Six Years of Partnering with Waltham Police on Bike Safety

Attorney David W. White of Breakstone, White & Gluck of Boston at the Waltham Police Department Donating Children's Bike Helmets

Attorney David W. White of Breakstone, White & Gluck of Boston at the Waltham Police Department Donating Children's Bike HelmetsOne of our longest-running partnerships through our Project KidSafe campaign is with the Waltham Police Department. For the 6th year, Breakstone, White & Gluck was pleased to donate 100 bike helmets for officers to distribute to children who need one. Attorney David W. White delivered bike helmets to Captain Jeff Rodley (far right) and Officer Chris Benson (far left) at the Waltham Police Department last week.

We are pleased to make the donation as Massachusetts schools begin to re-open. We know more children and families have been riding bikes since the COVID-19 closures last March. We also know there may be more children riding to school and it is critical that they protect themselves – every time they ride. Wearing a helmet makes good sense and is the law in Massachusetts for children 16 and younger.

Learn more about our Project KidSafe bike safety campaign. Breakstone, White & Gluck is a Boston personal injury law firm. To learn about our work and our attorneys, visit our website.

Massachusetts Safe Routes to School Recognizes Project KidSafe Bike Helmet Donation

Boston Lawyers' Project KidSafe Campaign Mentioned at Massachusetts Safe Routes to School Virtual Ceremony June 8, 2020

Boston Lawyers' Project KidSafe Campaign Mentioned at Massachusetts Safe Routes to School Virtual Ceremony June 8, 2020
For the 6th year, Breakstone, White & Gluck and our Project KidSafe campaign are pleased to support Massachusetts Safe Routes to School. Once again, our attorneys have committed to donating 400 bicycle helmets to Safe Routes. From there, the Safe Routes coordinators will give the helmets to low-income children who want to participate in bike safety training and bike rodeos.

This morning, Massachusetts Safe Routes to School held its annual awards ceremony to honor schools and teachers which have excelled in reaching their walking and biking goals for children. Stephanie Pollack, secretary and CEO of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT), was the featured speaker. Before announcing the awards, Massachusetts Safe Routes to School thanked Breakstone, White & Gluck for our donation.

This is Massachusetts Safe Routes to School’s 15th anniversary. For those who don’t know, Massachusetts Safe Routes to School is a federally funded initiative of the MassDOT. Over 15 years, it has offered biking and pedestrian safety program to children in 237 communities and reached more than 420,000 students. Schools are committed to the programming. Safe Routes now has 920 partner schools. View this year’s awards list.

Massachusetts Safe Routes to School virtual awards ceremony June 8, 2020About Breakstone, White & Gluck – Commitment to Bike Safety

The Boston personal injury lawyers at Breakstone, White & Gluck are committed to safety and preventing head injuries. Through our Project KidSafe campaign, we have donated 30,000 children’s bicycle helmets across Massachusetts. We founded our campaign in 2013 and have since partnered with Massachusetts Safe Routes to School, local police departments, bicycle committees and community groups. Our goal has been to work with community partners who really care and are committed to bicycle safety and preventing head injuries.

In Massachusetts, cyclists under age 17 must wear bicycle helmets. But every cyclist is encouraged to wear a helmet. We hope you are never injured on a bike, but you can recover from many injuries. Head injuries can be fatal and it is important to protect yourself.

Commit to wear a bicycle helmet every time you ride. Helmet use has been estimated to reduce the chances of head injury by 50 percent and the chances of head, face or neck injury by 33 percent, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

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Police Investigate Truck Crash Which Killed Boston Cyclist in Fenway Neighborhood

Massachusetts State Police are investigating a tragic crash which killed a female cyclist today in a heavily congested Boston intersection. The bicycle crash happened in the city’s Fenway neighborhood, less than a half mile from Fenway Park. Witnesses described a frightening scene as emergency responders attempted to resuscitate the woman, according to WBZ-TV. The woman was transported to Brigham & Women’s Hospital, where she sadly died from her injuries. The woman’s bike was left crushed in the road as State Police blocked off two traffic lanes to investigate.

The cement truck reportedly struck the woman on Brookline Avenue at Park Drive around 1:30 p.m., according to Boston.com. Just before 4 p.m., State Police reported the woman had died. The cement truck read, “Boston Sand & Gravel Co.” The driver reportedly stayed on the scene and was also transported to a hospital for evaluation. At this time, State Police have not released the name of the woman, the driver or confirmed the cement truck’s owner.

News photos showed the truck crash that killed the cyclist was near a major traffic block, near Emmanuel College, Boston University’s Fenway Campus and the Emerald Necklace walkway. Nearby is Longwood Medical area, including Brigham & Women’s Hospital, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Children’s Hospital.

Police focused their investigation on the center of the large intersection, measuring marks in the road, according to WBZ-TV. The bicycle was crushed and the seat was detached. The cement truck remained on site for several hours before being towed away.

About Breakstone, White & Gluck

Breakstone, White & Gluck is one of the most respected personal injury law firms in Boston. With more than 100 years combined experience, our attorneys represent cyclists and their families in personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits. With a special expertise in investigating truck crashes and an expansive knowledge of the trucking industry, our attorneys have a record of successfully negotiating the best financial results for our clients. Time and again, we have effectively presented the evidence and negotiated the maximum coverage on insurance policies. If you have been injured, learn your rights. For a free legal consultation, visit 800-379-1244 or 617-723-7676 or use our contact form.

Breakstone, White & Gluck’s Experience

We invite you to read about one of our recent cases below or in Boston Magazine. Attorney Ron Gluck was recently interviewed about his work for the family of a cyclist who was struck and killed by a truck in Back Bay.

$3,500,000: Truck Collision Kills Motorcyclist; Wrongful Death
$3,000,000: Tractor-Trailer Strikes Car, Severe Orthopedic Injuries
$2,500,000: Car Struck by Truck, Plaintiff Suffers Multiple Injuries

Summer Bike Safety: Breakstone, White & Gluck Donates Bicycle Helmets to Kids in Somerville, Medford and Westborough

Attorney David W. White and the Westborough Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission donated bike helmets to kids at Westborough Spring Festival on June 10th. Helmets were donated by Breakstone, White & Gluck’s Project KidSafe campaign.

Summer is here and Breakstone, White & Gluck wants to remind children and families to wear your bicycle helmets.

Helmets are the most effective way to protect yourself from bicycle-related head injuries.  Helmet use reduces the chance for head and brain injuries by up to 88 percent, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Please wear your helmet every time you ride – and make sure family members do the same.

Through our Project KidSafe campaign, Breakstone, White & Gluck recently donated children’s bicycle helmets at several community events. Children had the opportunity to receive a new helmet and have it fitted by an experienced cyclist or volunteer.

Westborough Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission. Attorney David W. White joined the Westborough Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission at Spring Festival on June 10. Breakstone, White & Gluck donated nearly 200 bicycle helmets in Westborough this year, at the Westborough Spring Festival and the Healthy Kids Day at the Boroughs Family Branch of the YMCA of Central Massachusetts (which was held in April). This is the fourth year we have partnered with the Westborough Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission on these donations.

The Westborough Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission was appointed by the Board of Selectmen five years ago. Since then, the commission has actively worked to make Westborough safer for bicyclists and pedestrians. Over the past few years, they have advocated for crosswalk and rotary improvements. This year, construction began on the new Westborough multi-use path. The first phase is 1/3 mile and will connect the Westborough Shopping Center to the east side of town. Great work to the commission! This path is sure to make cycling safer in Westborough.

Photo courtesy of Medford Bikes, which distributed 70 bike helmets to children at Medford Day on June 4, 2017. Breakstone, White & Gluck donated the bike helmets through our Project KidSafe campaign.

Medford Day. On June 4, the Medford Bicycle Advisory Commission gave away 70 helmets to children and teens at Medford Day at Andrews Middle School. This was our first time partnering with the commission. It was a home run. Members did a great job and are enthusiastic about teaching children and parents about bike helmet use.

“A helmet is one of the most important pieces of bike safety equipment you can wear, but if it doesn’t fit right, it’s not going to do what it’s designed to do when you most need it—which is protect your head from serious injury after a crash,” said Patrick Bibbins, chair of the Medford Bicycle Advisory Commission.

Bibbins, an instructor with the League of American Cyclists, has written about bicycle safety for families. He recently published this article: “Bike Safety 101: A Guide for Parents.”

Photo courtesy of The Kiwanis Club of Somerville Facebook page. Bike Safety Day was held on June 10, 2017. Breakstone, White & Gluck was pleased to donate helmets for the kids.

Kiwanis Club of Somerville. For the past five years, Breakstone, White & Gluck has been pleased to donate bicycle helmets to the Kiwanis Club of Somerville and its annual Bike Safety Day. This is always a fun event which teaches kids fundamental bicycle safety skills in their own community.

This year’s event was held on June 10th at East Somerville Community School. Breakstone, White & Gluck donated 120 helmets for the kids. In addition to the Kiwanis Club of Somerville and Breakstone, White & Gluck, the event received donations and support from Belmont Wheelworks, Shift Community Bicycle Collective, the Greater Boston Young Professional Kiwanis, the Somerville High School Athletics and the staff at the East Somerville Community School.

View the Facebook photo album.

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Cyclists Get Ready for Boston’s National Bike to Work Day Festival

Boston Bike to Work Festival 2016

Boston Bike to Work Festival 2016

Breakstone, White & Gluck is pleased to participate in the National Bike to Work Day Festival on Boston City Hall Plaza this Friday. The festival is hosted by the City of Boston, which says, “We think it’s important to celebrate everyone who rides in Boston, and we want to make it easier for new riders to start commuting.”

Breakstone, White & Gluck couldn’t agree more. We will be attending for the third year. Stop by and say hello to Attorney David W. White at our Project KidSafe tent. David will be answering safety questions and sharing information about our Project KidSafe campaign. Over the past four years, Breakstone, White & Gluck has donated over 10,000 bicycle helmets to children in Massachusetts, with a goal of protecting young cyclists from serious head injuries. Under Massachusetts law, cyclists 16 years old and younger are required to wear helmets, but many children do not and are at risk.

We are donating an additional 4,000 helmets in the Boston area in 2017, all through community organizations. Many helmets will be donated in the city of Boston, including through the Boston Police Department and Boston Bikes’ Roll It Forward, a city program.

The Bike to Work Day Festival is part of Bay State Bike Week, a statewide lineup of cycling events which began May 13. Events continue through Sunday, May 21.

Check out Boston’s National Bike to Work Festival web page

Check out other Bay State Bike Week Events

Highlighted Events
MassCommute Bicycle Challenge (MCBC)
For the 23rd year, cyclists can compete in the MassCommute Bicycle Challenge. Cyclists who log their miles each day are eligible for daily prizes. Cyclists can compete individually or on teams organized by employer. The goal is to count just how many miles cyclists are logging. Last year was a record breaker, with 156,285 miles traveled.

If you can’t participate, we still encourage you to check out the MassCommute Bicycle Challenge website.

Wednesday Events
Harvard Bicycle Appreciation Breakfast. Cyclists traveling through Cambridge can stop in at the Harvard Bicycle Appreciation Breakfast at Dudley House Plaza. Event starts at 7:30 a.m. and cyclists are asked to RSVP.

Seaport Common Bike Tune-Up. In Boston, cyclists can take advantage of free bike tune-ups at Seaport Common starting at 7:30 a.m. Tune-ups are on a first come, first serve basis and the event is organized by the Seaport TMA, a nonprofit transportation management association.

Bike Breakfast. Bike commuters are also invited to stop by for a light breakfast and refreshments at the MassDOT building at 10 Park Plaza in Boston. Event starts at 7:30 a.m.

Thursday Events
Cambridge-Lexington Bike Caravan. If you are new to bike commuting, this is an event for you. The event starts at 1 Kendall Square in Cambridge at 7:30 a.m. Cyclists will commute down the Minuteman Bikeway to Somerville, Arlington and Lexington.

Waltham Night Ride. Join this short ride in Waltham, starting at 8 p.m. at Waltham City Hall. Minimal lights will be distributed to participants who need one for a $5 donation.

Boston Bike Commuter Numbers are Growing
We hope you can participate in an event this week. Over the past few years, Boston has seen a tremendous surge in bike commuters. According to 2015 US Census data, the number of Boston residents who regularly commute by bicycle more than tripled in a decade. Some 8,100 Boston residents pedaled to work in 2015, compared to 2,300 in 2005. Bay State Bike Week provides cyclists a good opportunity to learn more about safe riding.

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Breakstone, White & Gluck Supports Local Bicycle Committees in 2016 Project KidSafe Campaign

Local bicycle committees are the wheels behind our success. As we finish our Project KidSafe campaign, our partners, Marc L. Breakstone, David W. White and Ronald E. Gluck, want to thank all the local bicycle committees who organized community events and helped us donate bicycle helmets to children in 2016. Committee members volunteered their time and fit helmets for children, while also speaking to families about the importance of always wearing a bicycle helmet, every time they ride.

This year, we thank the: Arlington Bicycle Advisory Committee; Bike Milton; Framingham Bicycle and Advisory Committee; Friends of Lexington Bikeways; Westwood Pedestrian and Bicycle Committee; Westborough Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee and the Watertown Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee. While not bicycle committees, the Kiwanis Club of Somerville, Boston Bikes and the Ashland Farmers Market all deserve mention. Here are some photos from the year or read more about our 2016 Project KidSafe campaign here.

Arlington Bicycle Advisory Committee

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Ashland Farmer’s Market

child wearing a bicycle helmet at the Ashland Farmers Market

Bike Milton

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Framingham Earth Day 2016
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Friends of Lexington Bikeways

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Kiwanis Club of Somerville

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Westwood Pedestrian and Bicycle Committee

Westborough Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee

westborough-2-1000px-crop Attorney David White with children sitting on bicycles, wearing bicycle helmets Children riding bicycles and wearing bicycle helmets donated by Breakstone, White & Gluck of Boston.

Watertown Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee

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Breakstone, White & Gluck Supports Local Police Departments in 2016 Project KidSafe Campaign

Breakstone, White & Gluck was proud to partner with more than a dozen police departments in the Boston area during our 2016 Project KidSafe campaign. During the first three years of our campaign, police departments provided critical support in helping us give away children’s bicycle helmets. This year, we expanded our police donations to help protect more children and reach more families. Our partners, Marc L. Breakstone, David W. White and Ronald E. Gluck, thank police departments for helping us give away more than 1,500 helmets in 2016. Our attorneys have now donated over 10,000 helmets to children since 2013 and we owe much to the support of local police officers and departments.

The police departments did a great job this year. Some departments organized bike rodeos and gave away bike helmets. Others gave helmets away one at a time to children who needed one. Others, like Framingham, Lexington and Somerville, dispatched officers to help fit helmets at community events. For several years now, Somerville Police Officer Marianne Manfra has participated in two events in June. With her help, we reached more than 400 children in less than two weeks last Spring. Read about our Somerville bike helmet donations.

Cambridge Police Department incorporated the donation into their National Bike Safety Month activities, by announcing a helmet voucher program. Please check out our photo album and read more about our 2016 Project KidSafe campaign.

Our 2016 Police Partners:

Boston Police
Cambridge Police
Dedham Police
Everett Police
Randolph Police
Norwood Police
Waltham Police
Marlborough Police
Malden Police
Tewksbury Police
Somerville Police
Framingham Police
Lexington Police

A little farther west, we thank Easthampton Police for supporting us.

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Breakstone, White & Gluck Makes Helmet Donations in Arlington and Watertown

arlington-elementary-schools-2016-editAs part of our Project KidSafe campaign, Breakstone, White & Gluck recently donated children’s bicycle helmets in Arlington and Watertown.

We donated 300 helmets in Arlington, where we have partnered with the Arlington Bicycle Advisory Committee and donated helmets for the past three years.

On September 17th, the Arlington Bicycle Advisory Committee distributed 70 of our Project KidSafe helmets at Arlington Town Day.

“Town Day is always a highlight of the year for us and it is great to be able to help people out with the helmets and vests,” Chairman Chris Tonkin wrote us.

The committee also coordinated our donation of 170 helmets to the Arlington Public Schools last Spring. Our Project KidSafe bicycle helmets were donated to children who needed one during Walk to School Day events for elementary school students.  In April, Breakstone, White & Gluck also made a donation to the iCan Shine Bike Camp. The camp meets during April school vacation and teaches individuals with disabilities age 8 and older how to ride a bicycle. We have partnered with the camp to make this donation for the past three years.

arlington-town-day-2016-editOn September 24th, the Watertown Bicycle & Pedestrian Committee donated 100 helmets to children at the Watertown Faire on the Square. This was the third year we have partnered with the committee.

We thank the committee members in both communities for taking time to fit the helmets and answer questions about safety.

Breakstone, White & Gluck cares about the safety of cyclists in Massachusetts and actively supports cycling safety in the Boston area. We launched our Project KidSafe campaign in 2013 to protect children. Our goal was to give children access to a safe bicycle helmet, which properly fits and help them understand the importance of wearing one every time they ride. Read more about our 2016 Project KidSafe campaign.

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Photos: Top, students in Arlington Public Schools receive new helmets during a Walk to School Day event. Middle, Chris Tonkin of the Arlington Bicycle Advisory Committee talks about bicycle safety at Arlington Town Day in 2016. Bottom, children at the Watertown Faire on the Square give a thumbs up for our Project KidSafe bicycle helmets.

Our Project KidSafe Campaign Continues in Arlington, Cambridge and Ashland

kids-pierce.jpgBreakstone, White & Gluck’s Project KidSafe campaign recently donated bicycle helmets in Arlington, Cambridge and Ashland. This has been our busiest year yet and we have been enjoying working with our friends, old and new.


Windsor Street Health Center in Cambridge.
We recently gained a new partner, the medical students at the Windsor Street Health Center in Cambridge. The helmets will be donated to children who visit the center and need one. Many families served by the health center will not or cannot purchase bicycle helmets on their own, even after doctors explain the risk of a head injury, said Jonathan Blake Watson, a fourth-year Harvard Medical student who works at the clinic.

“It is a wonderful feeling knowing that we will be able to send our young patients home with something that will keep them safe,” Watson said.

Pierce School in Arlington. The elementary school’s students were focused on being active this year, with monthly “Walk to School Days.” Many students participated. When the school set up a bicycle rack, many also started biking. For National Bike Month, the students received a bike safety lesson and guidelines for following the rules of the road. Project KidSafe helmets were distributed to children who needed one and participated in a raffle.


Ashland Farmers Market.
We returned to the Ashland Farmers Market for a second year and fitted bicycle helmets for 60 young children. We attended on Sustainability Day and were joined local farmers and other vendors, such as the Massachusetts Sierra Club and community members updating the public on the Upper Charles Rail Trail, a bike path which will pass through Ashland when complete.


About Breakstone, White & Gluck and Project KidSafe

Breakstone, White & Gluck launched Project KidSafe in 2013, with a goal of providing bicycle helmets to children who need one. Since then, we have donated more than 5,000 bicycle helmets and worked with organizations such as Boston Bikes’ Roll It Forward, CYCLE Kids, Bikes Not Bombs and Massachusetts Safe Routes to Schools.

Wearing a bicycle helmet is the most effective way for cyclists to prevent head injuries and young children are the most vulnerable. Visit our Bike Safety page and watch the video on how to properly fit a bicycle helmet.

Breakstone, White & Gluck Donates 750 Bike Helmets to Youth Programs in Boston

BOSTON, MA – May 16, 2013 – Breakstone, White & Gluck, P.C., announced today that it will donate 750 bicycle helmets to youth in the Boston area, through programs in Boston, Somerville, Cambridge and Dedham.

Attorney David W. White, a member of the firm, said, “We are always looking for ways to give back to the community. This spring we are focusing on preventing head injuries in children by donating helmets where they are needed.”

The firm will donate helmets this spring and summer through these programs: Mayor Menino’s Boston Bikes Roll It Forward program; CYCLE Kids of Cambridge; the Winter Hill Community School in Somerville; the Dedham Bike Rodeo and Bikes Not Bombs of Jamaica Plain.

White said, “This is the first year of our project, and we look forward to expanding it significantly in years to come. Awareness of head injury prevention is critical for the health of our children. We hope that our helmet distribution will help increase safety awareness and prevent injuries.”

Read more about the bicycle safety programs our law firm will support this year.

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