Balanced Parking & Street Design

Cambridge deserves safer, more functional streets, but not at the expense of residents who rely on cars for work, caregiving, and everyday life, especially for seniors and those with young children. A one-size-fits-all approach to street redesign has too often replaced neighborhood nuance with ideology, frustrating residents instead of engaging them. I support a transportation plan that includes protected bike lanes and pedestrian-friendly design while also preserving car access and the parking people depend on. We need to make our streets safer for bikers and walkers, not more divisive for everyone else. That means ensuring parking alternatives when spaces are lost to new bike lanes, such as shared off-street lots, angled parking where appropriate, and better enforcement of existing rules. If we want to encourage more sustainable transportation, while understanding that not everyone can or will use public transportation or bikes. Drivers are not the enemy, and many Cambridge residents can’t simply switch to biking or walking overnight, however, creating city policy that encourages the use of alternative transportation can direct the city in a greener and more affordable tomorrow. Policy should realize this reality, not ignore it. With the right balance and more thoughtful outreach, we can design streets that work better for everyone. I’ll bring that balance back to City Hall.