Posts Tagged ‘Massachusetts’
Cycling and Pedestrian Safety is Top Concern in Central Square in Cambridge
Safety for pedestrians and cyclists is a top concern in Central Square in Cambridge.
Central Square is located around the intersection of Prospect Street, Massachusetts Avenue and Western Avenue in Cambridge. This area is a commuter hub; the Central Square MBTA subway station and bus stop are located here, near Cambridge City Hall. The state of Massachusetts has designated Central Square as an official cultural district, for its mix of theater and arts, restaurants and history. The NECCO building was long part of that history, but these days, 250 Massachusetts Avenue is now the Novartis’ global headquarters. The Cambridge YMCA is there and MIT is nearby.
Over the years, there have been numerous pedestrian and bicycle accidents in Central Square. Central Square was the #1 location for bike crashes in Massachusetts from 2005-2014, according to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT). It was the 5th highest pedestrian crash location. The City of Cambridge has worked to improve safety by improving crosswalks and adding bike lanes across the city. In December 2016, new bike lanes were laid down in Central Square, northbound on Massachusetts Avenue between Sydney and Douglass streets.
We recently went up over Central Square. Please take a look and share this blog with anyone who travels in this area, whether they walk, bike, drive or travel by Uber. From a different angle, we hope you gain a better understanding of the traffic in this area.
We also recently visited Inman Square.
About Breakstone, White & Gluck
At Breakstone, White & Gluck, our Boston personal injury lawyers fight for justice for those who have been seriously injured by the negligence and wrongdoing of others. Our lawyers have been recognized as among the top personal injury and medical malpractice lawyers in Massachusetts and New England. We are committed to protecting cyclists through our Project KidSafe campaign, which has donated over 15,000 helmets to children in the first 5 years. If you have been injured, learn your rights. Contact us today at 800-379-1244 or 617-723-7676 or use our contact form.
Aerial Photos of Cambridge’s Inman Square Show Safety Improvements for Cyclists
We had a fun opportunity to see Inman Square from up high a few weeks ago. Here are some of our photos:
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- Inman Square in Cambridge. The Inman Square Fire House – or Cambridge Fire Department Station 5 – is on the left. Central Square is up ahead.
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- Looking down Hampshire Street from Inman Square. You can see a few birds made our photo, as did a driver in the bike lane. Not where he is supposed to be. Drivers, please stay out of the bike lane!
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- Up high over Inman Square in Cambridge.
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- Looking over Inman Square toward the City of Boston.
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- Directly over the intersection of Hampshire and Cambridge streets.
The City of Cambridge has worked to improve safety for cyclists in Inman Square, recently adding new separated bike lanes on both sides of Cambridge Street, from Inman Square to Quincy Street, which approaches Harvard Square. This is .7 miles of new bike lanes with paint, flex posts and other temporary materials to help cyclists stand out. And the new lanes pass Cambridge Rindge & Latin, which serves more than 1,900 high school students. Last fall, the city also banned drivers from making certain left turns in Inman Square, after many years of bike crashes followed by a fatal bike accident last June.
Hampshire and Cambridge streets cross at Inman Square. In our photos, you can see a stretch of green bike lanes on Hampshire Street. These intersect with the new bike lanes on Cambridge Street, which are less visible, but they are there.
All the bike lanes look great. We hope they make the commute safer for cyclists and everyone on the roads.
More About Inman Square
Inman Square, known for its distinctive shops and restaurants, comes together around Hampshire and Cambridge streets. But there are several other streets that also meet here, making for a complicated intersection. These include Antrium Street, Fayette Street, Inman Street and Springfield Street. Prospect Street is at the other side of the triangle and the Somerville city line is nearby.
Inman Square on Google Maps.
The Inman Square Fire House – or Cambridge Fire Department Station 5 – and the Mayor Alfred E. Vellucci Community Plaza are two Inman Square landmarks. There are also several banks here and a number of businesses named after the neighborhood: Inman Pharmacy, Inman Square Laundromat, Inman Square Hardware, as well as Inman Square Apartments. Restaurants include City Girl Cafe, 1369 Coffee House and Punjabi Dhaba.
This area is not served by a MBTA subway station, so you have to drive, take the bus, walk or bike. The Central Square MBTA is just over a half mile away and Harvard Square is a mile. Because of this, many choose to bike. If you don’t have a bike, Inman Square has a Hubway bike share station.
Cycling is not allowed on the sidewalk (as in most business areas in Massachusetts, unless it is posted otherwise). But riding on the street is not easy. There have been numerous bicycle crashes here over the years. So many that Inman Square has been named the second top bike crash location in Massachusetts (Source: 2014 Top Crash Locations from MassDOT, dated August 2016). Only Central Square in Cambridge sees more bike accidents. In fact, nine out of the 10 top bike crash locations in Massachusetts are in Cambridge and Somerville, which is why the new protected bike lanes are so important.
After years of bike accidents in Inman Square, there was a fatal bike crash in June 2016, when a cyclist was tragically killed right at Hampshire and Cambridge streets. Amanda Phillips, just 27 years old, collided with a Jeep door which was left open. She was then struck by a landscaping truck. A few months later, another cyclist was killed by a truck crash in Porter Square, raising questions about safety there.
Back in Inman Square, the city banned motor vehicle traffic from making left-hand turns on key streets in October 2016. Motorists were banned from turning left from Hampshire Street onto Cambridge Street – and vice versa. They were also prohibited from turning left on Cambridge Street onto Antrium Street southbound. The city has strictly enforced the ban. The Cambridge Police Department issued more than 200 tickets in the first month of the new restriction; 133 drivers alone were ticketed within a 15-day period.
If you haven’t visited Cambridge in a while, you can expect to see a few changes next time you do. Cambridge Street is just one area with new bicycle lanes. For those who live or work in Inman Square – or commute through – you already know these streets well and have seen the changes firsthand. But please take a look at our photos and share them with others. The more drivers, cyclists and pedestrians understand about this intersection, the more prepared they will be to follow traffic rules, which will reduce bike crashes and pedestrian accidents.
About Breakstone, White & Gluck
Breakstone, White & Gluck is a Boston law firm specializing in personal injury. For more than 25 years, we have committed to supporting cyclists and improving safety conditions in Massachusetts. We support numerous bicycle clubs and advocacy groups, including MassBike, Boston Cyclists Union, Charles River Wheelmen, New England Mountain Bike Association (NEMBA) and the Northeast Bicycle Club (NEBC).In 2017, we finished the fifth year of our Project KidSafe campaign, which has donated more than 15,000 bicycle helmets to children. Wearing a helmet is required by law for cyclists 16 and under in Massachusetts, but we want to encourage every cyclist to wear a helmet every time they ride. We have over 40 community partners helping us send out that message, including in Cambridge and Somerville.
In Cambridge, we partner with the Cambridge Police Department, CYCLE Kids and the Windsor Street Care Center to make donations each year. In Somerville, we have long partnered with Kiwanis Club of Somerville, CYCLE Kids and Somerville Public Schools, Groundwork Somerville and Shift Bicycle Community Collective.
Learn more Breakstone, White & Gluck
Visit our website to learn more about our support for cyclists, our Project KidSafe campaign or to meet our lawyers.
Massachusetts Lawmakers Consider Bill to Prevent Insurance Companies from Dog Breed Discrimination
Massachusetts lawmakers are considering a bill to prevent insurance companies from discriminating against homeowners who own certain dog breeds.
Massachusetts lawmakers are considering a bill to prevent insurance companies from discriminating against homeowners based on their dog’s breed.
Rep. Jack M. Lewis (D-Framingham) is the sponsor of H.554, which would ensure dog owners can buy insurance to provide compensation to anyone injured by their pet.
Under the proposed bill, insurance companies would not be allowed to refuse to offer homeowners insurance or renters insurance coverage based on the specific breed of an individual’s dog. The insurer would be prohibited from refusing to issue a policy, renewing a policy, canceling a policy or raising the premium based on the dog’s breed.
The bill provides an exception for a dog which has been designated a “dangerous dog,” by a local community.
At Breakstone, White & Gluck, our attorneys have represented victims of Massachusetts dog bite attacks for more than 30 years. Massachusetts has a strict law when it comes to dog bites. Under M.G.L. c.140 § 155, a dog owner or keeper is strictly liable for injuries inflicted by a dog. Their homeowners insurance policy typically provides compensation to the victim. With the exception of young children, victims have to show they were not teasing or tormenting a dog or trespassing.
Years ago, the cities of Boston, Lowell and Worcester banned certain breeds of dogs, such as pit bills, because they had a reputation for being dangerous. This practice became illegal in Massachusetts in 2012, with passage of St.2012, c.193. Here is a summary of the animal control law written by the Massachusetts Society for Prevention of Cruelty for Animals (MSPCA).
Yet certain insurance companies are still asking about dog breeds. At the State House this week, a representative from the Property and Casualty Insurers Association of America said dogs are the industry’s “single biggest loss.” He was testifying before the Joint Committee on Financial Services.
Meanwhile, the MSPCA supports the Massachusetts bill, saying breed-specific policies are a bad idea. The organization says a better solution is educating the public and dog owners on dog behaviors.
The MSPCA estimates 4.7 million dog bite injuries occur in the U.S. each year, with 800,000 victims requiring medical treatment.
At Breakstone, White & Gluck, we support full compensation for anyone who has been injured by a dog. Young children often suffer dog bite injuries. But others are also at risk. Over the years, our dog bite attorneys have represented clients of all ages who have been bitten suddenly and without warning – including cyclists riding bikes. We have represented clients in the Boston area and across Massachusetts. When a dog bites, medical care is critical – in the hours, days and months following an attack.
This medical care comes with other costs. Victims – or family members – may have to take time off from work to receive medical care and deal with the emotional pain and stress of a dog bite attack. Our attorneys have represented those injured by dogs as well as family members who witnessed the terrifying attack and suffered severe emotional distress as a result. It is a long journey back after a dog bite injury and it’s important for insurance companies to provide compensation.
Our Work for Dog Bite Victims
Read about our results for clients injured by dog bite attacks in Massachusetts.
About Breakstone, White & Gluck
With over 100 years combined experience, Breakstone, White & Gluck specializes in representing those who have been injured by the negligence and wrongdoing of others in Massachusetts. We are experts in handling dog bite and animal attack cases. If you have been injured, learn your rights. For a free legal consultation, contact us at 800-379-1244 or 617-723-7676 or use our contact form.
Parking Lot Accidents Are Common in Massachusetts
There was a sad story in Westford over the weekend, when a woman was hit and killed in a Market Basket parking lot. Police are still investigating, but according to media reports, the 64-year-old woman was putting groceries into the back of her Toyota Highlander SUV, which was hit by another vehicle. The impact caused her SUV to roll back on top of her.
This is not an isolated accident. Parking lot accidents and backovers are frequently reported in every community in Massachusetts, from Boston and Cambridge to Worcester and Framingham. But the latest accident raises the questions: have parking lots become as dangerous as the roads? And what can be done to improve safety? We should all be able to shop safely.
AAA reports 14 percent of all car accidents take place in parking lots. These can range from minor incidents, such as fender benders or someone opening a car door and hitting another vehicle. Other times, someone is seriously injured or killed, from backovers or speeding drivers.
AAA reports distracted drivers are contributing to parking lot accidents. Drivers are more focused on talking to other passengers, turning the radio dial or checking their cell phone. Others are too focused on finding the best parking spot.
In Massachusetts, parking lot car accidents have been reported in Acton, Wilmington and Natick.
- Acton Pedestrian Death at Trader Joe’s. In March 2017, an employee leaving Trader Joe’s in Acton was hit by a customer backing an SUV out of a parking space.
- Wilmington Parking Lot Accident. In September 2016, an elderly woman hit and killed a 52-year-old woman in a crosswalk near Rite Aid in Wilmington, then struck two parked cars.
- Natick Shopping Plaza Parking Lot Death. In November 2015, a speeding driver tore through the parking lot outside the Cloverleaf Mall in Natick, just across the street from the Natick Collection (or the old Natick Mall). She went right up onto the sidewalk, hitting and killing a pedestrian outside Harbor Freight Tools. Several others were seriously injured in the car crash.
- Snow Plow Parking Lot Accidents. Snow plow drivers often neglect to look for pedestrians on streets, parking lots and around snowbanks. Vehicles with engines are much easier for snow plow operators to see, but snow plow operators have a responsibility to use reasonable care and look for pedestrians as well as other vehicles. Massachusetts has seen several cases of snow plow drivers operating negligently and causing pedestrians fatal injuries. In 2015, two pedestrians in the Boston area were killed in parking lots by snow plow trucks. A 60-year-old employee at the Whole Foods store in Medford was struck and killed in the store’s parking lot. A few days earlier, a Weymouth woman was killed in the parking lot outside her condo complex.
Parking Lot Safety Tips for Drivers
Carefully pick your space. Make sure you have enough room to park and open your vehicle’s doors. When possible, back into a space so you have a full view of the parking lot when you leave. Also, try to avoid parking next to parents who have to get children in and out of car seats.
Plan your holiday shopping carefully. The days before Thanksgiving and the Friday before Christmas are two of the highest days for auto claims each year, according to AAA. These claims include parking lot accidents.
Take steps to avoid backover accidents. Many parking lot accidents result when drivers back out onto pedestrians without checking their blindspots or mirrors. Drivers can avoid accidents by coming up with a safety checklist for parking lots.
Make it a priority to look around your vehicle and under before you get in the car. Turn off your radio and turn off your cell phone. Instead, open your windows so you can hear any activity outside. Be prepared to stop. Do not rely on your vehicle’s cameras and sensors.
When in doubt, remember it may be better to wait until the parking lot clears out.
Distance yourself. Travel a safe distance behind other vehicles in a parking lot. How many times do you see a driver change their mind about where they want to park or quickly try to beat another car to a space?
Expect pedestrians. This is really the first rule of safety, but we include it last because we want you to remember it. You can always count on pedestrians being in a parking lot. Even though you may be in a rush, you need to slow down and travel with as much care as you would in a school zone, school parking lot or near a senior center.
Beware of snow plows and snow removal equipment. Drivers want to avoid the combination of snow banks, busy shopping times and parking lots, where snow plows and removal equipment are working. There are a lot of elements here and it may be easier to do your shopping another time.
About Breakstone, White & Gluck
With more than 100 years combined experience, the lawyers of Breakstone, White & Gluck specialize in representing those who have been injured in motor vehicle crashes. If you have been injured, learn your rights. For a free legal consultation, call 800-379-1244 or 617-723-7676 or use our contact form.
Redesign Ahead for Waltham’s Most Dangerous Roads and Intersections
Some of the region’s most dangerous roads and intersections are about to be redesigned in Waltham.
The City of Waltham released its 180-page transportation master plan last January. Some of the steps will drastically change the roads – for example, removing a traffic lane on Lexington Street, acquiring land to expand a road and a “super crosswalk.” The goal is to reduce Waltham car accidents and make it easier to travel the city. This is a 10-year master plan, but some changes have already been made.
Over the summer, the city removed a lane of traffic on Lexington Street, from Curve Street to Lake Street. The city’s goal was to reduce car accidents caused by speeding. The speed limit is 30 mph, but drivers often travel 40 to 45 mph.
The street was repainted with two southbound lanes and one northbound lane. Over the first few days, there was a lot of confusion. Some drivers continued to travel on the old lane – head-on into traffic in the new lane – putting vehicles at risk for a collision, according to a news report.
Westwood Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Committee and Breakstone, White & Gluck Team Up for Bike Helmet Giveaway at Westwood Town Day
For the fifth year, the Westwood Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Committee had one of the busiest tables at Westwood Town Day, which was held on Saturday, Sept. 23 this year. Breakstone, White & Gluck donated 150 bicycle helmets from our Project KidSafe campaign and sent Attorney David W. White out to help fit helmets for the kids. Attorney White is a Westwood resident, former committee member and cyclist so he had a blast. Thank you to all the committee members for donating their time.
Children age 16 and younger are required to wear helmets when riding a bicycle in Massachusetts. Breakstone, White & Gluck recommends cyclists of all ages wear helmets every time you ride to protect yourself from a head injury. If you are a parent, your children are more likely to wear a helmet if you do, so it is even more important. Learn more about our Project KidSafe campaign.
Pedestrian Deaths in Boston are Rising
Pedestrian safety was the focus of several NBC Boston reports last night. One segment was called “Boston’s Crosswalk Crisis” and another was called “Cro$$walk Crisis: Private Funding for Public Ways.” They are worth viewing for anyone who lives or works in Boston. A few figures from the reports:
- Pedestrian deaths rose 15 percent in Boston in 2016.
- Nine pedestrians have died this year, up 30 percent from this time last year.
- In addition to these deaths, 384 pedestrians were hit and required medical attention during the first half of 2017.
The news station also reported that some Boston residents are taking charge and raising funds to build crosswalks. This is not cheap. In the South End, Tremont Street residents are trying to raise $25,000 for crosswalks at the intersection of Tremont and Union Park and Upton and Columbus and Rutland.
As pedestrian fatalities have risen, the City of Boston’s Vision Zero Task Force has been working to make the city safer for pedestrians and cyclists. The task force’s goal is similar to Vision Zero task forces in other major cities – to eliminate transportation deaths by 2030.
The rise in pedestrian deaths is discouraging, especially since the task force was recently successful in lowering default speed limits in Boston. Lower speeds mean fewer accidents because drivers have more time to respond.
The task force had to obtain Legislature approval to lower the city’s default speed limit from 30 mph to 25 mph. Now all cities in Massachusetts can opt-in and lower speed limits if they choose. A number of communities already have, including Cambridge, Somerville, Quincy and Milton.
Boston Pedestrian Accident Lawyers
At Breakstone, White & Gluck, our Boston pedestrian accident lawyers have over 30 years of representing those who have been injured and killed by negligence in Massachusetts. Our attorneys have represented numerous families who have lost loved ones in pedestrian accidents, even in the crosswalk where they should have been safe. In 2005, one of our clients was struck by an MBTA bus right in a crosswalk on Washington Street in the South End of Boston.
Drivers Have to Slow Down
Boston has some of the most congested roads in Massachusetts and many have been taken over by construction over the past few years. Drivers need to take even more care when traveling in the city and watch out for pedestrians and cyclists. Yet they often don’t and the roads tend to be more congested this time of year in Boston and Cambridge, as college students move in and elementary schools re-open.
Walk down any city street and chances are, you will see someone sitting in a car at a traffic light or stopped in traffic, ear to cell phone. In-vehicle devices which allow hands-free talking or map out directions are not always safer, either. When it comes to intersections or at parking garages, shopping plazas or schools, drivers need to give the road their full attention – and slow down.
Contact Breakstone, White & Gluck for a Free Legal Consultation
If you or a loved one has been injured in a Boston pedestrian accident, you may have the right to seek compensation from the responsible driver. Contact us for a free legal consultation at 800-379-1244 or 617-723-7676 or use our contact form.
You can also read about Breakstone, White & Gluck’s recent settlements and awards for clients in pedestrian cases.
Technology Must Make Trucks Smarter Too
Large trucks are a stress for many Massachusetts drivers, especially on busy routes like the Mass Pike. The most challenging situations are when a truck comes up behind you or when one tries to pass you.
There were nearly 415,000 truck crashes in the U.S. in 2015, injuring more than 116,000 people and killing more than 4,060, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
As phones, cars, drones and apps all make our world smarter and faster, the trucking industry must get smarter too. Let’s be clear: We are not advocating for self-driving trucks, but tools that increase video monitoring, expand the driver’s visibility and provide error warnings are all going to help improve safety.
A new study reports on four advanced safety technologies for trucks. The study, from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, covers:
- Video-Based Onboard Safety Monitoring Systems
- Lane Departure Warning Systems
- Automatic Emergency Braking Systems
- Air Disc Brakes
AAA says these technologies could save up to 63,000 lives per year. For this study, AAA reported on a number of industry studies.
- Video-Based Onboard Safety Monitoring Systems could deploy two cameras. One would record the road ahead and the other would follow the driver’s behavior and performance inside the cab. To provide more thorough monitoring, the study said rear cameras could be added, one to capture the center line of vision and one for each side. According to the data, video monitoring systems may have prevented 38 to 52 percent of large truck safety critical events, 20 percent of large truck fatal crashes and 36 percent of large-truck injury crashes.
- Lane Departure Warning Systems monitor a truck’s position on the road and provide the driver with warning if the truck starts to leave the lane. AAA reviewed 13 studies which found lane departure warning systems were 13 to 53 percent effective in preventing roadway departure, sideswipe, opposite sideswipe and head-on truck crashes.
- Automatic Emergency Braking Systems are designed to prevent trucks from crashing into other cars from behind. The in-vehicle system uses a sensor to look ahead of the truck, then alerts the driver if there is a potential for collision. The driver can use this information to reduce speed or make another driving decision to prevent a truck crash. If the driver takes no action and the system detects a crash is coming, it will take control of the truck’s brakes. AAA reviewed five studies that found automatic emergency braking systems prevent rear-end collisions by 16 to 52 percent.
- Air Disc Brakes can reduce a truck’s stopping distance by up to 30 percent and reduce large truck rear-end collisions by up to 43 percent, according to the reviewed studies. This technology was not widely used in the U.S. for years.
Lower Technology Safety Measures for Trucks
Not every safety measure has to be high tech. Many U.S. cities are considering lower tech truck safety measures. In 2014, Boston approved the nation’s first truck side guard ordinance, requiring city-contracted trucks to use side guards and convex mirrors. Other cities have followed including New York City and Chicago. Meanwhile, the City of Cambridge has equipped its own city trucks with side guards and MassBike, the state’s largest advocacy organization for cyclists, had proposed legislation for a statewide truck side guard law in Massachusetts. But no action has been taken.
Truck side guards block the area below the truck’s cargo, between the wheels, so cyclists and pedestrians cannot get towed under. Read more on truck accidents and injuries to cyclists.
About Breakstone, White & Gluck
If you have been injured, contact the Boston truck crash lawyers of Breakstone, White & Gluck for a free legal consultation. With more than 100 years combined experience, our attorneys have investigated complex truck accidents which have injured drivers, motorcyclists and pedestrians. We have negotiated multi-million dollar awards for our clients. Contact us at 800-379-1244 or 617-723-7676 or use our contact form.
New Protected Bike Lanes for Inman Square in Cambridge
Cyclists riding through Inman Square now have a safer ride home. The City of Cambridge has recently installed separated bicycle lanes on Cambridge Street, from Inman Square to Quincy Street. The lanes are clearly marked, with flex posts creating a barrier between cyclists and drivers.
These lanes should have many benefits. We hope one is to reduce dooring crashes, such as the one that killed Amanda Phillips in Inman Square in 2016. The 27-year-old Somerville resident was riding a bike and collided into a Jeep door which was left open. The impact pushed her into the travel lane, where she was hit and killed by a landscaping truck. The accident happened near Hampshire and Cambridge streets.
Dooring has been against the law in Massachusetts since 2009. M.G.L. c.90 § 14 states, “no person shall open a door on a motor vehicle unless it is reasonably safe to do so without interfering with the movement of other traffic, including bicyclists and pedestrians.”
Cambridge Police Department and Breakstone, White & Gluck’s Project KidSafe Campaign Give Away Free Bicycle Helmets to Children at Rindge Tower Apartments
Thank you to the Cambridge Police Department for fitting bike helmets for the kids at Rindge Tower Apartments. Breakstone, White & Gluck donated the helmets as part of our Project KidSafe campaign.
Just-A-Start, a community development corporation serving Cambridge, treated families at the Rindge Tower Apartments to a Community BBQ with all the best fixings of summer last week. From hot dogs, hamburgers and snow cones to bouncy houses, music and conga lines, the gathering drew more than 150 people from the 273-unit apartment building near Alewife Station.
The Cambridge Police Department participated, distributing safety materials and free bicycle helmets from Breakstone, White & Gluck’s Project KidSafe campaign. Officers distributed and fitted over 80 helmets for children.
“Our thanks to the Cambridge Police Department and the attorneys of Breakstone, White & Gluck for providing the bike helmets,” said Nancy Porcaro, Just-A-Start’s community coordinator. “We were touched by the donation and I feel it was one of the most important components to our annual event. The helmets were a big hit with the families and will go a long way toward protecting the children on bikes.”
About Breakstone, White & Gluck and Project KidSafe
Breakstone, White & Gluck, a personal injury and medical malpractice law firm based in Boston, was founded by Marc L. Breakstone, David W. White and Ronald E. Gluck in 1992. In 2017, we celebrated our 25th anniversary serving our clients.
We founded our Project KidSafe campaign in 2013 with a goal of keeping children safe on bikes. Since then, we have donated more than 15,000 bicycle helmets in Boston, Cambridge, Somerville and across Massachusetts. Our goal is to encourage children to wear helmets every time they ride to prevent head injuries from bicycle accidents or falls. Under Massachusetts law, cyclists under 17 years old are required to wear helmets which meet the Consumer Product Safety Commission standard. But we hope children reached by our Project KidSafe campaign will make helmets a life-long habit.
This is the second year Breakstone, White & Gluck and the Cambridge Police Department have partnered together to promote bicycle safety.