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
Driver Kills Northampton Resident In Damon Road Homicide Crash
MassDOT's crash records indicate that there has been a significant increase in crashes on Damon Road since the agency completed a road-widening project in 2024.
September 9, 2026
Driver Kills 83-Year-Old Bicyclist in Medway
An unidentified driver struck and killed Yuk Foo Chan, an 83-year-old West Roxbury resident, while he was riding his bicycle Tuesday evening on Milford Street near the Milford-Medway town line, according to local police.
September 9, 2026
What’s Changed, And What Hasn’t, In Boston’s New Blue Hill Avenue Busway Plan
Late last week, the City of Boston and the MBTA released yet another revised design for the Blue Hill Avenue busway project, which aims to speed up Route 28 and 23 buses between Mattapan Square and Grove Hall with a dedicated center-running busway with new stations and amenities for riders.
September 9, 2026
Wednesday’s Headlines Are Still Pretty Dirty
Plug-in hybrids are a "greenwashing stunt" that are not much cleaner or fuel efficient than fully gas-powered cars, according to Transport & Environment.
September 9, 2026
MBTA Making Moves in Medford As Part of the Bus Network Redesign
Last month, residents and neighbors of Medford came out in droves to discuss the parts of the Bus Network Redesign (BNR) that would go into effect in their city, and affect their connections into neighboring cities like Malden, Cambridge and Somerville.
September 4, 2026