Posts Tagged ‘“Boston bicycle accident lawyers”’
Breakstone, White & Gluck Begins 2019 Project KidSafe Campaign
Attorneys’ Project KidSafe Campaign Gives Away 400 Children’s Bicycle Helmets in First Week of Community Events
Breakstone, White & Gluck donated more than 120 free bicycle helmets to children and families at Framingham Earth Day on April 27, 2019. Above: Attorney David W. White with young cyclists who received helmets.
Breakstone, White & Gluck kicked off our Project KidSafe campaign in April, continuing on with our commitment to put bicycle helmets on Boston-area children who need one to prevent head injuries.
We always look forward to this time of year, giving away the helmets, talking to children and families about riding a bike (some of the kids are pretty excited!) and working with our community partners.
This year, our attorneys are partnering with more than 40 community organizations, including police departments, schools and bicycle committees. While our attorneys donate the helmets, these groups are critical in getting the helmets to children and encouraging helmet use. Many of these groups organize community events, where children can receive a free helmet, have it fitted specifically for them and ask questions about bicycle safety and traffic laws. These events are a lot of fun, teaching core bicycle skills and giving children the chance to interact with other cyclists, police officers and the community in a positive way. Children also have the opportunity to see others wearing bicycle helmets, which reinforces our message that helmets are essential.
Breakstone, White & Gluck founded our Project KidSafe campaign in 2013, with a goal of protecting children on bikes. This is our 7th year in 2019 and we plan to donate more than 4,000 bicycle helmets to children in Boston, Cambridge, Somerville, Everett and other communities. To date, we have now donated more than 25,000 bicycle helmets to protect children.
These were the first few Project KidSafe helmet giveaways, most taking place on Saturday, April 27th:
Arlington Pierce School
Breakstone, White & Gluck donated 60 Project KidSafe helmets to fifth graders at Pierce School in Arlington, as part of its annual bike safety day during the week of April 22nd. This was the third year of the donation and our fifth year of supporting bike safety events in Arlington Public Schools. Our attorneys, MassBike and Arlington Police usually come out to talk about Massachusetts laws for cyclists, safety tips and just why wearing a helmet is important. Our attorneys were unable to participate this year due to scheduling, but we are told it was another event filled with valuable information and the students asked many good questions.
Watertown Bicycle & Pedestrian Committee
The Watertown Bicycle & Pedestrian Committee were out on Saturday, April 27th, giving away roughly 70 bicycle helmets to children at Little League Opening Day. This marks the fifth year we have partnered with the committee to get helmets to local children. In the past, committee members have reached out to children with helmets at other community events, but this was their second visit to Little League Opening Day and they hope to continue on with this giveaway. Terrific work by the committee! Read more.
Westborough Bike and Pedestrian Advisory Committee
Westborough families turned out strong for Healthy Kids Day at the Boroughs Family Branch of the YMCA of Central Massachusetts, which also took place on April 27th. Members of the Westborough Bike and Pedestrian Advisory Committee had a busy day, fitting more than 90 children for free bicycle helmets. This is familiar ground for committee members, who have volunteered their time for the past 5 years giving away the bicycle helmets and talking to families about safe riding. We thank them for their time and dedication each year.
Medford Bicycle Advisory Commission
The Medford Bicycle Advisory Commission (also known as Medford Bikes) gave our Project KidSafe helmets to children who needed one the Medford Indoor Bike Rodeo, which was held at the city’s recreation center. The April 27th event was put on in partnership with the Medford Recreation Center and Massachusetts Safe Routes to School. Pat Bibbens of Medford Bikes led the children through skills training. This was the third year Breakstone, White & Gluck and our Project KidSafe have donated bicycle helmets in partnership with Medford Bikes. In past years, the committee has also distributed our Project KidSafe helmets at community events at the Medford Public Library and the town’s annual Medford Day. Great work this year!
Framingham Earth Day
At Framingham Earth Day, Attorney David W. White and our volunteers, Attorney Denise Murphy (who happens to be David’s wife) and Framingham cyclist Bill Hanson fit more than 120 bicycle helmets for children on Saturday, April 27th. We set up next to the Bruce Freeman Trail tent, so cyclists had the opportunity to learn about the developing trail and the importance of wearing a helmet in one stop. Thanks to both of our volunteers!
Check out more of our photos from our Framingham Earth Day donation and follow our Project KidSafe campaign on Facebook.
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- Framingham cyclist Bill Hanson helps Attorney David W. White out at the Project KidSafe tent. We fit more than 120 kids at Framingham Earth Day this year!
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- Attorney David W. White and two young cyclists who received free bicycle helmets from our Project KidSafe campaign.
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- Our volunteer, Attorney Denise Murphy helps out at our Project KidSafe tent.
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- Attorney David W. White fitting a helmet.
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- Attorney David W. White chats with a young child about helmets.
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- Our Project KidSafe tent! This marks the 6th year we have set up at Framingham Earth Day.
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- Attorney David W. White fitting a child’s helmet.
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- Attorney David W. White explains how a bicycle helmet should fit.
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- Attorney David W. White and Attorney Denise Murphy fitting helmets.
Breakstone, White & Gluck Donates Bike Helmets for Little League Opening Day in Watertown
As part of our Project KidSafe campaign, Breakstone, White & Gluck was pleased to donate bicycle helmets in Watertown over the weekend. The Watertown Bicycle & Pedestrian Committee set up outside the Little League fields and reached out to children and parents, answering safety questions and fitting free helmets for children who needed one. Committee members gave away roughly 70 of our Project KidSafe helmets.
This is the fifth year Breakstone, White & Gluck has donated bicycle helmets in partnership with the Watertown Bicycle & Pedestrian Committee. Over the years, Breakstone, White & Gluck has given more than 500 Project KidSafe bicycle helmets to children in the Watertown community.
(Photo credit: Watertown Bicycle & Pedestrian Committee Facebook)
Breakstone, White & Gluck launched its Project KidSafe campaign in 2013, with a goal of keeping children safe on bikes in Massachusetts. We have since donated over 25,000 bicycle helmets to children in partnership with local bicycle committees, police departments, schools and other community organizations. Bicycle committees are a key part of our campaign, helping children and families select and fit helmets at fun and casual gatherings alongside friends and neighbors.
About Breakstone, White & Gluck
Breakstone, White & Gluck is a Boston personal injury law firm which represents individuals who have been injured by the negligence and wrongdoing of others in Massachusetts. With more than 100 years combined experience, our lawyers are recognized throughout Massachusetts and New England for their work representing those injured. We are committed to supporting bicycle safety, supporting MassBike, Boston Bicyclists Union and other Boston-area bicycle clubs.
To learn more, visit Breakstone, White & Gluck’s website or our Project KidSafe campaign.
Safer Ride for Cyclists After Cambridge Votes to Expand Protected Bike Lanes
Bike lanes in Inman Square, Cambridge, Massachusetts. Photo credit: www.bwglaw.com.
Over the past few years, there has been a growing sense of excitement about safer cycling in Cambridge. With a vote this week, the Cambridge City Council has signaled there is more to come.
The City of Cambridge has many bike lanes, but in 2017, city officials accelerated development of protected bike lanes, which place a physical barrier or extra room and road markings between cyclists and traffic. The city did this with a heavy heart, after fatal bicycle crashes claimed the lives of two cyclists in 2016. One of the cyclists was killed in Inman Square in a dooring crash; the other died in a bicycle collision with a truck in Porter Square.
Then, during 2017, the City of Cambridge rolled out new bike lanes in key travel corridors, including Brattle Street in Harvard Square and Massachusetts Avenue, near Cambridge Rindge & Latin, more than a mile altogether. The city finished the year with 25.8 miles of bike lanes, including 4.2 miles of separated bike lanes, according to a report by Wicked Local Cambridge.
Since then, cyclists and safety groups, such as Cambridge Bicycle Safety, have urged the Cambridge City Council to do more. This week, the City Council approved the Cycling Safety Ordinance, paving the way for more protected bike lanes.
The ordinance calls on the city to add protected bike lanes when roads identified by the Cambridge Bicycle Plan are reconstructed. Once complete, the bicycle plan will create an impressive 20-mile network of protected bike lanes.
The ordinance means residents no longer have to lobby for protected bike lanes when roads are rebuilt. Until now, city officials have had to grant permission on a street-by-street basis or not at all.
There may still be some debate though. The city manager can ultimately veto construction of a protected bike lane based on factors such as a street’s physical layout or the costs. If this happens, the manager must document the reason in writing.
Cambridge officials say they are unaware of any other communities in Massachusetts or across the U.S. which have adopted such a far-reaching policy to create protected bike lanes.
We suspect bicycle committees and planners far and wide will be watching. Protected bike lanes improve safety for cyclists, but the impact goes further by giving everyone on the road clear markings to follow. For drivers and their passengers, these markings are visual reminders not to drive, park or open vehicle doors in bike lanes or they could cause a bicycle crash in Cambridge or any other U.S. city.
StreetsBlog reported on a 2012 study on bike lanes published by the American Journal of Public Health. The study found cyclists on streets with bike lanes had a 50 percent lower chance of injury over streets without bike lanes. Meanwhile, protected bike lanes had the potential to reduce injuries by as much as 90 percent, which is a tremendous figure. Even multi-use paths and off-street trails had a lesser impact, reducing injury by 60 percent compared to roads with bike infrastructure.
About Breakstone, White & Gluck – Boston and Cambridge Bicycle Accident Lawyers
Breakstone, White & Gluck specializes in representing cyclists and pedestrians who have been injured by the negligence of drivers and rideshare vehicles in Massachusetts. If you have been injured, the most important step you can take is to learn your legal rights for seeking compensation. For a free legal consultation, contact our Cambridge bicycle accident attorneys at Breakstone, White & Gluck at 800-379-1244 or 617-723-7676 or use our contact form.
Massachusetts Drivers: Start Spring by Learning the Dutch Reach Method
A passenger nearly causes a dooring accident by opening her car door, without checking for cyclists. By using the Dutch Reach method, drivers and passengers can reduce their risk of causing these injuries.
As April begins, so come more cyclists on the road. Drivers should consider each cyclist a reminder to use the Dutch Reach method and never open your car door without checking. You can cause serious and even fatal injuries to a cyclist. In Massachusetts, you may also be held financially responsible for the tragedy that follows.
At Breakstone, White & Gluck, our lawyers have represented many cyclists injured by dooring accidents and other bicycle collisions in Boston, Cambridge and across the state. We urge drivers to take a few minutes to learn about the Dutch Reach method to prevent injuries.
Lack of awareness causes many injuries. Many drivers park and open their car door automatically, heedless of its risk to passing cyclists or to themselves (or door!) even as the number of cyclists sharing our roads increases by the year. In Boston alone, the city’s bike counting program tracked nearly 40,000 bike trips each day in 2017. During 2019, the concern spreads beyond cyclists as dockless scooters arrive in the Boston area.
What is the Dutch Reach?
Dooring accidents happen after drivers park and exit their vehicles without checking. The Dutch Reach method attempts to slow the process down and give drivers more time to see cyclists and anticipate potential accidents.
The approach calls on drivers to park and then check their rear-view and side-view mirrors. If there are no cyclists or pedestrians nearby, drivers can turn to open the door with their far hand. In the process, they should get a good look at the road behind them. Both drivers and passengers are advised to follow this approach. By doing so, drivers can limit the risk for injuries to cyclists as well as pedestrians.
Watch this video to learn about the Dutch Reach method. The demonstration begins around the 1 minute mark.
https://youtu.be/ppBuWxvypfg
The Dutch Reach method originated in the Netherlands. But Michael Charney, a Cambridge doctor, began campaigning for awareness in Massachusetts in 2016, after the devastating bicycle crash which killed Amanda Phillips in Cambridge’s Inman Square. The 27-year-old was hit by two vehicles, first an open door.
As a result of this campaign, Massachusetts updated its state driver’s manual in 2017, adding instructions for the Dutch Reach method. Dooring has been against the law in Massachusetts since 2009. You can be cited and fined up to $100 per offense for interfering with other traffic, including a pedestrian or cyclist. You can also face a civil claim from the victim seeking financial damages. For years, drivers and cyclists have learned the dangers of dooring crashes after a collision; but adding the Dutch Reach instructions to the Massachusetts driver’s manual now provides clear and concise instructions for how to prevent these crashes.
Following success in Massachusetts, Charney’s campaign has continued, resulting in two other states, Washington and Illinois, adding the Dutch Reach to the state driver’s manual.
Safety Reminders for Traveling Near Cyclists
- Expect cyclists on the road. Many cyclists will travel in the bike lane or to the right of traffic, but remember that cyclists have the legal right to operate in the traffic lane when they need.
- Slow down. When you travel fast, you have less time to respond.
- Follow cyclists at a safe distance. Cyclists should have at least three feet of space when you pass them.
- The further back you travel, the wider your field of vision.
- Remember that cyclists may need to leave the bike lane. You need to make sure you can respond if they do.
- Expect someone may stop unexpectedly, such as a delivery truck or an Uber or Lyft vehicle picking up a passenger.
- Be careful not to startle a cyclist. Never honk.
- Approach crosswalks and traffic signals with caution. Cyclists are supposed to stop, but expect there may be times they can’t due to traffic conditions.
- Use your mirrors. Check for cyclists behind you and next to you, especially before turning or parking.
- Finally, again, be careful when parking. Use the Dutch Reach method. Be cautious when parking in unfamiliar streets and avoid parking near traffic signals and crosswalks.
About Breakstone, White & Gluck
The Boston personal injury lawyers at Breakstone, White & Gluck represent cyclists who have been injured by the negligence of drivers. We also work to prevent bicycle accidents and improve safety through our sponsorship of bicycle clubs in the Boston area and our Project KidSafe campaign, which has donated more than 25,000 bicycle helmets to children across Massachusetts.
If you have been injured, Breakstone, White & Gluck offers a free legal consultation. Learn more about our attorneys.
City of Everett is Next Step for Bluebikes Expansion
Last month, the City of Everett announced it was joining the Bluebikes regional bike share. This was welcome news for commuters, especially Everett residents who travel into Somerville, Cambridge and Boston. Everett will become the first Massachusetts community to offer both the Bluebikes and dockless bikes.
Everett is also the first community to join the metro-Boston bike share in at least five years. The City of Boston first brought the program – then called Hubway – to the region in July 2011. It began with a fleet of 600 bikes parked at 60 stations within the city of Boston.
For the 5th Year, Breakstone, White & Gluck Donates Children’s Bicycle Helmets in Westborough
Breakstone, White & Gluck’s Project KidSafe campaign donated nearly 200 youth bicycle helmets in Westborough this year. Our attorneys are committed to preventing head injuries and for 5 years, have partnered with the Westborough Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee to bring helmets to children who need one. (File photo: From a May 2016 Project KidSafe event in Western Mass).
We are glad the weather held off!
For the fifth year, Breakstone, White & Gluck and our Project KidSafe campaign donated nearly 200 children’s bicycle helmets in Westborough. Last Spring, about 100 helmets were distributed by the Boroughs Family Branch of the YMCA of Central Massachusetts. The helmets went to children who needed one at the annual Healthy Kids Day. But thanks to Mother Nature, giving away the rest was more challenging.
First, unseasonable weather forced the the Rotary Club of Westborough to cancel the Spring Fest. On Saturday, it looked like the back-up plan – to hold a Fall Fest – was also in jeopardy. But we are happy to report the skies cleared enough for activities to go on. Our thanks to members of the Westborough Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee, who were out fitting our Project KidSafe helmets for the kids and talking to families about the importance of wearing them.
Wearing a helmet is critical for cyclists of any age. A helmet can limit the impact if a cyclist falls and significantly reduce the chances of a head injury. In Massachusetts, cyclists under 17 are required to wear helmets when they ride. The Boston personal injury lawyers at Breakstone, White & Gluck began our Project KidSafe campaign to put helmets on more children and to encourage children and families to wear one at all times. Our lawyers have represented many cyclists who have suffered head injuries in bicycle accidents over the years, and we know that cyclists can protect themselves by wearing a helmet, which is in good condition, meets safety standards set by the Consumer Product Safety Commission and properly fits.
That’s why Breakstone, White & Gluck founded our Project KidSafe campaign in 2013. As we near the end of 2018, our attorneys are proud to have donated over 20,000 bicycle helmets across Massachusetts. We have partnered with more than 40 organizations over the years and it’s one of our priorities to support local bicycle committees, which are making Massachusetts safer one project at a time. In Westborough, the committee has worked to improve pedestrian and bike signals and supported construction of bike paths. The Westborough Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee’s website provides resources for cyclists who want help getting around.
Read about the Westborough rotary’s Fall Fest in the Community Advocate newspaper.
Dooring Crashes Continue to Endanger Cyclists in Boston, Cambridge and Other Cities
A recent New York Times article on dooring injuries shows the risks to cyclists continue, even after advocacy efforts in Boston and other cities.
At Breakstone, White & Gluck, our attorneys represent cyclists who have been seriously injured in dooring accidents. While many dooring accidents happen in urban areas such as Boston, Cambridge and Somerville, dooring can happen in any community in Massachusetts. When drivers or passengers open doors without checking, cyclists can suffer devastating injuries, including broken bones, facial fractures and head injuries. Dooring crashes can be fatal.
Dooring crashes do not always make the news in Boston. But they are happening, more than any other type of bicycle accident. In fact, in November 2016, The Boston Globe reported cyclists faced a 225 percent higher risk for dooring than any other bicycle accident injury.
The Dutch Reach Moving Across the U.S.
The New York Times published, “The Dutch Reach: a No-Tech Way to Save Bicyclists’ Lives,” earlier this month. The Dutch Reach takes its name from the Netherlands, where there is a strong culture of safety for cyclists and drivers are taught to closely watch for bikes.
The New York Times interviewed Michael Charney, the Cambridge doctor who campaigned for greater use of the “Dutch Reach” method following the 2016 death of a cyclist in Inman Square. The 27-year-old woman was killed in a dooring crash. Charney’s campaign led the state of Massachusetts to add the “Dutch Reach” method to the state’s driver’s manual in 2017.
According to the article, Massachusetts and Illinois are now the only two states which have added “Dutch Reach” to the drivers’ manuals. Read the page from the Massachusetts driver’s manual.
Drivers can commit to drive safer and reduce the number of dooring crashes, according to those interviewed. Watch a video to learn the Dutch Reach method. Keep a colored ribbon or other reminder in your vehicle to help you check.
The Dutch have a great deal of education for drivers. Students actually start learning about road safety at age 10, then move to bikes before getting in a motor vehicle. Drivers typically spend about $2,700 for driver’s instruction, sitting for nearly 40 hours of instruction.
While you may not sign up for driver’s ed again. But remember that there is education online to help you. Groups such as AAA, AARP or the National Safety Council offer materials to help you avoid collisions. The League of American Bicyclists also offers materials and Bicycle Friendly Driver Training.
Here at Breakstone, White & Gluck, we also want to remind you to put down your cell phone and other distractions. With cyclists and other pedestrians around, it is not safe to reach for your cell phone as soon as you turn off the engine and just step outside without looking. Wait until you step onto the sidewalk and are out of the path of cyclists.
Injured? Free Legal Consultation for Cyclists: 800-379-1244
Breakstone, White & Gluck and our Boston personal injury lawyers specialize in bicycle accident cases. If you have been injured in a dooring accident, our experienced lawyers can represent your best interests, helping you obtain the medical treatment you need and investigating what happened to help ensure the driver is properly cited. For a free legal consultation, contact us at 800-379-1244 or 617-723-7676 or use our contact form.
Breakstone, White & Gluck Donates Bike Helmets to the City of Boston and Boston Bikes for 6th Year
As part of our Project KidSafe campaign, Breakstone, White & Gluck has worked to promote safe cycling across the state of Massachusetts. We have been especially active in the city of Boston, donating our Project KidSafe bicycle helmets to a number of organizations. One of these organizations is Boston Bikes, which is part of the City of Boston’s Transportation Department. Over the past six years, our attorneys have given roughly 1,200 helmets to Boston Bikes’ programs, including women’s cycling classes, Roll It Forward and youth cycling in city schools. Roll It Forward is a retired program, but it used to fix up used bikes for city residents who needed one. Meanwhile, the youth cycling programs teach safety as soon as children start riding.
Thanks to Boston Bikes for sending these photos from the youth cycling programs. Looks like another great year!
About Breakstone, White & Gluck and Our Project KidSafe Campaign
Breakstone, White & Gluck is a Boston personal injury law firm. Our attorneys launched our Project KidSafe campaign in 2013 and have since donated over 20,000 bicycle helmets across Massachusetts. We launched our Project KidSafe campaign because we represent cyclists who have been catastrophically injured. We know that helmets can reduce the risk of suffering severe head injuries and traumatic brain injuries if a cyclist crashes or falls. By encouraging children to wear helmets early, we hope to prevent these injuries.
Read more about our Boston personal injury lawyers on our website.
Our Attorneys Support Bikes Not Bombs Through Our Project KidSafe Campaign
Breakstone, White & Gluck and our Project KidSafe campaign donated new bicycle helmets to students participating in Bikes Not Bombs’ Earn-a-Bike class. This is the sixth year we have made this donation and these riders certainly deserve them. Through the class, the students learned how to fix up these used bikes and are now riding them. Photo credit: Bikes Not Bombs on Instagram.
For the past six years, Breakstone, White & Gluck has donated bicycle helmets to the Earn-a-Bike program at Bikes Not Bombs in Jamaica Plain. And the teens who participate definitely “earn” their helmets. During the class, each cyclist is taught how to fix up a used bike and participates in bike safety rides.
Breakstone, White & Gluck donates 160 bicycle helmets each year, part of our Project KidSafe campaign, encouraging children and teens to wear helmets EVERY time they ride. But our support for Bike Not Bombs goes back many more years. Our attorneys represented a cyclist connected to Bikes Not Bombs. During this time, we learned that Bikes Not Bombs reclaims thousands of used bikes across New England each year, distributing them to young adults and teens – locally and around the world. The organization works to teach job skills and provide workers with a sustainable means of transportation.
Bikes Not Bombs’ International Program works in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean. In Jamaica Plain, it is well-known for its youth programming and retail bike shop, where you can buy some of the bikes refurbished in Earn-a-Bike and other programs.
Donate a Used Bike
You can support Bikes Not Bombs by donating an old bike or supplies for programs. You can drop bikes off at The Hub at Bikes Not Bombs’ headquarters, located at 284 Amory Street in Jamaica Plain or at The Shop at 18 Bartlett Square nearby. Many people donate at community bike drives, which are coming up in Dedham, Arlington, Pembroke, Dover, Billerica, Belmont and Northampton in October and November. See the full list of bike donation events on the Bikes Not Bombs’ website.
About Breakstone, White & Gluck: Project KidSafe and Our Law Firm’s Work Protecting Cyclists After Bicycle Accidents
Our Boston personal injury lawyers are committed to protecting cyclists from serious head injuries. After years of representing injured cyclists, we know that traumatic brain injuries and head injuries are a risk to all cyclists, even those who wear helmets. But a helmet is the most effective way to protect yourself. Through our Project KidSafe, we hope to encourage children to wear helmets throughout their lives.
When one cyclist wears a helmet, they have a positive impact on other cyclists. According to one study, children wore helmets 90 percent of the time when adults did. Just 38 percent of children wore helmets when adults rode without one. Children in states which require youth to wear bicycle helmets – such as Massachusetts – were also more likely to wear helmets. In Massachusetts, the law states cyclists age 16 and younger must wear helmets.
Contact Our Attorneys
Visit our website to learn more about our attorneys. If you have been injured in a bicycle accident or a dooring accident, we are here to help. Our attorneys have represented cyclists after catastrophic accidents, in Boston, Cambridge and across the state of Massachusetts. Our clients call us the best personal injury lawyers in Boston and we have been recognized by Top 100 New England Super Lawyers, Top 100 Massachusetts Super Lawyers and by The Best Lawyers in America© 2019. For a free legal consultation, contact our attorneys at 800-379-1244 or 617-723-7676, or send us a message through our contact form.
Quincy Police Department and Breakstone, White & Gluck Giveaway Free Bicycle Helmets at Quincy DARE Camp and Norfolk DA’s Basketball Camp
Quincy Police Officer Hartnett fits bicycle helmets at the city’s DARE camp. Breakstone, White & Gluck and our Project KidSafe campaign donated helmets for the 106 students. Photo: Quincy Police Department.
For the second year, Breakstone, White & Gluck has teamed up with the Quincy Police Department to help children ride safely on bikes. Our lawyers donated 200 bicycle helmets to the Quincy Police Department as part of our 2018 Project KidSafe campaign. Officers been distributing helmets across the city.
More than 100 helmets went to fifth graders at the Quincy Police Dare camp. Another 35 helmets went to students from the Germantown Neighborhood Center, who participated in Norfolk County District Attorney Michael Morrissey’s Basketball Camp. This camp was held in partnership with the South Shore YMCA.
DARE Camp. Quincy Police offer this camp each year for 5th graders across the city. Students are treated to summer’s best: day trips to amusement parks, summer games and meet-and-greet sessions with Quincy police officers of all ranks, from the marine patrol, to detectives to the chief. The Quincy Police bike patrol leads one of the most popular sessions. Officers answer questions on a wide range of topics, from bike locks to safety vests, riding with friends and other topics. This year, much of the session focused on the wearing bicycle helmets to prevent concussions and head injuries. After the talk, students each received a free bicycle helmet from Breakstone, White & Gluck’s Project KidSafe campaign. Quincy police officers showed them how to fit the helmets and stressed the importance of always wearing one.
Norfolk County District Attorney Michael Morrissey’s Basketball Camp
Children from the Germantown Neighborhood Center visited the South Shore YMCA for the basketball camp. The camp teaches basketball, but many lessons focus on good decision making off the court. One lesson focused on fire safety and prevention, with a visit from the Quincy and Weymouth fire departments, along with a Norfolk County deputy sheriff. The Quincy Police Department’s bike patrol brought the lesson on safe riding, then gave away free bicycle helmets from our Project KidSafe campaign. Read this article in the The Patriot Ledger.
The Importance of Wearing Bicycle Helmets
In a few weeks, students will be pulling out backpacks and getting ready for a new school year. In Quincy, students who live within a mile of their school must generally be dropped off by parents, walk or ride a bicycle. Many of them will ride. We hope the good efforts of the Quincy Police Department, combined with the bicycle helmets donated by Breakstone, White & Gluck and our Project KidSafe campaign, will help steer students toward a safe school year.
Breakstone, White & Gluck, a Boston personal injury law firm, represents cyclists, pedestrians and others who have been injured in car and truck accidents. Over the years, our attorneys have seen cyclists who have suffered devastating head injuries.
With the number of cyclists growing in Boston and other communities, our firm set out to reduce the risk of concussions and head injuries. We began with children; by teaching children to wear helmets early, we hope to develop a life-long habit. This takes more than a free bicycle helmet. It takes positive reinforcement on all fronts, from parents, other students and respected community members such as police officers and teachers.
Research supports this view. In 2018, the American Academy of Pediatrics reported children are less likely to wear helmets when they ride with other unhelmeted children. But children were twice as likely to wear bicycle helmets when other children wore them or other adults wore them.