywide Bicycle Counts (2023)

Boston Area Blue Bike Data 2011-2022

Boston area Blue Bike Data: This chart shows both increasing use and sizable seasonal differences (summer tourist period: high; winter local use low).