BOSTON – The National Bike to Work Day Festival at City Hall Plaza on May 17 saw cyclists of all ages gather to celebrate a day of biking, camaraderie, and free bananas. Organized by Boston Bikes, an arm of the Boston Transportation Department, the event drew an estimated 900 cyclists who departed from various locations including South Station and Concord, according to Anna Jacobs of Boston Bikes.
The city of Boston actively promotes cycling through various events and programs designed to boost cyclists’ confidence on the streets. These initiatives include bike-repair pop-ups, learn-to-bike workshops, and the E-Bikes incentive program, all catering to riders of varying skill levels, Jacobs explained.
Van Tran, a notary signing agent, felt a surge of confidence while riding with a group from Dorchester. “I actually just learned to ride a bike last year, so my friend told me about this event and I said ‘Why not’ just because I feel safer in a group,” Tran shared.
Upon arrival at City Hall Plaza, Boston Bikes staff warmly welcomed participants with ringing bells and cheers. Dozens of supporters lined the entrance, eagerly awaiting the incoming biking groups, some with as many as 40 participants.
“It’s a good way to get to work, and it’s nice to ride with people all the time,” remarked Matthew Petersen, a transit planner with the Boston Transportation Department.
Louisa Gag, an event organizer and transportation planner for the City of Boston Streets Cabinet, prefers biking over other transportation modes due to the autonomy it provides. She noted that biking allows her to control her daily schedule better and avoid long waits for trains, saving significant time for work tasks. “If I take an e-bike, it halves my commute time, so that’s definitely hours saved each week,” Gag added.
Boston has made substantial progress in enhancing biking infrastructure in recent years, introducing bike lanes, traffic cones, and improved transportation connections, especially around the Boston Common Garage. “I have lived here for 11 years now, and have seen an amazing increase in biking and biking infrastructure,” Jacobs observed.
Gag’s favorite biking route is through the Southwest Corridor Park, which offers bike paths separate from car traffic, a safer alternative to the door zone bike lanes near parked cars. “When I bike down from Jamaica Plain and I’m on the Southwest Corridor, I’m like ‘Oh my God, this is so nice. It’s beautiful, it’s calm,’” Gag said.
Gag also highlighted the environmental benefits of biking, pointing out that transportation is the leading sector for greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. Boston’s Go Boston 2030 ReVisioned plan aims to shift more people from single-occupancy vehicles to diverse transit options, with a goal to quadruple the number of cyclists. “We’re not there yet, but events like these can help support and bring culture change,” Gag stated.
Tina Chan, a librarian at MIT, felt accomplished biking to the festival, knowing it helped reduce her carbon footprint. “It makes me feel energized and relieved and good about myself that I didn’t waste any carbon emissions on my commute,” Chan said.
She encouraged others to start with smaller biking excursions if commuting seems daunting. Chan emphasized that Boston’s Bike to Work Day offers a chance to enjoy scenic routes, meet new people, and enjoy a free breakfast, regardless of skill level. “Just come. If not this year, next year,” Jacobs urged. “It’s a rain or shine event and just full of enthusiasm.”