The Massachusetts Bicycle Coalition organized an Urban Biking Workshop at the Chelsea Public Library on July 31 to advance bike safety, promote adherence to cycling laws in urban settings, and introduce a new biking and pedestrian committee.
Vivian Ortiz, a certified instructor with the League of American Bicyclists, emphasized safety considerations for areas without dedicated bike infrastructure, particularly relevant to Chelsea’s current conditions.
Jennifer Kelly, who directs the Healthy Chelsea Coalition, is actively recruiting participants for a biking and pedestrian committee designed to tackle community-specific issues and concerns. This initiative, supported by Mass in Motion—a statewide initiative promoting active and healthy living—aims to secure funding for various programs.
Among the planned initiatives is a program distributing free helmets to cyclists as a safety measure.
“I work as a teacher in Chelsea, and have taken a bike to school. In the mornings when I thought I would feel safe because there wasn’t a lot of traffic, I actually had a couple of problems because I think people at that hour weren’t expecting to see someone on a bike,” Lisa Santagate said. “It was actually scarier than I thought it would be, so I don’t do it all that much, but I really want to.”
According to Ortiz, state law classifies bicycles as vehicles subject to traffic regulations, traffic flow patterns, and proper signaling requirements. While Chelsea currently lacks extensive bicycle infrastructure, the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) has introduced a bike-sharing system to encourage cycling and provide affordable transportation options.
The new shared-use path alongside the Silver Line is available to residents, and upcoming plans include protected bike lanes as part of Beacham Street’s reconstruction—Chelsea’s sole bicycle access route to Boston.
When LimeBike and Spin launched their dockless bike program in May, it sparked conversations about cycling safety in Chelsea and introduced an app-based rental model charging $1 per hour. The city implemented this program without additional infrastructure costs since no docking stations were required.
Despite the absence of added expenses, residents have raised concerns about the bright green bicycles left in aesthetically problematic locations or hazardous areas like pedestrian walkways.
“Riding in an urban area that doesn’t have any bike infrastructure is really, really scary,” Ortiz said. “A lot of my fear in the beginning was folks were just not used to seeing people on bikes in my neighborhood. So that’s one tip that I would give folks, if you’re not comfortable riding by yourself, find a group of people. It’s much easier riding with a group to be on the street because there’s more power in numbers.”
The workshop highlighted various group rides available throughout the Boston area, including Hub on Wheels on Sept. 16, along with essential safety guidance for cyclists.
Ortiz concluded with key recommendations: ride with traffic flow rather than against it; select and maintain your line without swerving or lane splitting; avoid the “right hook” by checking that vehicles won’t turn right across your path; and always use arm signals when turning.
Those interested in participating on the biking and pedestrian committee should contact Kelly at [email protected].