As crews prepare to replace the Commonwealth Avenue bridge over the Massachusetts Turnpike — part of a major transportation project — the nearby BU Bridge over the Charles River will remain shut to drivers through mid-August. Cyclists and pedestrians, however, have free rein. (Buses and emergency vehicles can still use the bridge, too.)

But for some cyclists going across the bridge last week, it felt like a little slice of heaven.

The roadwork along Commonwealth Avenue has forced the temporary closing of the Boston University Bridge to motorists, causing major headaches for commuters who rely on the span when traveling between Cambridge and Boston.


While drivers may be grumbling, those on two wheels are borderline bragging about their car-free commutes.

On Friday, the first full day of the shutdown, several cyclists posted pictures of the empty bridge as they traveled across, no vehicles in sight.

Diana Hunt, a Cambridge resident who used the bridge to get to a workout class in Brookline, said it felt like a mini-vacation from cars.

“It’s how I feel sometimes when it snows a lot, and the cars can’t go anywhere, and all the pedestrians are walking in the middle of the street,” she said, adding that she doesn’t own a car. “It’s like you’re getting away with something. It’s kind of neat, as someone who never has the power of the car.”

Hunt said that, typically, she must ride in the bike lane when going across the bridge, which can be a bumpy journey.

This time, the road was hers.

“It was lovely,” she said.

Cyclist Greg Hum, who helps organize the monthly Boston Bike Party meetups in the city, also basked in having the road to himself. He posted a picture on social media Friday that showed an empty BU Bridge as he traveled to work.


“I had a fantastic, stress-free bike commute on Commonwealth Avenue and over the BU Bridge this morning,” Hum said in a message to the Globe. “When does the BU Bridge ever close off to cars?”

The $82 million project will replace the deteriorating Commonwealth Avenue bridge in two stages, beginning with the eastbound side this summer and the other half next year. The work will affect the MBTA’s Green Line B branch and traffic on the Mass. Pike, which runs beneath the bridge.

BU Bridge reserved only for MBTA busses, peds, and cyclists. I'm in heaven! CC @universalhub pic.twitter.com/mGrwOnxq4B — Miloš Miljković (@miishke) July 28, 2017

BU bridge closed to traffic. A city w/o cars = Biking heaven! pic.twitter.com/MC90ZICvjq — Anthony Brooks (@anthonygbrooks) July 28, 2017

So weird (and kinda nice) to only see bikes and pedestrians on the BU Bridge. Happy Friday! :-) pic.twitter.com/MuU7UAi0HH — Martin Lieberman (@martinlieberman) July 28, 2017

Meanwhile, I thoroughly enjoyed riding my bike over the closed-to-cars BU bridge today. — Diana Hunt (@dkathunt) July 28, 2017

Bikes only on BU Bridge. pic.twitter.com/02vQeAYOZ3 — 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐁𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐧 (@WBURSteve) July 28, 2017

Comm Ave and BU bridge are seriously the best thing ever right now. I've never felt safer cycling in Boston! — Elizabeth Proctor (@EA_Proctor) July 28, 2017

Steve Annear can be reached at steve.annear@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @steveannear.