Cambridge
Massachusetts, United States
Size: Midsize City
Region: New England
72
City RatingOverall City RankingOut of 2579 cities (97th percentile)
Rank in the U.S.
Rank in New England Region
Rank in Massachusetts
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2024 City on the Rise
The city of Cambridge saw one of the largest improvements in City Ratings scores in recent years, growing from a score of 36 in 2020 to a tremendous 72 in 2024. In 2019, Cambridge passed the Cycling Safety Ordinance (CSO), one of the strongest Complete Streets mandates in the nation, to require the creation of safe biking routes. In 2020, the city set a timeline to have 25 miles of those routes completed by 2026. By relying on quick-build projects, using bollards and flex posts to create separated bike infrastructure, Cambridge has made substantial progress on the goals outlined in the CSO.
HELPFUL TIP: INCREASE YOUR CITY RATINGS SCORE BY PASSING A COMPLETE STREETS MANDATE
Complete Streets mandates play an important role in increasing City Ratings scores by creating great bike networks that get more people riding bikes more often. Learn more about Complete Streets mandates here.
Network Score
72
Average Network Score for all cities in 2024 was 28.
See Detailed Network Score
People
61
Access to parts of the city where residents live.
Opportunity
73
Access to jobs and schools.
Core Services
76
Access to places that serve basic needs, like hospitals and grocery stores.
Recreation
79
Access to recreational amenities like parks and trails.
Retail
81
Access to major shopping centers.
Transit
63
Access to major transit hubs.
Cambridge, 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 Cambridge. 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.