Boston Rising: Nicole Freedman and the Emergence of a Bike-Friendly City
The Boston metro area has always had plenty of cyclists. But other than a few fantastic greenways like the Minuteman Trail and some forward-thinking bike lanes in Cambridge, they haven't had many good places to ride. In fact, until recently it wasn't uncommon to hear murmurs that Boston was the worst biking city in the country.
But that's all starting to change. In 2007, Mayor Thomas Menino hired Nicole Freedman -- a former Olympic cyclist -- as his "bike czar" to head up an initiative called Boston Bikes. Though the city still has quite a ways to go, Boston is shaking off decades of bike rust, and officials are advancing plans to become more bike-friendly. This April, Menino told a gathering of cyclists at the city's first Bicycling Safety Summit that "the car is no longer king in Boston."
Streetfilms was recently in town, and we got to spend a few minutes with Nicole in between her busy schedule to file this report.
Stay in touch
Sign up for our free newsletter
More from Streetsblog New York City
Police Brass Gets Booed During E-Vehicle Safety Alliance Meeting for Applauding Deliveristas
Attendees of the E-Vehicle Safety Alliance's latest meeting castigated a Transportation Bureau deputy inspector for saying that delivery workers are responsive to safety issues.
Thursday’s Headlines: Unsafe School Streets Edition
A school crossing guard was injured by a drunk driver on Tuesday. Plus more news.
EYES ON THE STREET: Drivers Dominate Former W. 22nd Open Street
Meh. The barriers are gone and the cars are back on W. 22nd, but some spaces for people remain.
‘Not Grieving Alone’: A Father’s Artistic Journey After Losing Two Kids to Road Violence
Colin Campbell and his wife Gail Lerner lost both their children in a car crash with impaired driver. Now, it's a show.
Opinion: Bring Back ‘Give Respect/Get Respect’ Campaign
If cyclists don't throw their own bad apples under the bus, we won't get safer streets, argues this West Side advocate.
