What Moves Dorchester Cyclists

In October 2023, the MBTA closed the entire Ashmont branch of the Red Line and the Mattapan Trolley for a 16-day repair surge. In response, Green Streets teamed up with A Better City (ABC) to enable and promote bicycles and bikeshare as effective ways to connect people with fast, free service on the nearby Fairmount Commuter Rail.

Working with a number of other partners, ABC coordinated the following:

published a resource page at bit.ly/try-biking,
made Bluebikes passes freely available,
installed wayfinding signs along key routes, and
had field staff at Ashmont and Fields Corner stations ready to lead people on the short ride to Talbot Ave Station.

Here is a short video giving you a sample of who we heard from about cycling in Dorchester.

To complement this effort, Green Streets conducted individual rider surveys to help uncover the challenges and opportunities associated with biking in Dorchester. We did this through a series of field-recorded interviews and also hosted an online video portal accessible to participants via computer or smartphone. (View our survey questions here.)

The dominant themes that emerged from the responses we collected include the desire for better bike infrastructure, the benefits of greater access to biking, and experiences of freedom and community provided by biking.

Below is a breakdown of those themes, in participants' own words.

"..I do wish [the City] would work on fixing the bike lanes that are already in place. There are many that are very bad." "..they don't enforce the laws and [motorists] blast through red lights constantly."

- Nancy

“I feel like we should have more bike lanes to ourselves to better the experience and to avoid a bunch of traffic, accidents, and whatnot.”

- Sarah

“As far as the biking around Dorchester…It’s really not great…not much in terms of amenities. Most people are not very comfortable biking.”

- Vivian

“[Bike lanes]...need to be protected bike lanes with the parked cars on the outside and the bike lane near the sidewalk. It just gives them an overall safer feel.”

- Derek

“Every time I get on Bluebikes, I’m reminded of how wonderful it is to be out riding bikes.”

- Louise

"The best memory was when I taught my older daughter how to ride without training wheels... She finally said, "Alright, let's do it." And once she did, she's been off ever since."

- Matt

"Biking is faster, more enjoyable, gets me outside, and energized in the morning and after work... [Good Memory:] Biking home with a light at night and feeling independent and able to navigate my city on my own terms.”

- Jordy

“[When biking] I feel a sense of agency about being able to leave on my own schedule.”

- Martin

“[I’ve had] a lot of pleasant experiences biking with friends and neighbors into work. It’s a nice way to start the day as long as you’re not getting hit by a car.”

- Tim

“You shouldn’t need a mentor to get the best out of Boston and biking, but it sure is cool if you can have a community.”

- Martin

“#1 commuter memory: Striking up a conversation with a guy who was kind of on the same bicycle route as me. That doesn’t happen when you’re in a car, right?”

- Joe

"Got some good memories from last summer and this past summer are just riding the bikes downtown with my kids."

- Amanda

“I decided I needed to try [Bluebikes] and see how it actually worked.”

- Louise

“My experiences with Bluebikes are amazing. The bikes are comfortable, they’re safe..I definitely recommend.”

- Amanda

“Biking keeps me engaged in what's happening around me. As I pass events, I'm more prone to stop when I'm on my bike.. One change that I would love to see is blue bikes being heavily subsidized or completely free for Boston residents."

- Pace

“You need transportation to get from place to place.”

- Derek

“The Bluebikes station [in Fields Corner] is on the street and it goes away during the winter."

- Vivian

"I really like riding my bike. I don't do it very often. But I probably would if it wasn't super hot or super cold. I don't usually ride it in the summer or the winter."

- Kristine

"...the increasing cold weather sometimes keeps me from riding a bike."

- Jordy

"Mental and physical health, ease of getting around, seeing new things. I would say ice and snow are about all that keep me from riding."

- Dorchester Resident

Curious about urban biking, tips for beginners, or how often the Fairmount Commuter Rail line runs? ABC TMA's "Try Biking" page has many resources for you!
Want to learn more about biking, other “car-light” transportation options, and resources for daily life as well as special occasions? Green Streets Initiative's Transportation Resources page has a wealth of information for commuters of all backgrounds and experiences!

If you are interested in showcasing the green commuting members of your workplace, religious organization, or other community group, click here for more information.

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