Posts Tagged ‘“Boston Bikes”’
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.
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
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/.
Breakstone, White & Gluck Supports Bike Safety Events in East Boston and East Arlington
Boston has some hard-working community bike programs which help children and their families learn the rules of safety. We recently supported two of these community groups, Boston Bikes and East Arlington Livable Streets Coalition.
Boston Bikes Bike Giveaway in East Boston. On June 12, the Boston Bikes’ Roll It Forward program gave away 40 bikes to children at the Orient Heights Boston Housing Authority Development. Children ages 5-7 were invited to sign up to receive a bike. Boston Bikes collects and repairs used bikes to distribute through its Roll It Forward program, which serves Boston residents who do not have access to a bike.
Children who participated received a new bike along with a new bike helmet. Attorney Sam Segal of Breakstone, White & Gluck helped fit the children for new helmets and spoke to them about the importance of wearing one while riding. Then, the Boston Bikes staff and volunteers taught the children safe riding techniques. Afterward, each child received a certificate showing they had completed safety training.
Attorney Sam Segal of Breakstone, White & Gluck helps fit bike helmets at a Boston Bikes event at Orient Heights Boston Housing Authority development.
Boston Bikes event at Orient Heights Boston Housing Authority development.
Boston Bikes event at Orient Heights Boston Housing Authority development.
Thompson School in East Arlington. On June 4, the East Arlington Livable Streets Coalition organized a bike safety training for 98 fourth- and-fifth graders at Thompson elementary school. A representative from MassBike spoke to the children about safe riding techniques, proper helmet fitting and bike maintenance. Phil Goff of the East Arlington Livable Streets Coalition also spoke to the children about wearing bike helmets and safety. Breakstone, White & Gluck donated bike helmets to children who showed up without one or needed one that properly fit.
East Arlington Livable Streets Coalition event at Thompson School in East Arlington.
Learn more about Boston Bikes’ Roll It Forward and East Arlington Livable Streets Coalition.
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Boston Bikes’ Roll It Forward Program Kicks Off A New Season of Helping Children Ride Safely
The Boston Bikes’ Roll It Forward program has kicked off another season of important and fun work. On Tuesday, Roll It Forward gave away 59 refurbished bikes to children ages 5-7 who needed one. The donation was part of “Bike Day” at the West Broadway housing development in South Boston and is one of many Boston Bikes will organize this year.
Children at the housing development were asked in advance if they wanted to receive a bike. On Tuesday, they waited in line, got to choose a new bike helmet, and then were presented with a bicycle refurbished just for them. They also got to meet Boston Mayor Martin Walsh, who helped hand out bikes and played basketball with the kids.
From there, the children got to practice on an obstacle course with help from volunteers, as their parents, grandparents and friends cheered them along. There was plenty of activity for other cyclists too. Boston Bikes was selling $5 subsidized memberships for the Hubway bike share program and provided free safety inspections for 31 cyclists. Another 10 residents used the event to give back, by donating their own bikes to help Roll It Forward.
Photo: Attorney David White shown volunteering for the Boston Bikes’ Roll It Forward event on April 22, 2014. He helped children select bike helmets and made sure they properly fit.
Breakstone, White & Gluck is in its second year of supporting Boston Bikes’ Roll It Forward. This year, we are donating bike helmets for children, along with bike locks and bike lights. Cyclists are required to use bike lights if they cycle at night (defined under the law as thirty minutes after sunset until thirty minutes before sunrise).
“We are so happy to support Boston Bikes,” attorney David White said. “The program does an amazing job gathering, fixing, and giving away the bicycles. The kids know this is a special event and they really pay attention, including to when we explain the importance of always wearing a bike helmet to help prevent head injury.”
Photo: Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh with Nicole Freedman, Director of Boston Bikes, Jenny Duquette, community programs manager, and Boston Bikes staff and volunteers, including attorney David White. April 22, 2014.
About Breakstone, White & Gluck
Breakstone, White & Gluck, a Boston personal injury law firm, is pleased to partner with Boston Bikes. Our attorneys encourage all cyclists to wear bike helmets to reduce the risk of serious head injuries while riding. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, bicyclists face a higher risk of crash-related injuries than drivers and occupants of motor vehicles. Children ages 5-14 and young adults ages 15-24 account for 60 percent of all bike-related injuries seen in U.S. hospital emergency rooms.
In 2013, we were proud to donate over 1,000 bike helmets to children in the Boston area. We are donating even more helmets this year. To learn more about our bicycle safety outreach, visit www.bwglaw.com/project-kidsafe/. We also invite you to follow our Facebook page.
Attorney David White Receives Volunteer of the Year Award from Boston Bikes
Attorney David White was recognized for his contributions to Boston’s cycling community at last night’s 6th Annual Boston Bike Update, which was held in the historic Faneuil Hall in Boston.
White, an attorney at Breakstone, White & Gluck, received the Volunteer of the Year award from Boston Bikes, the city office which oversees the growth of safety infrastructure, the Hubway bike share facilities, and programs for youth and low-income residents. White was honored alongside Bikes Not Bombs of Jamaica Plain, which received the Organization of the Year award. Jon Ramos was named Rookie Advocate of the Year and Vineet Gupta was Unsung Hero of the Year.
Photo credit: LivableStreets/www.livablestreets.info. Attorney David W. White of Breakstone, White & Gluck and Nicole Freedman, Director of Boston Bikes, during the 6th Annual Boston Bike Update at Faneuil Hall.
Jenny Duquette, Community Cycling Program Manager, introduced White:
“Our Volunteer of the Year is a former president of the Massachusetts Bar Association and a trial lawyer at Breakstone, White, & Gluck, which donated 160 helmets to Roll It Forward in 2013.”
“Like any superstar volunteer, he wanted to have an impact, so last year he volunteered at several bike giveaways as our helmet station guru – getting the kids excited about their new helmets, while making sure they got a helmet that actually fit! This year, his firm is donating helmets, locks, and light sets.”
Boston Bikes and Roll It Forward
Roll It Forward collects, repairs and distributes bikes to low-income Boston residents who might not otherwise have access to one. The program’s goal is to promote a healthier lifestyle with increased physical activity and fewer trips by car. As of January 2014, the program had distributed 2,728 bicycles. It plans to donate 850 more in 2014. In one very busy two-year period, the city’s youth cycling program gave safety classes to over 7,770 youth.
Former Mayor Thomas Menino established Boston Bikes in 2007 by hiring transportation planner and former Olympic cyclist Nicole Freedman. At that time, Boston only had 60 yards of bike lanes and was frequently cited as the worst city in the country for cyclists.
Today, the city has 60 miles of bike lanes. Boston Bikes is working to expand the network by adding a variety of new bike lanes, including new cycletracks, which will put a barrier between bike lanes and cars. The Hubway program, which launched in July 2011, continues to grow with more bike stations in Boston as well as Cambridge, Somerville and Brookline. And the program strongly encourages use of helmets, by asking riders to agree to wear helmets in the Hubway contracts, partnering with businesses to offer subsidized helmets and opening the first-in-the-nation helmet vending machine in Back Bay.
Related:
Watch the Boston Bike Update.
Read more about Boston Bikes.
View Facebook photos of the 6th Annual Boston Bike Update.
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Donate Old Bicycles to Boston Bikes’ Roll It Forward Program
If you have old bicycles you no longer need, consider donating them to a worthy cause this holiday season.
You can donate your old bikes to Boston Bikes and the Roll It Forward program. Boston Bikes manages the city of Boston’s cycling programs, such as the popular Hubway bike share.
Roll It Forward is one of its projects, which repairs and distributes bikes to low-income Boston residents and children who may not otherwise have access to a bike. To date, the program has distributed over 2,400 bicycles.
In 2013, we had the pleasure of contributing to Boston Bikes and Roll It Forward. We donated bike helmets for their youth bike giveaways. We also attended some of the events to help fit helmets, and we got to see first-hand how much the children love seeing those bikes!
We encourage you to consider this organization if you have a bike you are not using. Donating is easy. You can choose among several locations in Greater Boston. Landry Bicycles is collecting bikes at its Boston, Natick, Norwood and Westwood stores in December.
In addition, on Wednesday, Dec. 18, from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m., Landry’s Bicycles in Natick is hosting a meet and greet reception for bike donors. It will celebrate local bicycle-recycling efforts in the area by Boston Bikes’ Roll It Forward, the Worcester Earn-A-Bike and Bikes Not Bombs, another group that, among other things, does great work teaching Boston children how to ride and repair bicycles (and another fine organization that we support!).
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