DCR will reopen Memorial Drive to cars on Saturdays

Beginning on Saturday, August 13, the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) will open Memorial Drive to cars on Saturdays.

With this change, everyone traveling on Memorial Drive this weekend and on future Saturdays should exercise caution:

• People driving on Memorial Drive on Saturday should drive carefully, watching out for pedestrians and cyclists who might be unaware of the change.
• Pedestrians and cyclists traveling on Memorial Drive on Saturday should know that the road is open to cars and follow the same precautions they would on a weekday.

The portion of Memorial Drive between Gerry's Landing Road and Western Avenue will still be closed to cars on Sundays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. to allow pedestrians, cyclists, and others to enjoy the riverfront without cars.

The City of Cambridge is sharing this information to keep our residents safe and informed. Please direct questions and comments to DCR at (617) 626-1250 or [email protected].

Background

For almost 40 years, the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) has closed a portion of Memorial Drive to motor vehicle traffic on Sundays to allow pedestrians, cyclists, and others to enjoy the riverfront roadway without cars. In 1985, the Massachusetts Legislature passed a law that requires DCR to close Memorial Drive between Gerry's Landing Road and Western Avenue from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. every Sunday from the end of April until mid-November.

In 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic closed indoor recreation opportunities, the Cambridge City Council asked DCR to close the area on Saturdays as well. Starting in the spring of 2020, Memorial Drive was closed from Saturday at 8 a.m. to Sunday at 7 p.m., including on Saturday evening.