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:
More from Streetsblog Massachusetts
Election Roundup: Transit Notches Wins In California, Colorado, and New York
Transportation wasn't explicitly on the ballot yesterday in Massachusetts, but the major "blue wave" that swept the country will eventually have major implications for federal transportation policy, and stave off the Republicans' proposals for disastrous budget cuts for public transit and safer streets.
November 4, 2026
Another Week-Long Green Line Closure Begins Saturday, and There Are Still More to Come
The T has closed the central Green Line tunnel for signal work four times in the past year, and MBTA officials say that there will be more shutdowns to come.
November 3, 2026
Boston Residents Fume As Mayor Wu Fails to Deliver Promised Traffic-Calming to Neighborhood Streets
A city engineer warned, in a 2025 internal email message, that the mayor's abrupt turn against speed hump installations would put the public's safety at risk: "We know there will be excessive speeding... This decision has caused an incredible amount of internal conflict for me, I don't think it's the right choice."
November 2, 2026
Tuesday’s Headlines Vote Early and Vote Often
From the federal level to local referendums, this will be a pivotal election for transit and safety.
November 2, 2026