Posts Tagged ‘“bike safety”’
Breakstone, White & Gluck Donates 100 Bicycle Helmets to Framingham Students Who Received New Bikes
Breakstone, White & Gluck recently had the opportunity to contribute to a very worthwhile bike safety donation with the Framingham Public Schools. With COVID-19 driving a space shortage on school buses, the school system decided to buy 100 bicycles to help middle school students who needed the most help getting to school.
If you ride a bike, you know you must wear a helmet to protect yourself against head injuries. Well, Breakstone, White & Gluck had helmets and we were pleased to donate 100 bicycle helmets to students as part of our Project KidSafe campaign.
This donation began with a school counselor who noticed a student did not have a bus seat and this was causing issues with their attendance. An assistant superintendent asked if other students were facing the same problem. The answer was yes.
The assistant superintendent looked to the community, which responded in a big way. The United Way of Tri-County and the Jewish Family Service of MetroWest agreed to split the cost of the bikes. The founders of 1854 Cycling Company founder and Crimson Bikes handled the challenging job of finding the bikes and helping the school negotiate a good price. As bikes were distributed at different schools, Framingham Police sent police officers to help fit the helmets. Another important aspect is Massachusetts Safe Routes to School is providing on-site training for the students, emphasizing the importance of wearing a helmet and using hand signals. As we mentioned, Breakstone, White & Gluck and our Project KidSafe donated the helmets. With so many community partners, we really enjoyed helping the students get started riding safely.
To learn more, read the Framingham Public Schools press release.
See the photos from the MetroWest Daily News.
Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly Mentions Breakstone, White & Gluck’s Project KidSafe Campaign
Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly recently gave Breakstone, White & Gluck and our Project KidSafe campaign a nice mention. In 2019, our campaign donated over 4,000 bicycle helmets to children throughout the Boston area with help from more than 30 community partners and police departments. We look forward to continuing our work to protect children in 2020.
Read the article on the Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly website (subscription access required).
Dedham Times Features Breakstone, White & Gluck’s Bike Helmet Donation for Kids
Breakstone, White & Gluck of Boston was recently mentioned in a Dedham Times article about the Dedham Bike Rodeo in August. Breakstone, White & Gluck and our Project KidSafe campaign participated for the seventh year and donated more than 100 helmets to the kids. Breakstone, White & Gluck is committed to helping children ride safely on bikes and protect against head injuries. Founded in 1992, our firm specializes in personal injury and medical malpractice cases across Massachusetts.
Article courtesy of The Dedham Times. Click link for full 2-page article.
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.
Breakstone, White & Gluck Donates 500 Bicycle Light Sets to Boston Cyclists
Breakstone, White & Gluck is teaming up with Boston Bikes, the City of Boston and cycling groups this week to remind cyclists to use bike lights. All over the city, cyclists are being surprised with free lights (if they need them), as part of Boston Bikes’ #BeBrilliant campaign to keep cyclists safe.
Breakstone, White & Gluck donated the 500 bicycle light sets to Boston Bikes, which is part of the City of Boston, for the third year. Boston Bikes staff and volunteer groups have been giving the lights away this week in Dorchester, Allston, Brighton, Dorchester, East Boston, Mattapan, Roxbury, South Boston and Downtown. Groups include Rozzie Bikes, Commonwheels Bicycle Collective and Bike Dorchester.
Under Massachusetts law, cyclists must use bike lights to help them stay visible to motorists. Cyclists must have a white light on the front of their bike and either a red light or a red reflector on the rear. This is an important reminder since Daylight Saving Time ended last weekend and the nights are getting darker earlier.
“As evenings get dark earlier, people who are driving, walking and bicycling need to be more aware of each other than ever,” said BTD Commissioner Gina N. Fiandaca, in an announcement posted on the city’s website. “Our top priority is ensuring the safety of people traveling on our streets, and we ask everyone to help us by slowing down and looking out for each other.
Here are a few safety tips for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists.
For Drivers
- Follow the speed limit
- Do not use cell phones
- Always yield to pedestrians
- When turning, slow down and look for bicyclists going straight
- Make sure you do not open your car door into the path of a bicyclist or another driver
- Do not park or stop in the bike or bus lane
For Pedestrians
- Always use crosswalks
- Avoid crossing the street between two parked cars
- Wear reflective colored clothing
For Bicyclists
- Always wear a bicycle helmet and use bike lights
- Bike in the same direction as traffic, unless the street is marked otherwise
- Stop at stop signs and follow all traffic signals
- Wear reflective colored clothing
- Use hand signals
- Yield for pedestrians
Breakstone, White & Gluck Donates Bicycle Helmets to Bikes Not Bombs’ Youth Cycling Program
Breakstone, White & Gluck, a longtime supporter of Bikes Not Bombs, was pleased to partner up with the organization again this year, by donating bicycle helmets to the Girls In Action Program. Attorney David White recently attended the graduation ceremony.
Bikes Not Bombs is based in Jamaica Plain and has two popular youth programs: Earn-A-Bike and Girls In Action. Both are terrific programs, which give children and teenagers a chance to learn bike repair, bike safety skills and make friends. At the beginning of class, the youth get to help select parts for a bike they will help build, eventually “earn” and get to take home.
Photo courtesy: Bikes Not Bombs
During the class, students are taught the rules of the road and to always wear a bicycle helmet. They get plenty of practice, taking group rides in the city. They are shown how to travel on bike lanes and navigate park and other areas. Earn-A-Bike is a co-ed program while Girls In Action is open to girls ages 12-18 and includes some field trips and activities outside the bike shop.
Bikes Not Bombs Safety Video
One of the Girls In Action programs created a safety video a few years ago. The first topic was bicycle helmet safety and the importance of wearing one every time you ride. Watch.
About Bikes Not Bombs
Bikes Not Bombs works locally and internationally, founded in 1984 as a response to the United States military backing of the Contra attacks on Nicaragua. The organization believes in using the bicycle as a vehicle for social change and each year, collects roughly 6,000 used bicycles and tons of parts from supporters in Boston and New England.
Some of the bicycles are used in its youth programming. But many bikes are sent to partner groups in other countries where a bicycle can increase access to economic opportunity, education, health care, and civic engagement. Bikes Not Bombs was founded in 1984 and has since shipped over 55,000 bicycles to partner groups in 14 countries in the Global South.
Breakstone, White & Gluck and Bicycle Safety
The law firm of Breakstone, White & Gluck actively supports youth cycling safety in Massachusetts. Through our Project KidSafe campaign, Breakstone, White & Gluck has donated over 10,000 bicycle helmets to children who need one since 2013. If you are a cyclist, please remember to wear your bicycle helmet every time you ride. Here is a helpful video on how to properly fit your helmet.
Breakstone, White & Gluck Donates Children’s Bicycle Helmets for Lexington Bike Walk ‘n Bus Week
Cyclists of all ages came out strong for Lexington’s Bike Walk ‘n Bus Week in May. Breakstone, White & Gluck was pleased to donate bicycle helmets to children who needed one at events such as the Bike Smart Class for fourth- and fifth-graders and the Bike Art Contest. With each helmet given, children and parents were shown how to properly fit them on their own.
We are also happy to see these two little cyclists stopped by for a Project KidSafe helmet. Thanks ArtsOffRoad Lexington for sending along the photos.
Photos courtesy: ArtsOffRoad Lexington.
Bike Walk ‘n Bus Week was held from May 14-22 and coincided with Bay State Bike Week. While the rest of the state celebrated cycling, Lexington focused on bicycling, walking and encouraging use of alternate transportation, such as buses.
The organizers were the Lexington Bicycle Advisory Committee, Greenways Corridor and Massachusetts Safe Routes to School. Events included breakfasts, bike rides, a bike parade and bike maintenance workshops.
There are two active committees representing cyclists in Lexington: the Lexington Bicycle Advisory Committee and the Friends of Lexington Bikeways, which coordinated the bicycle helmet donation from Breakstone, White & Gluck. Because of their work and the strong local interest in cycling, Lexington was named a bronze level Bicycle Friendly Community by the League of American Cyclists in 2015.
Breakstone, White & Gluck donated 140 bicycle helmets in Lexington this Spring. It is the third year we have made a donation and it is nice to see the community’s interest. In addition to Bike Walk ‘n Bus Walk Week, Lexington Police gave out bike helmets at Discovery Day on May 28th and showed children and families how to properly fit them.
Breakstone, White & Gluck donated the bicycle helmets as part of our Project KidSafe campaign. Since 2013, we have donated more than 10,000 bicycle helmets to help children prevent head injuries and ride their bicycles safely.
Read about our past events and donations here.
Breakstone, White & Gluck Donates Bicycle Helmets to Kids in Easthampton
Breakstone, White & Gluck was pleased to donate 140 bicycle helmets to children in Easthampton yesterday, with help from many hands in the community who care about bicycle safety.
We donated the helmets through our Project KidSafe campaign at an “Event to Celebrate Bike Safety in Easthampton,” organized by the Easthampton Healthy Youth Coalition, the Easthampton Public Schools, the Easthampton Police Department and Northwest District Attorney David E. Sullivan’s office.
Photo: School Resource Officer Alan Schadel; Northwestern District Attorney David E. Sullivan; Stephen Linsky and Ruth Ever of the Easthampton Healthy Youth Coalition; Attorney David W. White of Breakstone, White & Gluck and from the schools, Nancy Follansbee, Superintendent of Easthampton Schools; Judy Averill; Maple School Principal, Allison Rebello, Principal of Center and Pepin elementary schools; Andrea McCallum, Assistant Principal at Center Elementary School.
The children who received the helmets attend elementary school. In some cases, school administrators selected students who rode bikes and had no access to a safe helmet. But for the most part, children were sent home from school with a flyer and given the opportunity to sign up for a free bicycle helmet raffle.
Children and parents showed up together yesterday at the Easthampton Public Safety Complex. Some of the families came in on the Manhan Rail Trail, a six-mile cycling path which runs through Easthampton and stops at the building.
Attorney David White and School Resource Officer Alan Schadel fit the helmets for the kids. It was a great event because the children and parents were so interested in learning about the proper way to fit a helmet. The Easthampton Healthy Youth Coalition offered kids reflectors and other safety accessories to ride safely.
Breakstone, White & Gluck is now in our fourth year of the Project KidSafe campaign and has donated over 10,000 bicycle helmets to children in Massachusetts. Our goal is to keep children safe and prevent traumatic brain injuries from bicycle accidents. Cyclists of all ages can help protect themselves by wearing a helmet which properly fits, every time they ride. By wearing a helmet, cyclists reduce their chance for head injury by 50 percent, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
For help fitting a bicycle helmet, watch the video on our website: www.bwglaw.com/project-kidsafe/.
Breakstone, White & Gluck donated 140 of these bicycle helmets to children in the Easthampton public schools.
Attorney David White getting the kids excited about riding their bicycles, safely. He asked each child to promise to wear their helmet every time they ride.
Attorney David White and a young cyclist who received a bicycle helmet.
Easthampton School Resource Officer Alan Schadel helps a child with his new bicycle helmet.
Children who needed a helmet signed these flyers to enter a raffle.
About Breakstone, White & Gluck
Breakstone, White & Gluck is a Boston personal injury law firm which is committed to the safety of all bicyclists in Massachusetts. We have over 100 years combined experience representing bicyclists injured by the negligence of others. If you, or a member of your family, has been injured in a bicycle incident, please feel free to contact us for a free legal consultation at 800-379-1244 or 617-723-7676 or use our contact form. Thank you and RIDE SAFE!
Breakstone, White & Gluck and Cambridge Police Team Up for Children’s Bike Helmet Giveaway During National Bike Safety Month
With a donation from Breakstone, White & Gluck, the Cambridge Police Department will distribute bicycle helmets to children who need one during National Bike Safety Month.
Photo: Attorney Ronald Gluck and David White of Breakstone, White & Gluck gather with children at the Cambridgeport School, Assistant Principal Audrey M. Sturgis and Cambridge police officers Che Santos and Anthony Santiago. Breakstone, White & Gluck was pleased to donate children’s bicycle helmets to the Cambridge Police Department for National Bike Safety Month in May 2016.
Cambridge Police has announced its first “helmet voucher” program as part of its National Bike Safety Month initiatives in May. Police officers will specifically be looking for children who are riding bicycles without a helmet throughout May and hand them a “helmet voucher,” which can be redeemed for a free bicycle helmet at the Cambridge Police Department.
Breakstone, White & Gluck donated 140 bicycle helmets to the Cambridge Police in hopes of keeping children safe and preventing traumatic brain injuries from bicycle accidents. The donation was part of our Project KidSafe campaign, which has donated more than 10,000 bicycle helmets to children since 2013.
Massachusetts law requires any person 16 years old or younger riding a bicycle to wear a helmet. By wearing a helmet, cyclists can reduce their chance for head injury by 50 percent, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
This is a special donation and Attorney Ron Gluck and Attorney David White joined Cambridge Police at the Cambridgeport School for an unofficial kick off last week. Here are some photos:
Attorney Ron Gluck and Attorney David White join children at the Cambridgeport School along with Audrey M. Sturgis, assistant principal, and Cambridge police officers Che Santos and Anthony Santiago, to kick off the bike helmet giveaway during National Bike Safety Month.
Attorney David White helps a child fit a bicycle helmet.
Attorney Ron Gluck finishes fitting a helmet.
Cambridge police officers will distribute the bicycle helmets – and also show children how to properly fit them.
Cambridge Police will distribute these vouchers to children who are not wearing bicycle helmets during May.
For more information on how to properly fit a bicycle helmet, visit our Project KidSafe webpage.
About Breakstone, White & Gluck
Breakstone, White & Gluck is a Boston personal injury law firm which is committed to the safety of all bicyclists in Massachusetts. We have over 100 years combined experience representing bicyclists injured by the negligence of others. If you, or a member of your family, has been injured in a bicycle incident, please feel free to contact us for a free legal consultation at 800-379-1244 or 617-723-7676 or use our contact form. Thank you and RIDE SAFE!
Law Firm of Breakstone, White & Gluck Donates Bike Lights for Boston Bikes’ #BeBrilliant Campaign
Breakstone, White & Gluck recently donated bike lights for the Boston Bikes’ #BeBrilliant campaign. Boston Bikes surprised cyclists during their evening commutes and gave them free bike lights, at various giveaways over several days.
A total of 250 light sets were distributed in giveaways in Allston, Dorchester, East Boston, Jamaica Plain, Mattapan, Roslindale and South Boston. Community-based bike shops also distributed lights.
In Massachusetts, cyclists are required to equip their bikes with a white front light and a red rear reflector so they are visible to drivers in the dark.
This is the second year Breakstone, White & Gluck has donated bike lights for the campaign as part of our bike safety outreach. The campaign started after Daylight Savings Time.
Boston Bikes, an office of the City of Boston, worked with a number of city cycling clubs, stores and organizations to distribute the lights, including:
- Bicyclecentro
- Bikes Not Bombs
- Bowdoin Bike
- Commonwheels
- Bicycle Co-Op
- Dot Bike
- JP Bikes
- Mattapan Food and Fitness Coalition Vigorous Youth
- Southie Bikes
More photos of the cyclists: http://tinyurl.com/pd4y89t
About Breakstone, White & Gluck
The Boston law firm of Breakstone, White & Gluck promotes bike safety through our Project KidSafe campaign. Since 2013, we have donated nearly 8,000 bike helmets in Massachusetts. To learn more about our firm and attorneys, visit this page: https://www.bwglaw.com/our-attorneys/.