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Free-helmet day at the BU Bridge
By adamg on Thu, 09/17/2015 - 10:42am
Turlach MacDonagh reports police were giving out free helmets to bicyclists without them this morning on Comm. Ave. at the BU Bridge.
Photo copyright Turlach MacDonagh. Posted in the Universal Hub pool on Flickr.
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Comments
They should also provide free eye exams
Maybe then they'll stop at red lights....
Hate to get Goldwaterian Here
In Your Heart, You Know He Is Right.
Perhaps it's not poor eyesight
but the Doppler effect at work.
.
Certainly could've handed out tickets
Rode by here and you wouldn't believe the number of cars that were texting/driving, blocking the bike lane, blocking intersections, driving in two lanes, etc. No really, you won't believe it!
wouldn't believe how many cyclist almost hit pedestrians there.
just remember it cuts both ways.
How is an anecdote of a
How is an anecdote of a cyclist almost hitting a pedestrian equivalent to cars actually hitting and killing pedestrians and cyclists? It doesn't cut both ways because Boston cyclists aren't killing anyone.
So it's okay to hit someone
So it's okay to hit someone while operating a bike because "Boston cyclists aren't killing anyone"? Everyone should be paying attention and avoid collisions; regardless of the mode of transportation, EVERYONE!
In theory, no
Then again "bikes hitting people" or "bikes ALMOST hitting people (who are often jaywalking)" is all theory because there are very few incidents reported. It simply isn't actually happening.
Motorists running people down happens just about every week in our area, and nearly every day in NYC.
Exactly, because if it isn't
Exactly, because if it isn't reported or I can't find a stat about it on the Internet, it simply isn't happening!
Give me a break!
So you disagree that everyone should be paying attention? I'm a pedestrian, I'm not gonna kill anyone while walking, so I can be as careless as is like, that's the logic being used here.
It isn't reported
Because it isn't happening. In my experience "bike almost hit me", it is usually the perception of a dumbphone user suddenly realizing a cyclist just passed them.
Actual collisions are rare and are reported. They are just ... rare!
Why do you think the
Why do you think the collisions are rare?
It obvious that one of the parties was paying attention, thankfully. (More than likely not the bicycle, because they won't kill anyone.)
I'm not into the us vs. them thing (because it's really about the individual's behavior and not about his/ her mode of transport) but I am nearly t-boned by cyclists at the end of my street at least 3x a week, the cyclists blow right through stop sign. I anticipate it though; which is why there are not been any collisions.
Almost, nearly, just missed, blah blah blah
You and everyone elses uncle has a story about ALMOST being hit by a cyclist.
So I've actually been HIT by 4 different cars but those stats don't get report either. 2 left the scene. None of them were paying attention.
Right because when I'm riding, I'm not paying attention. No need to worry about killing myself or anything, nope just carefree riding with no consequences. Its like you've never ridden a bike before to know just how much attention needs to be maintained.
A bicycle hit is pretty painful.
My boss got whacked by some jackass while crossing Mount Auburn St in Harvard Square. Jaywalking doesn't matter. Bike pests are supposed to observe the same road rules as cars including doing everything in your power to not hit pedestrians.
While it may not be lethal,it can be surprisingly injurious.
The worst culprits are the males. Women are a bit more careful on the things.
Guys are often Lance Armstrong Action Heroes and will flip out if anything curtails their mighty momentum. To cut em slack, they always seem to be fraught and at the edge of panic over dealing with the motor monsters.
People are not perfect and around here there is a fairly high pushy asshole density. The hand wringing, deflection and middle school "nuh uh ..no no no nonsense that wafts from the bike lifestyle fanatics is about as much childish bullshit as anything Markkk coughs up. You are like two sides of a coin.
I treat urban streets like a stream traverse in hiking. I look for the shallow spots with slack current. Twilight seems to be a big hazard time with visibility issues so the greater proliferation of lights is probably a valuable suggestion.
I'm retired and the main thing I care about is chronic stress. Riding shanks mare is about as low stress as it gets and it's more interesting to see the details of the world at 5 mph than at 20.
Bicycle commuting in this lazy half assed mess of a masshole culture is very high stress. I did it for years. I'm done now. I have 4 bikes in various condition in my basement. A Schwinn 3 speed, a couple of high end Bianchi things, and a Columbia frame I need to put on the sidewalk.
I never, ever use any of em.
Where did I say its ok for a
Where did I say its ok for a bike to hit someone? I was just pointing out that a cyclist almost hitting a pedestrian and a driver actually hitting and killing someone doesn't fall under "it cuts both ways" since the two aren't remotely equal.
Let's just say it's not a good thing
Cyclists can be their own worst enemies. Any time a cyclist is being a dickhead, it doesn't help, even if the cyclist doesn't kill anybody. Really. All it does is piss someone off, and I pray that I'm not the next cyclist that person encounters and decides to get a little retribution.
Get a grip, will ya.
You're Blaming All Cyclists For The Actions Of The Very Worst
It sounds like you're saying that because some people who ride bicycles are reckless, drivers are justified in taking it out on those who do their best to ride safely.
Following that logic; because some drivers are reckless and fail to follow the rules of the road, then all drivers should be considered homicidal maniacs. On other words, people cannot be trusted to operate motor vehicles.
Exactly
IS what the majority of the cyclists on here think and write.\
Holy Hand grenade of Hyperbole, Batman!
The lack of self-awareness here is palpable
Please re-read that.
Really.
I'm picking and choosing to respond to what I want, just like everyone else.
settle down.
Actually, I'm not
Actually, I'm not doing that, but I understand why you would see it that way. Let me try it another way.
Kinopio seemed to minimizing the actions of the bad cyclists, even accepting of it. Maybe I'm wrong, but that's the feeling I got. S/he's pretty antagonistic here with respect to the car vs. bike thing and it comes off pretty bad after awhile.
I am a firm believer that cyclists are their worst enemies. I see some of the stuff some cyclists (not even close to all cyclists) pull, and it's embarrassing and maddening at the same time.
FWIW, I ride my bike regularly.
Needs an asterisk
* ... in exurbia and the dirt roads of Western MA.
Biking in the city, where self-righteous jaywalkers like to scream at you about "running red lights" when you have the GREEN light and have simply jolted them from their dumb phones when they stepped off the curb without looking, is a very different experience. And then they come here to complain about "bikes almost hitting me".
Asterisk taken
Yup, absolutely. I live in I-495 land and never ride in the city, so my experience with pedestrians is non-existent. Cyclists still pull stupid stuff out here, though it tends to be not as blatant - more clueless.
I Long To Ride My Bike In The City, But I'm Too Afraid
I ride every day from my home to Wonderland, but my route consists of only very quiet streets and broad walkways. In that sense, I'm spoiled because it's quite a different environment in the city.
Once in a while, I'll bring a bike in on the Ⓣ, but I usually find it too scary to ride amongst traffic. Only when there are completely separate facilities for bicycles, will riding become safe for everyone. So, I see it as a matter of fairness — too much real estate has been ceded to motor vehicles and not enough to non-motorized passage.
I would say cyclists "worst
I would say cyclists "worst enemies" are the drivers who hit and kill them and then drive away, but that's just me. And of course I don't think its ok for cyclists to act in a way that puts pedestrians in danger. Safety is paramount so that is why I focus on drivers, since they are the ones actually killing people.
...and it's not just
...and it's not just pedestrians that red light running cyclists almost hit. Noticing a definite uptick in bike on bike near misses at intersections. Cyclists aren't looking out for one another like they used to. It's a shame.
You really will not believe it...
but today, during my walk up Summer St in Boston, I saw one cyclist weaving in and out of traffic with headphones on and one cyclist obscuring traffic by riding smack down the middle lane even though there is plenty of room to move over. Oh, yes, let me not forget the two bikes locked to an handicapped sign in Kendall Square (yesterday's walk) even though a sign at eye level said do not lock your bikes to the pole. Oh, and then there was the two cyclists riding down Charles Street the wrong way the other day and all the cyclists that ride down Winter Street even though it is considered a pedestrian walk way (no vehicles allowed sign) and they should really dismount and walk and....
Cool Story
Critical Mass=Dickhead cyclists
Fortunately arrested this month: http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Critical-Mass-event-turns-ugly-in-the...
$90,000 bail set for assault with a deadly weapon (U-lock) and 3 other felony charges: http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/S-F-district-attorney-blasts-suspect-...
Critical Mass = Rush hour
Dickhead motorists, cramming up the roads! Twice a day!
Your hero, using a ulock on a car!
Blocking traffic, harassing drivers, "salmoning", ignoring traffic lights. Most dickhead cyclist checkboxes!
Yawn
Get back to me when some asshole cyclist murders someone with a bike and then gets away with that murder by claiming "but I didn't knowwwwwww I hit anything!"
Actually, get back to us when it happens FOR THE UMPTEENTH TIME IN A FEW YEARS.
Perhaps you should check with these guys to help with that paranoia, obsessive behavior, and lacking sense of proportion: http://www.massgeneral.org/geriatrics/services/servicesprimarycare.aspx
I don't think this was rush hour
Slight thread drift....
I saw this video about a month ago, and it's pretty bad. Critical Mass at its worst. These aren't people trying to change the world, these are people looking to cause trouble. Maybe I'm wrong, but I don't even think this is rush hour. The cyclists are riding up a street against traffic, essentially begging people to give them a hard time so they can give it back. Unfortunately, this is what Critical Mass has become in a lot of places and the reason a lot of people no longer ride in it.
Again, one of those things that definitely don't help cyclists' public image.
August Critical Mass ride in SF
The video was shot on the most recent Critical Mass ride in San Francisco which took place on August 28, 2015. The incident happened at about 8:15 PM.
Boston Bike Party is much better than CM, but not perfect. State law allows cyclists to ride in a vehicular lane and to lane split, however, on multi-lane roads, cyclists must choose only ONE vehicular lane to occupy. They don't get them all as BBP advocates in their rides.
MarkK= Dickhead
eom
Impersonating a Traffic Officer =Dickhead
Douchebag, Critical Mass rider, or criminal. Take your pick. I would not listen to some douche on a bike blocking traffic. He needs a badge, not a bicycle or even Cracker Jack decoder ring. If it were a critical tits ride, I'd be more patient, however. Something for them to consider if they want more cooperation from motorists.
Don't blame the messenger.
What is "obscuring traffic"?
What is "obscuring traffic"? Cyclists have every right to be in the middle of a lane. And I see cars on Winter Street all the time, unfortunately.
Tinted windows
must be
You mean drivers of cars?
Yeah, see them run stop signs all the time. Only their vehicles can kill people.
Massholes all the way down.
Boston drivers are literally
Boston drivers are literally the worst in the country*. Stop killing people before you start criticizing others.
*source
http://www.boston.com/cars/news-and-reviews/2015/05/07/boston-named-wors...
for drivers too
They should also provide free eye exam for drivers. That way, they will see that pedestrians are in a crosswalk and have the right of way. Bikes are guilty too, but bikes don't weigh 6000 lbs.
They should also give drivers a psych exam. Maybe then we can figure out why so many think it is OK to talk on a cell phone while operating a dangerous machine.
Yeah, maybe...
But then you'd cry and get all ragey because you'd be stuck behind a cyclist instead of them getting blocks ahead of you. So go suck down another iced coffee, send some texts while driving, and have a meltdown everytime a bike dares to ride in the street. It's what we've all come to expect from people like you .
Rode by these guys this morning
and a cab cut across the bike lane without looking to take a right onto Mountfort St. almost running over myself and the person riding in front of me. The cops didn't bat an eye. Keep up the good work boys!
Did You Say Anything to The Cops?
As we have seen time and time again in this city, only bike riders are near perfect when it comes to the rules of the road. You could have mentioned to the meager public servants what had happened and they could have done something about it.
Yeah, detail cops love when
Yeah, detail cops love when you do that.
No, you're thinking of the
No, you're thinking of the State Police.
Shut up...
Go don a uniform. Only then may you talk shit
Hey boot licker, cops don't
Hey boot licker, cops don't even make the top 10 most dangerous jobs in the US. No one is above criticism.
When are they giving away
Free brake jobs, my brakes are squealing like an 8 month old who wants her bottle.
Right around the time they start pullin over cars for texting
In other words, never.
Dream on
My last brake job for a car cost the same as my last bike.
If you can find a brake job for a wholesale price of $5-10 ...
I have a bike
But its difficult carting kids around on it.
I'll hold out for the Free Brake Job Day
Commonwheels
These guys often run free fix-it workshops, as I understand: http://www.commonwheels.org/
Never been to one of their events, but I'd imagine they could help you out with your brakes.
A pretty cool idea but
why do I see a lot of these helmets going into a closet in some BU dorm? I'm just surprised that they chose to target this area--I know there are a lot of bikers here but these are not for the most part kids who can't afford helmets.
I hate to grouse though--it's a good notion and I wish they'd do the same things with lights. Maybe at Ruggles or somewhere else on the SWC?
I dont think it being able to
I dont think it being able to afford the helmet or not was the motivator here. I think it was that BU which is on a congested and dangerous stretch of road, it is a new school year, and BU has a lot of foreign students who come from countries that probably have a much different bike/car culture than we do.
True
But isn't that racial/cultural profiling?
no.
Different countries have different laws/regulations with regards to cars, bikes, etc. - and of course, Boston is somewhat notorious in the rest of the U.S. for its aggressive drivers and crazy roads. Students from other countries, or from other parts of this country, may not understand that in any way more than theoretical. A proactive effort to make sure they understand the rules of the road, and to try to ensure that they ride their bikes or drive their cars safely, is a good idea.
Nice try, though.
It's not done near Ruggles
because this is a BUPD program. They've been doing it for many years now.
It's partially because BU students hail from many states and countries with different bike cultures. Motorcyclists in New Hampshire don't wear helmets, for example- and that's in the US.
Cool
"WAS THE CYCLIST WEARING A HELMET WHEN HIS TORSO WAS CRUSHED BY A TRUCK?!"
Wonder how many texting and driving violations they ignored during this.
Meanwhile, blocked bike lanes are only a few blocks from this. Safety only matters in some instances: https://twitter.com/spinorama84/status/644561723651956737
ignorance knows no bounds
Here we go again! Hemlets CAN reduce the impact of head trauma when cyclists crash! Are you a doctor? I didn't think so. Educate yourself on safety!
Well
I seem to recall a recent incident where a doctor was wearing a helmet.
Didn't keep the truck driven by an out of state driver ignoring traffic laws from crushing her skull.
Lights required, not helmets
Helmets aren't required by law. Why not spend the money on lights instead? Set up a "sting" and hand out/install free lights, which ARE required by law. Or do a little cost sharing and offer violators the option of a $20 ticket or a $10 bike light.
Helmet versus no helmut studies?
Visiting Philadelphia showed me two significant bike culture differences:
Bikes are frequently on sidewalks (at least in the Rittenhouse Square area) and bikers frequently, if not usually, do not wear helmets.
Are there any studies that compare harm and fatalities to bikers who wear and don't wear helmets?
I'm willing to take it on faith that a helmet will more likely keep my brain in my skull and functioning than sans the chapeau. But it surprised me to be in an area where biking is a common means of conveyance and yet see so few helmets. That so many were on narrow sidewalks was another issue.
God help us if most bikers road on Boston sidewalks. I'd carry a staff horizontally to be sure no bikes nick me as they fly down the sidewalk. I love biking and am glad that biking is maturing into a regular adult mode of transportation; but there are still plenty of child-adults who see anyone walking as mobile furniture to push aside.
The child-adults behind 4 wheel machines are dangerous enough. There are enough who see confuse driving with video games. Don't need to extend the video game confusion to sidewalks.
handing out helmets is one of those feel good activies...
...that isn't backed up by research on efficacy. The helmet studies that do exist are mixed on how much helmet use reduce or increase serious injury (yes, helmets can increase some types of injuries while potentially reducing others). Helmet testing simulates getting hit squarely on the head with a baseball bat pretty accurately, but not the rotational forces commonly involved in an actual accident. If you want to argue that common sense demands that helmets are "just better", then we need to ask why we want so much for cyclists to wear them, but not pedestrians, who have similar head injury rates to cyclists.
Handing out lights is a better use of money
More than awareness of helmets, BPD should be raising awareness of the need for lights, as they ARE required by law from 1/2 hour after sunset to 1/2 hour before sunrise (and a very good idea for probably an hour before/after that and during low visibility weather conditions). Lights are cheaper than helmets, too.
But I've only been commuting and riding in the area for 31 years now, without getting hit, so what do I know?
sidewalk riding - MGH version
One place that I see frequent sidewalk ride is between MGH and the Esplanade bridge in Charles Circle. As you might image MGH encourages workers not to use cars and supports biking for employees by having a fairly large bike cage at the corner of North Anderson and Fruit St. (note a fairly large number of employees use the T). Anyway, the way a novice or road adverse rider gets to the Esplanade is to ride from the MGH area is to Cambridge St at North Grove (I don't observe how they get there) and ride the sidewalk to the bridge at Charles. I don't blame them in the sense it is pretty harrowing to get there by riding the proper way, but the sidewalk doesn't really support riding there. I would prefer they go to the bridge at Blossom, but that doesn't occur to them or the extra quarter mile doesn't seem worth it.
I donno how to encourage more cycling from MGH while also discouraging sidewalk riding. Better training on how to ride on the road could help, but I think there is a significant percentage that will never ride down Cambridge St. Way finding signs that say something like "This way to the Esplanade" pointing to Blossom St might also help.
Long time problem
I seem to remember from my long-ago days at MGH that the agency overlap is a huge part of the problem. MGH knows it is an issue - at least, they did in the mid-1990s - but they have not been able to get the until-recently car-addled DCR to take any responsibility for pedestrian or cycling safety and widen those sidewalks going to and from that footbridge to support both modes. I believe Charles River Park was similarly averse.
Part of the problem is also this: how do you get FROM the Esplanade TO MGH without salmoning or using the sidewalk? You are right that this needs to be fixed, though.
esplanade footbridge
Is one supposed to walk the bike across the narrow Esplanade footbridge or ride it across? I haven't seen any signs.
The same way other vehicles do
Bicycles are to be treated as full fledged vehicles, so, observe one way street signs, go around the block or whatever it takes that every vehicle operator needs to do to get to a place.
Geographic ignorance
I think it is a form of intellectual disability - but one you don't get a special plate or parking space for.
Or, maybe, you do ... you just haven't managed to find them yet.
Feel free to go on about how to get around an area you clearly don't have the least concept about. Post a pic of yourself with a red nose ball when you do!