Independence From Cars Day: A Car-Free Waterfront and Free Bluebikes Rides
Boston's July 4th celebrations along the Charles River present a rare opportunity for Bostonians to enjoy a car-free waterfront.
3:50 PM EDT on July 3, 2019
Boston’s July 4th celebrations along the Charles River present a rare opportunity for Bostonians to enjoy a car-free waterfront.
- Bluebikes will offer unlimited free rides all day on the 4th (use code “BlueCross4” in the Bluebikes app or sign up for a free code on the website).
- There will be extra Bluebikes valets from 5 to 9 p.m. in Copley Square and at Kendall Street in Cambridge.
- The T will be free after 9:30 p.m.
- Storrow Drive is closed to motor vehicle traffic from 3 p.m. on the 3rd through the 4th, from the Bowker Overpass to Charles Circle.
- The section of the riverside Esplanade path around to the Hatch Shell has been closed in preparation for the fireworks, and the Frances Appleton bridge at Charles Circle and Fiedler bridge at Beacon Street will be closed starting at 7 a.m. on the 4th.
- From 4 p.m. on July 4th, the City of Cambridge will also close Memorial Drive, Longfellow Bridge, the Massachusetts Avenue Bridge, and a number of other local streets to motor vehicle traffic before the fireworks.
Christian has edited StreetsblogMASS since its founding in spring 2019. Before that, he was a data reporter for the Portland Press Herald in Maine.
Got tips? Send them to me via Signal, the encrypted messaging app, at 207-310-0728.
Read More:
Streetsblog has migrated to a new comment system. New commenters can register directly in the comments section of any article. Returning commenters: your previous comments and display name have been preserved, but you'll need to reclaim your account by clicking "Forgot your password?" on the sign-in form, entering your email, and following the verification link to set a new password — this is required because passwords could not be carried over during the migration. For questions, contact tips@streetsblog.org.
More from Streetsblog Massachusetts
MBTA Seeks Vendor Input For Possible Platform Screen Door Pilot Program
The platform barriers are primarily a safety measure, but they could also enable air-conditioning in increasingly sweltering subway stations.
May 21, 2026
Thursday’s Headlines Are Not Impressed
The first draft of a new infrastructure bill could be worse, but leaves much to be desired.
May 21, 2026
T Threatens Recalcitrant City Hall With Eminent Domain to Ban Cars From Summer Street On World Cup Match Days
Most other World Cup host cities are pedestrianizing streets to accommodate World Cup crowds, but Mayor Wu's administration is resisting the idea in Boston.
May 20, 2026
MBTA Launching New Year-Round Boston Harbor Ferry Loop In June
Editor's note: the following is a lightly edited version of an MBTA press release.
May 19, 2026
MBTA Wants You to Help Plan for Its Future with ‘Focus 2050’
For the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic, the MBTA is updating its long-range plans for the future of transportation in eastern Massachusetts.
May 19, 2026
