Monday, May 20, 2013
There were nine bike-related deaths between 2010 and 2012, a period that saw significantly increased bicycle ridership in Boston.
Bike-related crashes spiked a small amount given the higher ridership in the Boston area over the course of the last two years. Mayor Thomas Menino’s office released the City of Boston Cyclist Safety Report May 15. The report, which analyzed data from the last four years, found that bicycle related crashes were up 2 percent according to the Boston Police Department and 9 percent according to Boston EMS between the period of 2010 and 2012. Boston Police data shows an increase of 11 bike crashes, from 477 to 488, between 2010 and 2012, and the EMS data shows a spike of 44 crashes, from 477 to 521, during the same period, according to the report. The discrepancy exists because The Boston Police Department reports crashes only on Boston roads…
Friday, December 7, 2012
A Boston University grad student was the fifth Boston cyclist to die in a crash this year. What must change to improve cycling safety?
Boston University Graduate School of Communication student Christopher Weigl was killed yesterday after he was hit by a tractor trailer on Commonwealth Avenue. The tragedy marks the fifth time a cyclist has been killed on a Boston roadway in 2011. According to boston.com, there was a 5 percent increase in cycling-related injuries from 2011 to 2012. While that seems like an increase, you have to consider there was an estimated 31 percent increase in overall cycling in the city for the same period. Is anyone to blame for the fatalities and increased cycling accidents? Drivers and cyclists have spent years blaming each other for run-ins, with drivers complaining the the cyclists run red lights and are erratic on the roadway, and cyclists …
Saturday, November 24, 2012
Gov. Deval Patrick plans to ask lawmakers to raises taxes to make up for the shortfall in Massachusetts' transportation system. What options should they consider and what's off the table?
Would you be willing to pay more at the pump, have a tracking system on your car that taxes you by the mile, or see tolls on state highways? Those are just some of the possibilities looming as Massachusetts looks to erase the state's transportation system's deficit. The Boston Globe reported that Gov. Deval Patrick will ask lawmakers to raise taxes in order to pay for a transportation system—from the MBTA to roads and bridges—that continues to operate in the red. The administration will present a specific proposal by Jan. 7. One option is raising the gas tax, a route Patrick sought in 2009 only to be rebuffed by the legislature. Patrick sought a 19 cent increase while business groups endorsed a 25 cent increase. Ultimately, the state …
Friday, October 19, 2012
Are the ads, featuring battered and bloodied cyclists, an effective way to communicate the need for helmets, or do they turn people off to commuting by bike?
Boston's new ad campaign promoting bike helmet use has been the talk of the web this week. The ads, featuring graphic images like a young man with a bloodied face, are designed to show people the consequences of riding without a helmet. Not everyone thinks that's the best way to get the message across. Bostonrider.org, the Hub's go-to blog for cyclists and anyone interested in city transportation issues, thinks the ads would scare would-be cyclists from even trying. Universal Hub weighed in as well, saying the ads hot you like a two-by-four to the face. And nationally, Atlantic Cities picks up on the controversy as well, asking whether such shaming campaigns are ever effective. What do you think? Does a little fear act as a motivator? Or …
Friday, August 17, 2012
What streets do you avoid on your bike?
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Friday, August 17, 2012
Drivers definitely have their opinions when it comes to road conditions. Most seasoned Bostonians know which roads have rim-bending potholes, teeth-rattling cobblestones and other petty nuisances. But what may bug a driver could injure a cyclist, and bike riders have different sets of issues, like loose sand and debris, poorly marked lanes, dooring danger and more. Which Boston streets are the worst for bike riders? Is it the road's condition that makes it so bad, or are you more concerned about the speed, the drivers, or the unpredictable pedestrians? Share your opinion and your bike-riding tales in the comments section below. Happy riding! [Editor's note: This question is posted on all Boston Patch sites.]
Monday, July 2, 2012
Are you committed to helping improve life for bicyclists in Boston? The Boston Cyclists Union is looking for you.
Are you serious about bicycling? I mean more serious than just participating in the latest UHub flame war between bike riders and car drivers. The Boston Cyclists Union is looking to add new board members. They want committed bike advocates with experience with volunteering and fundraising. They'll want you to bring some specific expertise too, like accounting, graphic design or urban planning. Interested? The union has all the information you'll need.
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Which streets do you avoid on your bike? Which are you worried about while driving?
After the death of a 28-year-old cyclist near the South End this weekend, biking enthusiasts and the mayor are calling for changes to the roadway. The stretch of road has been host to three bike-related deaths in the past three years. Boston has a blossoming bike culture, with miles of new bike lanes and trails cross-crossing the city and Hubway, the hugely successful bike-sharing program. As more bikes take to the streets, there are more opportunities for car-related accidents, especially on noarrow or fast-moving roadways. Cyclists: Which streets in the South End worry you the most? Drivers: Are you worried about hitting cyclists on any streets in the neighborhood? Tell us about the most intersections and stretches of roadway in the …
Three bicyclists have died in the past five years along Huntington Avenue.
In the wake of Friday's fatal bike wreck on Huntington Avenue, bikers who use the busy, narrow street say it is a dangerous but essential way to get around the city. "It's hard to ride on Huntington," said Lucy McDermott, a Northeastern student who relies on her bike, "but we do it because we have to." McDermott also relies on her friends. She bikes with fellow Northeastern students Jessica Feldish and Teresa Bryant whenever possible. By riding in a staggered formation they can take up a whole lane, as is their right as cyclists. The trio had stopped by a memorial to the woman who died Friday, 28-year-old Boston College graduate student Kelsey Rennebohm. A glass vase held a simple flower arrangement and a card that read: "In loving memory…
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
The report includes data on Hubway's success and a list of awards the city has won for being bike- and pedestrian-friendly.
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Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Article and info provided by Mayor Menino's Office: Mayor Menino released the annual Boston Bikes Report yesterday, highlighting the success of Boston’s biking initiatives and previewing plans for its continued growth. Mayor Menino launched Boston Bikes in 2007 with the goal of making Boston a world class cycling city. Four years later, Boston has officially gained recognition as one of the great cities for cycling in the United States. Highlights include the success of New Balance Hubway, the 50th mile of bike lane recently installed on Massachusetts Avenue, and Boston’s designation as a “silver” level bike-friendly city from the League of American Bicyclists. “Over the past four years, we have taken great strides toward making Boston a …
Local cyclist Katie Petrillo plans to go coast-to-coast to raise money for affordable housing. She's holding a fundraiser at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 29, at Globe Bar & Café on Boylston Street.
Katie Petrillo is no stranger to cycling, but she is about to embark on a 10-week cross-country trip unlike any other. The South End resident and 2007 Syracuse University graduate is an avid cyclist who has already raised money in the Cape Cod Getaway for Multiple Sclerosis the past three summers. She has a passion for helping others and is currently fundraising to meet her goal for Bike and Build 2012. Bike and Build is a non-profit organization that raises money for affordable housing with eight cross-country bike trips each summer. The trips consist of leaders and riders, who must each raise $4,500 to participate. The groups often work with Habitat for Humanity and other similar groups striving to re-build for those in need. “[There’s] …
karen harris
1:06 pm on Monday, December 10, 2012
Great views! Training for cyclists and motorist sounds like a good starting point. Any one on the roadways needs to respect the rules of the road, even cyclists. Another idea may be to require licenses and insurance for cyclist to cover themselves and other. more ›