Bicycle Accidents
Photos from Boston’s Bike to Work Festival 2018
Breakstone, White & Gluck was pleased to participate in Boston’s Bike to Work Festival on May 18, 2018. The City of Boston organizes this event each year to encourage and celebrate cycling. Cyclists can ride right into City Hall Plaza and enjoy a free breakfast and vendor tables. Our attorneys have participated in this event for the past few years and it’s always a fun way to close out Bay State Bike Week and Bike Month. This year, we set up our Project KidSafe tent and fit 70 free bicycle helmets for cyclists who needed one.
If you missed this year’s event, you can learn more on the City of Boston’s website. Read more about our Project KidSafe campaign on our website.
Here are a few photos from the event:
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- Attorney David W. White, Becca Wolfson, Executive Director of the Boston Cyclists Union and Attorney Marc L. Breakstone.
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- Blue Bikes. By year’s end, the public bike sharing system is gearing up to be 3,000 bikes strong.
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- From 2019 Bay State Bike Week: Attorney David W. White with Galen Mook, executive director of MassBike and Lee Toma, of Milton Bike.
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- The line for our Project KidSafe bike helmets!
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- Many cyclists rode in on group convoys.
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- Attorney David W. White and Attorney Marc L. Breakstone
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- Attorney Marc L. Breakstone with a cyclist at our Project KidSafe tent.
Breakstone, White & Gluck Makes Bike Month Donations in Framingham and Clinton
As National Bike Month ends, we finish a busy May for our Project KidSafe campaign. Six years have passed since we began our campaign and each year, Bike Month and Bay State Bike Week, get better and engage more people in Massachusetts. A few of our donations:
Framingham Earth Day. This event was held on April 28th. But it’s always the unofficial start of Bike Month for us. This was our fifth year participating in Framingham Earth Day and donating bicycle helmets from our Project KidSafe campaign to the kids. Attorney David W. White and Framingham Police Officer Garrett Coffin fit 150 helmets over the first two hours of the event. The rain stayed away so this year, we got to enjoy being out on the Framingham Center Common. Dozens of vendors came out, including several organizations for cyclists. We have to add: this is always a worthwhile event for cyclists. Friends of the Natick Trails, the Natick Cochituate Rail Trail and the Friends of the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail participated, giving cyclists a way to learn about the latest developments before riding.
We want to offer a special thanks to Officer Coffin of the Framingham Police Department. Garrett comes out each year. He is patient, good with people and has to be one of the best bicycle helmet fitters in Massachusetts.
Clinton Community Safety Rodeo. On May 5th, we were pleased to donate bicycle helmets at the Community Safety Rode in Clinton. This is the second year the town of Clinton Park & Recreation Department has organized the event. We are told last year, many children showed up with bikes, but were unable to participate because they didn’t have helmets. In Massachusetts, it’s not just good sense to wear a helmet. It’s required under the law for children (up to age 16). And as we said, it is important and good sense for all cyclists.
Mark Your Calendar: Boston’s Bike to Work Festival is Friday
Boston’s National Bike to Work Festival at Boston City Hall Plaza in May 2017.
One of our favorite events is Boston’s National Bike to Work Festival, when cyclists ride into City Hall Plaza in convoys, bright and early, ready to start a fun morning. Breakstone, White & Gluck is pleased to participate again this Friday morning. Our attorneys will be out at our Project KidSafe tent, greeting cyclists and workers who come out to celebrate and learn about cycling in Boston.
Please come say hello. Our attorneys can inspect your bike helmet and we are offering our Project KidSafe helmets free to cyclists who need one (available on a first-come basis, while supplies last). In addition, cyclists can sign up for free breakfast and other freebies, plus learn more about the new Blue Bikes.
Boston’s Bike to Work Festival Details: Register by Wednesday, May 16th
If you are interested, please read the City of Boston’s e-mail announcement. Cyclists can sign up to ride into the festival on one of the many convoys coming in from all over the area or just ride in on your own. You must register by Wednesday to receive an event t-shirt and take advantage of the free offerings.
WHAT: Boston’s Bike to Work Day Festival
DATE: Friday, May 18
TIME: 7 a.m.- 9 a.m.
WHERE: Boston City Hall Plaza
LEARN MORE: www.boston.gov/bike-to-work-day
Bike Activities in May
Before we continue, we want to mention all the activities being offered to cyclists this week and month. May is National Bike Month, sponsored by the American League of Bicyclists. As part of National Bike Month, National Bike to Work Day will be celebrated in Boston and communities across the U.S. Here in Massachusetts, MassBike is also presenting Bay State Bike Week from May 12th to May 20th. Check out the Bay State Bike Week calendar and the MassCommute Bicycling Challenge 2018.
Blue Bikes
Expect to see lots of blue as the City of Boston celebrates the rebranding of the public bike share system at Friday’s event. The metro-Boston’s public bike share system is owned by the municipalities of Boston, Brookline, Cambridge and Somerville and operated by Motivate. The green Hubway bikes will be phased out, as Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts becomes the new title sponsor.
New Balance was the original title sponsor for the system, which launched back in 2011 with 600 bikes. The system has since tripled in size. Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans further expansion, and the system could reach 3,000 bikes by year’s end.
According to the City of Boston, Blue Cross and Blue Shield will offer free rentals on Friday. Read this announcement to learn more. You can also visit www.bluebikes.com and download the app if you are interested.
About Breakstone, White & Gluck and Project KidSafe: Over 20,000 Bicycle Helmets for Children
Breakstone, White & Gluck is a Boston personal injury and medical malpractice law firm representing plaintiffs. With more than 100 years combined experience, our lawyers fight for justice for those who have been injured by the negligence or wrongdoing of others.
Our law firm is committed to bike safety and preventing head injuries through our Project KidSafe campaign. Wearing a helmet is required by law for cyclists who are 16 and younger in Massachusetts, though it is critical for cyclists of all ages. Please commit to wear a helmet every time you ride.
Over the past six years, Breakstone, White & Gluck has donated over 20,000 bicycle helmets to children, families and other cyclists through our Project KidSafe campaign. We partner with local bike committees, police departments, schools and non-profit organizations to make these donations, including these organizations in Boston:
- City of Boston, Boston Bikes Roll It Forward
- City of Boston, Youth Cycling Program
- Boston Police Department
- Massachusetts Safe Routes to School Partnership
- CommonWheels Bicycle Collective
- Boston Cyclists Union
- Bikes Not Bombs
- Bicyclecentro of East Boston
- Mattapan on Wheels
- Tierney Learning Center of South Boston
- The Home for Little Wanderers
Hit and Run Crashes Reach Record High; Cyclists and Pedestrians Suffering Nearly 65 Percent of Injuries
National Bike Month is a time to celebrate and champion cycling. If you live in Massachusetts, you know the cycling spirit is stronger than ever. But that doesn’t mean conditions are always safe.
In fact, cyclists and pedestrians are at a higher risk now than ever. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports cycling deaths increased 11 percent from 2015 to 2016. Pedestrian deaths rose 9 percent. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety recently weighed in with a report on hit and run crashes. The numbers show the toll on pedestrians and cyclists, as well as others on the road.
- There is now more than one hit and run crash every minute in the U.S.
- Nationwide, fatal hit and run crashes have been increasing since 2009, reaching an all-time high in 2016. Some 2,049 people were killed.
- In nearly 65 percent of cases, pedestrians and cyclists were killed.
- All 50 states have hit and run laws, which make it illegal for drivers to leave the scene of an accident.
- According to the Telegram & Gazette of Worcester, there were 186 hit and run crashes involving death in Massachusetts over the 10-year period from 2006 to 2016.
In Massachusetts, leaving the scene of an accident is against the law, under M.G.L. c. 90 § 24 and M.G.L. c. 90 § 26. Drivers can face potential jail time for leaving the scene of a car accident resulting in property damage, even if there is no injury. When there is injury and death, drivers face higher penalties, including up to 10 years in jail if someone is killed.
Beyond the punishment, drivers have a moral obligation to stay at the scene, make sure the victim receives medical attention and help police with their investigation. When they flee, victims have to wait for medical care and the delay could cost them their lives.
In Massachusetts, just in the past month, several pedestrians have been killed by the negligence of hit and run drivers.
In Medford, a real estate agent was walking along Spring Street, when she was fatally struck by a teen driver who was allegedly under the influence of a drug, according to Boston 25 News. The teen – who was operating with a learner’s permit – kept going, then collided with two other people. They were injured, but survived. Their dog was killed in the crash.
Police also responded to tragedies in Lawrence and Revere. In Revere, a woman was struck while walking on Revere Beach Parkway. As she was treated for critical injuries, police searched for the driver. Police in Lawrence made the arrest in a hit and run crash that seriously injured a 30-year-old woman. The 24-year-old driver is accused of operating under the influence when he crossed an intersection, hitting the woman in a crosswalk.
Along with motorists, truck drivers cause an increasing number of hit and run crashes each year. Cyclists and pedestrians can be cut off by trucks and swept under, causing catastrophic injuries and deaths. In Massachusetts, bicycle advocacy groups have pushed for legislation requiring trucks to be outfitted with sideguards. The City of Boston has passed its own truck sideguard regulations.
Drivers who operate rideshare vehicles, such as Uber and Lyft, taxicabs and buses can also cause hit and run crashes. Hit and run crashes can also be caused by teenage drivers, who have less experience and have higher accident rates than other drivers.
As a driver, the best thing you can do is commit to pay attention on the road and travel slowly, giving yourself more time to respond. Turn your cell phone off. Follow traffic laws and look for cyclists and pedestrians on the side of the road. Take special care not to cut cyclists off when turning at intersections. When fatigued, do not drive. Finally, if you are in an accident, do not run. Help the victim by calling 911. That has to be the priority.
About Breakstone, White & Gluck
With more than 100 years combined experience, the lawyers of Breakstone, White & Gluck are experienced in representing cyclists and pedestrians who have been injured in motor vehicle and truck crashes. Our attorneys represent clients throughout Massachusetts, including in Boston, Cambridge and Quincy. We are known for our prompt investigation and aggressive representation for our clients. If you have been injured, learn your rights. For a free legal consultation, call 800-379-1244 or 617-723-7676. You can also use our contact form.
Attorney Ronald Gluck Interviewed by Boston Magazine, Says Video Footage Shows Truck Driver Was Responsible for Dr. Anita Kurmann’s Death
Attorney Ronald E. Gluck was interviewed by Boston Magazine about the truck crash that killed his client, the late Dr. Anita Kurmann. Gluck said he had to wait 20 months after the truck’s collision with the cyclist to obtain the video surveillance from the Boston Police Department. While the Boston Police Department found the truck driver was not responsible, Gluck said his investigation found the truck driver caused his client’s death. Gluck negotiated a financial settlement with the truck driver and his insurance company on behalf of Kurmann’s estate in June 2017.
Attorney Ronald E. Gluck is speaking about the video footage of the 2015 truck crash that killed his client, Dr. Anita Kurmann.
Twenty months after the fatality occurred, the Boston Police Department completed its investigation and concluded that the truck driver was not responsible for the cyclist’s death. The video footage, which came from a traffic camera at the intersection where the tragedy occurred, was in the hands of the police the day the incident occurred. Yet, the Kurmann family and their attorney had to wait twenty months to see the video and to obtain any witness information from the police department, Gluck said. Multiple subpoenas sent to the police were met with a refusal to produce the information until the police concluded it investigation.
“One of the most difficult aspects of the case was that Anita’s family had to wait twenty months to obtain the video footage showing how the incident occurred…Families should have the right to know the facts in these situations,” he said.
Gluck said his own investigation found that the truck driver was responsible for Kurmann’s death.
“Once we were able to obtain a copy of the video and have it analyzed by a highly qualified expert, that expert provided compelling evidence that the conclusion reached by the Boston Police Department was wrong,” Gluck said.
Within 2 months of obtaining the video and witness accounts of the fatality, Gluck was able to demonstrate that the tragedy was caused by the truck driver’s negligence and negotiated a financial settlement with the truck driver and his insurance company on behalf of Kurmann’s estate. The settlement was reached in June 2017.
Gluck added, “I have great respect for the Boston Police Department, but we believe they got it wrong in this case. The truck driver caused the fatality, ending the life of a talented surgeon and devoted family member.”
MassBike also conducted an investigation into the case and concluded that the death resulted from the truck driver’s negligence.
Dr. Kurmann, a 38-year-old endocrine surgeon from Switzerland, was a leading research scientist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Boston University School of Medicine. She was hit on an August morning on the corner of Massachusetts Avenue and Beacon Street. The truck driver kept going, but was located out of state later that day.
Gluck has represented plaintiffs in personal injury cases for more than 35 years. He specializes in cases involving catastrophic injury and death resulting from trucking and motor vehicle collisions, bicycle and motorcycle accidents and pedestrian injuries.
Gluck was interviewed in Boston Magazine’s May 2018 issue, for an article called “What Happens When You Kill a Bicyclist?”
Lowell Students Ride Safely With New Bikes and Helmets
Students from Career Academy in Lowell riding new bikes and wearing new helmets.
Though snow fell this week, students from Career Academy in Lowell still managed to make the most of school vacation, fitting in a bike ride to Heart Pond in Chelmsford. This was a special ride because students were pedaling new bikes – and wearing new helmets. Breakstone, White & Gluck was pleased to donate the helmets from our Project KidSafe campaign.
The idea for the bike ride began with Bernice Chandler-Petrovick, who teaches biology. Some of her students needed bikes to get to school and travel more independently. She began teaching students about bicycle safety while also setting out on another goal: finding bikes for her students.
“Most of my students do not have bikes and cannot afford a new one,” she said. “The same is true for helmets.”
Then she found Elevate New England and Breakstone, White & Gluck. Elevate New England is a Lowell-based mentoring organization working with students and schools. The organization gathered used and new bikes, then refurbished the used ones like new for students.
Students can expect to hear more about bicycle safety at Career Academy. Chandler-Petrovick is now working to build a bike rack so students can safely park their bikes at the school. She hopes to expand the bicycle donation program next year.
“Thank you to everyone who helped make this possible,” Chandler-Petrovick said. “I worked with two strong community partners, Breakstone, White & Gluck and Elevate New England. We now have 14 students with bikes and each has a helmet. This project will make a difference for my students and their families.”
Breakstone, White & Gluck launched our Project KidSafe campaign in 2013, with a goal of protecting children from head injuries. Over the past six years, we have donated over 20,000 bicycle helmets, in partnership with police departments, schools and community organizations.
Bicycle Helmet Tips
Wearing a bicycle helmet is the most effective way to protect one’s head if they fall on a bicycle or are involved in bicycle crash. Though millions of Americans ride bikes, fewer than half wear bicycle helmets, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Many states, including Massachusetts, have laws mandating bicycle helmets for younger cyclists. In Massachusetts, you must wear a helmet if you are 16 and younger. However, all cyclists are encouraged to wear helmets for safety and to prevent concussions and serious long-term head injuries.
If you are a parent, make sure everyone in your family has a helmet and they properly fit. Have your children wear one as soon as they get on a bike and wear one yourself so they will follow your lead.
Make sure your helmet is in good working condition. The helmet needs to be able to absorb an impact should you fall. Replace your helmet every few years at a minimum. Resist the urge to pass helmets down between siblings or friends. Helmets are expensive so we know this may be tempting. But you want to make sure the helmet is fit to protect you or your child.
5 Steps to Take Now for a Safe Bike Season in Massachusetts
Boston saw 70 degrees in February last week. Naturally, many of us are now ready for Spring. If you are a cyclist or have a child who rides, now is the time to get ready for a safe cycling season.
The attorneys of Breakstone, White & Gluck have long represented cyclists who have been injured by negligent drivers in Massachusetts. We are committed to preventing these bicycle accidents and reducing injuries. In a few weeks, we will begin the 6th year of our Project KidSafe campaign, donating bicycle helmets to children in Boston and other communities. Bike helmets are critical to preventing concussions and traumatic brain injuries. And they are most effective when cyclists start wearing them at an early age with positive reinforcement from parents and other family members.
We will share more on our campaign soon. For now, we have a few bike safety tips from our attorneys and the League of American Bicyclists to help you get ready for a safe cycling season.
1) ABC Quick Check
Check the basics, including the air in your tires, your brakes and the cranks and chain. Then check your quick releases to make sure they are all closed and pointing toward the back of your bike. Then take a quick ride to make sure your bike is properly working. If you are a parent, watch your child on a test ride.
2) Get a Bike Helmet
Always, always wear a properly fitted bicycle helmet. Purchase a new helmet every few years or sooner if you have been involved in a bike crash. A helmet is a critical tool in preventing head injuries and is required by law for cyclists who are 16 and younger in Massachusetts. Families who bike together should wear helmets together. Children are more likely to adopt the habit if their parents do the same.
We are often asked whether cyclists should purchase helmets online or shop local. We suggest you visit the local bicycle shop. Try a few helmets on while getting help from an experienced cyclist. Buying the right size is hard and an experienced cyclist can be very helpful. Beyond that, bicycle shops are a lot of fun. You can learn a lot about cycling in your area by visiting one.
Here is a video on how to fit a helmet.
3) Stock Up on Bright Colored Clothing
Whether you ride in cycling gear or street clothes, we suggest you purchase a neon safety vest for yourself and family members. You can wear it every time you ride to stand out or just in busy traffic.
4) Check Your Equipment
In Massachusetts, cyclists must use bike lights so they are visible to motor vehicles in the morning, up to one-half hour before sunrise, and in the evening, starting no later than thirty minutes after sunset. Remember—dusky hours can make you very hard to see, which is why that bright clothing is even more important. Read more about the law on our website.
5) Prepare for the Bike Trail
Remember the rules of safety on bike trails, too, and always be considerate of other cyclists. Do not speed. Travel on the right. Pass on the left. Use a bell or announce you plan to pass another cyclist. Although you are permitted to ride two-abreast, courtesy suggests you should ride single file when you travel in a group. Finally, expect to stop when the bike trail crosses street traffic.
About Breakstone, White & Gluck
The Boston personal injury lawyers at Breakstone, White & Gluck have over 100 years combined experience representing pedestrians, cyclists and others injured by car accidents. We are committed to safety for cyclists. Through our Project KidSafe campaign, we have donated more than 15,000 bicycle helmets to children in Massachusetts. For our commitment to safety, our firm has been recognized by the League of American Bicyclists as a Silver Level Bicycle Friendly Business.
If you have been injured by someone else’s negligence, it is in your best interests to consult a personal injury lawyer and learn your legal rights. For a free legal consultation, contact our attorneys at 800-379-1244 or 617-723-7676 or use our contact form.
Cycling and Pedestrian Safety is Top Concern in Central Square in Cambridge
Safety for pedestrians and cyclists is a top concern in Central Square in Cambridge.
Central Square is located around the intersection of Prospect Street, Massachusetts Avenue and Western Avenue in Cambridge. This area is a commuter hub; the Central Square MBTA subway station and bus stop are located here, near Cambridge City Hall. The state of Massachusetts has designated Central Square as an official cultural district, for its mix of theater and arts, restaurants and history. The NECCO building was long part of that history, but these days, 250 Massachusetts Avenue is now the Novartis’ global headquarters. The Cambridge YMCA is there and MIT is nearby.
Over the years, there have been numerous pedestrian and bicycle accidents in Central Square. Central Square was the #1 location for bike crashes in Massachusetts from 2005-2014, according to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT). It was the 5th highest pedestrian crash location. The City of Cambridge has worked to improve safety by improving crosswalks and adding bike lanes across the city. In December 2016, new bike lanes were laid down in Central Square, northbound on Massachusetts Avenue between Sydney and Douglass streets.
We recently went up over Central Square. Please take a look and share this blog with anyone who travels in this area, whether they walk, bike, drive or travel by Uber. From a different angle, we hope you gain a better understanding of the traffic in this area.
We also recently visited Inman Square.
About Breakstone, White & Gluck
At Breakstone, White & Gluck, our Boston personal injury lawyers fight for justice for those who have been seriously injured by the negligence and wrongdoing of others. Our lawyers have been recognized as among the top personal injury and medical malpractice lawyers in Massachusetts and New England. We are committed to protecting cyclists through our Project KidSafe campaign, which has donated over 15,000 helmets to children in the first 5 years. If you have been injured, learn your rights. Contact us today at 800-379-1244 or 617-723-7676 or use our contact form.
Aerial Photos of Cambridge’s Inman Square Show Safety Improvements for Cyclists
We had a fun opportunity to see Inman Square from up high a few weeks ago. Here are some of our photos:
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- Inman Square in Cambridge. The Inman Square Fire House – or Cambridge Fire Department Station 5 – is on the left. Central Square is up ahead.
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- Looking down Hampshire Street from Inman Square. You can see a few birds made our photo, as did a driver in the bike lane. Not where he is supposed to be. Drivers, please stay out of the bike lane!
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- Up high over Inman Square in Cambridge.
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- Looking over Inman Square toward the City of Boston.
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- Directly over the intersection of Hampshire and Cambridge streets.
The City of Cambridge has worked to improve safety for cyclists in Inman Square, recently adding new separated bike lanes on both sides of Cambridge Street, from Inman Square to Quincy Street, which approaches Harvard Square. This is .7 miles of new bike lanes with paint, flex posts and other temporary materials to help cyclists stand out. And the new lanes pass Cambridge Rindge & Latin, which serves more than 1,900 high school students. Last fall, the city also banned drivers from making certain left turns in Inman Square, after many years of bike crashes followed by a fatal bike accident last June.
Hampshire and Cambridge streets cross at Inman Square. In our photos, you can see a stretch of green bike lanes on Hampshire Street. These intersect with the new bike lanes on Cambridge Street, which are less visible, but they are there.
All the bike lanes look great. We hope they make the commute safer for cyclists and everyone on the roads.
More About Inman Square
Inman Square, known for its distinctive shops and restaurants, comes together around Hampshire and Cambridge streets. But there are several other streets that also meet here, making for a complicated intersection. These include Antrium Street, Fayette Street, Inman Street and Springfield Street. Prospect Street is at the other side of the triangle and the Somerville city line is nearby.
Inman Square on Google Maps.
The Inman Square Fire House – or Cambridge Fire Department Station 5 – and the Mayor Alfred E. Vellucci Community Plaza are two Inman Square landmarks. There are also several banks here and a number of businesses named after the neighborhood: Inman Pharmacy, Inman Square Laundromat, Inman Square Hardware, as well as Inman Square Apartments. Restaurants include City Girl Cafe, 1369 Coffee House and Punjabi Dhaba.
This area is not served by a MBTA subway station, so you have to drive, take the bus, walk or bike. The Central Square MBTA is just over a half mile away and Harvard Square is a mile. Because of this, many choose to bike. If you don’t have a bike, Inman Square has a Hubway bike share station.
Cycling is not allowed on the sidewalk (as in most business areas in Massachusetts, unless it is posted otherwise). But riding on the street is not easy. There have been numerous bicycle crashes here over the years. So many that Inman Square has been named the second top bike crash location in Massachusetts (Source: 2014 Top Crash Locations from MassDOT, dated August 2016). Only Central Square in Cambridge sees more bike accidents. In fact, nine out of the 10 top bike crash locations in Massachusetts are in Cambridge and Somerville, which is why the new protected bike lanes are so important.
After years of bike accidents in Inman Square, there was a fatal bike crash in June 2016, when a cyclist was tragically killed right at Hampshire and Cambridge streets. Amanda Phillips, just 27 years old, collided with a Jeep door which was left open. She was then struck by a landscaping truck. A few months later, another cyclist was killed by a truck crash in Porter Square, raising questions about safety there.
Back in Inman Square, the city banned motor vehicle traffic from making left-hand turns on key streets in October 2016. Motorists were banned from turning left from Hampshire Street onto Cambridge Street – and vice versa. They were also prohibited from turning left on Cambridge Street onto Antrium Street southbound. The city has strictly enforced the ban. The Cambridge Police Department issued more than 200 tickets in the first month of the new restriction; 133 drivers alone were ticketed within a 15-day period.
If you haven’t visited Cambridge in a while, you can expect to see a few changes next time you do. Cambridge Street is just one area with new bicycle lanes. For those who live or work in Inman Square – or commute through – you already know these streets well and have seen the changes firsthand. But please take a look at our photos and share them with others. The more drivers, cyclists and pedestrians understand about this intersection, the more prepared they will be to follow traffic rules, which will reduce bike crashes and pedestrian accidents.
About Breakstone, White & Gluck
Breakstone, White & Gluck is a Boston law firm specializing in personal injury. For more than 25 years, we have committed to supporting cyclists and improving safety conditions in Massachusetts. We support numerous bicycle clubs and advocacy groups, including MassBike, Boston Cyclists Union, Charles River Wheelmen, New England Mountain Bike Association (NEMBA) and the Northeast Bicycle Club (NEBC).In 2017, we finished the fifth year of our Project KidSafe campaign, which has donated more than 15,000 bicycle helmets to children. Wearing a helmet is required by law for cyclists 16 and under in Massachusetts, but we want to encourage every cyclist to wear a helmet every time they ride. We have over 40 community partners helping us send out that message, including in Cambridge and Somerville.
In Cambridge, we partner with the Cambridge Police Department, CYCLE Kids and the Windsor Street Care Center to make donations each year. In Somerville, we have long partnered with Kiwanis Club of Somerville, CYCLE Kids and Somerville Public Schools, Groundwork Somerville and Shift Bicycle Community Collective.
Learn more Breakstone, White & Gluck
Visit our website to learn more about our support for cyclists, our Project KidSafe campaign or to meet our lawyers.
New Protected Bike Lanes for Inman Square in Cambridge
Cyclists riding through Inman Square now have a safer ride home. The City of Cambridge has recently installed separated bicycle lanes on Cambridge Street, from Inman Square to Quincy Street. The lanes are clearly marked, with flex posts creating a barrier between cyclists and drivers.
These lanes should have many benefits. We hope one is to reduce dooring crashes, such as the one that killed Amanda Phillips in Inman Square in 2016. The 27-year-old Somerville resident was riding a bike and collided into a Jeep door which was left open. The impact pushed her into the travel lane, where she was hit and killed by a landscaping truck. The accident happened near Hampshire and Cambridge streets.
Dooring has been against the law in Massachusetts since 2009. M.G.L. c.90 § 14 states, “no person shall open a door on a motor vehicle unless it is reasonably safe to do so without interfering with the movement of other traffic, including bicyclists and pedestrians.”