Additional rules there would probably make congestion a lot worse for one or both streets. Drivers can reduce the problem by stopping for the preceding yellow lights, otherwise it's probably just best to merge cooperatively.

I don't think "merge cooperatively" is a safe situation; one car needs to slow down and the other to speed up, or else they'll collide. In all other situations (rotary, T junction, lane ending, on-ramp, controlled intersection) there's a rule or sign or light making it clear which is which. I'm not sure if e.g. a yield sign would worsen or actually reduce congestion (instead of both streets stopping out of uncertainty, only one would) and that depends a lot on the timing of the lights. A flashing red/yellow light that alternates between Mass Ave and JFK would be a "fair" yield, but that seems like overkill given there are already upstream lights which should be causing natural breaks in both streams.

It's not necessarily drivers pushing the yellow light that causes this conflict; congestion from the intersection ahead sometimes backs up temporarily, and pedestrians in crosswalks and illegally parked trucks sometimes cause delays.

Thank you for reporting your concern to City of Cambridge via Commonwealth Connect. We have reviewed the information you provided our staff and will be investigating this issue further.

UPDATE: While we have conducted interim observations, we do need to wait for the adjacent construction at the corner of Dunster Street to be completed before we can fully evaluate if any additional changes are needed.

There's no safe way to cycle from the JFK bridge / HBS to Harvard main campus and this merge is the primary reason why

Also would like to address the official comment that observations are needed to determine if any changes are needed - are you looking at the picture? I don't understand how that's considered acceptable infrastructure.

Blake. JFK right turn on Mount auburn left turn on Holyoke straight into the Harvard yard or into the mass Av north bike lane to Johnson gate. Explore options before complaining

Thank you for contacting the Cambridge Traffic, Parking, and Transportation Department. We have installed yield triangles at this merge to alert drivers from JFK St that those on Mass Ave have the right of way here.

EBM26. There is an implicit promise when following dedicated infrastructure that it will not suddenly disappear and throw you into a dangerous situation. I'm sorry it's not obvious to you, but the intersection is dangerous and you only have to look at it to see why. And anyways, your detour is a nonstarter. You cannot bike through Harvard yard at Holyoke.

Thanks for fixing this request!