This happens all times of the day, 7 days a week - something needs to be done soon. A LOT of small children on bikes traverse this area to Fresh Pond, someone’s going to get hurt (or worse) if tangible action isn’t taken.

If safe paths to markets, schools, parks, and jobs is our goal in all of Cambridge, then enforcement of the rules is a necessary responsibility of Cambridge: irrespective of the primary jurisdiction on DCR Parkways, the State Police. If the State Police needs reorganization by our Governor, our safety and our environment, and our climate cannot wait.

I've been biking this way for 5 years and its never been this bad. You're right, every day it is like this every day now. One tried to pull out and almost hit me this week, i had to ride on the narrow strip of grass between the bike path and the road.

Yes this needs to be fixed. The truck drivers do not seem to understand that it's a violation. That probably because the police do not consider it to be a violation. The police identify with drivers not pedestrians and not cyclists. If they patrolled by bicycle and on foot their perspective might change.

Can we PLEASE install bollards to fix this long-time problem???

As to police indifference, I've actually witnessed patrol cars parked in the exact same spot while the officers went in to get donuts.

Thank you for reporting your concern to City of Cambridge via Commonwealth Connect.

Unfortunately, this is the State's jurisdiction. We have communicated with the Station Commander from Brighton about the concerns related to the noted issues and requests for enforcement.

Is the city of Cambridge prohibited from enforcing public safety laws on this land because it's part of the state?

Well, there is a dispute over in Boston because the State Police don't want to give BPD jurisdiction over parts of the Seaport: https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2016/02/04/seaport/krofP9l7HCxWMpGTFwnyOL/story.html

As of the early 2000s, Cambridge Police, and all local police, are empowered to enforce on the DCR Parkway. With some difficulty, a Google search could find this searching Massachussets General Laws. Or, call the City of Cambridge legal office.

And in fact, within the last year or two, four Cambridge police searched for about a half an hour, a car they stopped on Fresh Pond Parkway—to no arrest.

Recently, a Cambridge police officer stood at the entrance of the Cambridge Waterworks with a radar gun stopping and ticketing speeders.

When asked to enforce on the Parkway, the State Police, a lieutenant, reported the Parkway: "too dangerous to enforce".

Rejected comment, asserting legal authority of Cambridge Police over infractions on the Parkway...

!I defer to a lawyer's opinion, and here is the citation of authority for Cambridge Police to enforce on DCR property.

Enforcement by all Law Enforcement Officers on DCR PROPERTY

302 CMR: DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND RECREATION
12.02: continued

Law Enforcement Officer/Official means any government law enforcement official or officer, including, but not limited to, the following: DCR ranger, district forest fire warden, district forest fire patrolman, environmental police officer, Massachusetts state police officer, municipal police officer, other municipal law enforcement official, U.S. government law enforcement officer or official, Massachusetts county law enforcement officer or official, or any other qualified individual to whom the Department may designate authority and duties that are the same or similar to those positions listed.

12.20: Violations and Enforcement

(1) Any person who by his actions violates any provision of 302 CMR 12.00, or any person who fails to comply with any reasonable request of DCR personnel or law enforcement official, may be denied admittance to a DCR property, and may be subject to fine, eviction, banning or a combination of those penalties.

12.20: continued

(2) DCR Rangers, other DCR personnel and other law enforcement officers are authorized to issue citations for violations of all DCR regulations, including, without limitation, 302 CMR 11.00: Parkways, Traffic, and Pedestrian Rules and 302 CMR 12.00.

As a follow-up: This area, including the bicycle lane, is under DCR jurisdiction. As a result, any enforcement under DCR jurisdiction would be conducted by the State Police. The Cambridge Police does not conduct non-moving violation enforcement on state property.

Thanks for fixing this request!

And there it is: the origin of the term "cop out."

As a peaceful demonstration petitioning our government, we could invite demonstrators to park their bikes on the bike path. Consider the implications for illegal parking.

Since CPD “does not conduct non-moving violation enforcement on state property”, they should seriously consider that each and every motor vehicle that illegally and unsafely parks there, thereby endangering the wellbeing of residents and passers by in the City, enters and exit those spots by “moving”. This clearly is then an enforceable violation by the City.

It's a Cambridge management decision to NOT enforce non-moving violations on the Parkway.

Management: Cambridge Police Chief, City Manager?

If walk, bike, bus, Red Line are the environmental and health policy and future of Cambridge, that decision would change.