Boston
Massachusetts, United States
Size: Large City
Region: New England
34
City RatingOverall City RankingOut of 2579 cities (71st percentile)
Rank in the U.S.
Rank in New England Region
Rank in Massachusetts
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HELPFUL TIP: INCREASE YOUR CITY RATINGS SCORE BY INCREASING STATE AND LOCAL FUNDING FOR BIKE INFRASTRUCTURE
In 2016, Massachusetts passed House Bill 4570, imposing a 20-cent-per-ride tax, half of which goes towards transportation infrastructure in the municipality where the ride originated. In 2018 alone, Boston collected more than $4.2 million in revenue from this tax, much of which the city used for active transportation improvements. State and local funding for bike infrastructure is critical to increasing City Ratings scores by creating great bike networks that get more people riding bikes more often. Learn how to secure state and local funding for bike infrastructure here.
Network Score
34
Average Network Score for all cities in 2024 was 28.
See Detailed Network Score
People
21
Access to parts of the city where residents live.
Opportunity
33
Access to jobs and schools.
Core Services
29
Access to places that serve basic needs, like hospitals and grocery stores.
Recreation
37
Access to recreational amenities like parks and trails.
Retail
48
Access to major shopping centers.
Transit
39
Access to major transit hubs.
Boston, MA
City Rating Through Time
Score changes over time reflect investments in bike infrastructure, adjustments to speed limits, and OpenStreetMap data quality improvements.
Network Analysis
This interactive map shows high-stress and low-stress areas for bicycling in Boston. If you'd like to see interactive versions of this map with additional street-level data, explore PeopleForBikes' BNA tool.
Explore bike projects near you with the Great Bicycle Infrastructure Project
Improve Your City
The Best Ways to Fund Bike Infrastructure
PeopleForBikes Senior Director for Infrastructure Dave Snyder will discuss how local and state funding for bike projects is essential to take advantage of an unprecedented amount of federal funding that often requires a local match.
How Complete Streets Can Transform Your Community
PeopleForBikes’ Legislative Strategies Guide features the best, real-world examples of policy changes being adopted in communities across the U.S. to create more great places to ride bikes.
Advancing Bike Infrastructure Through Climate Legislation
Bicycles are a crucial component in the fight against climate change, offering a sustainable solution to reduce vehicle miles traveled (VMT) and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.