Two Recent Cyclist Deaths Highlight Dangers of Biking in Boston

Friday, June 21st marked the second bicyclist death in the streets of Boston in a month. The bicyclist, MIT doctoral student Minh-Thi Nguyen, 24, was hit by a truck at Hampshire and Portland Streets near Kendall Square in Cambridge according to police. She was transported to Massachusetts General Hospital where she was pronounced dead around noon.

Additionally, on June 7th, a 55-year-old Florida woman riding a Bluebike died after being hit by a truck around 4:30pm at Mount Auburn and DeWolfe streets, near Harvard Square in Riverside.

According to Cambridge Day:

A preliminary investigation into the Friday death suggests the truck and bicycle were traveling in the same direction on Hampshire Street when the truck took a right turn onto Portland Street, police said. After the crash, the truck driver stayed on the scene.

An investigation is underway by the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, Cambridge Police Department and Massachusetts State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section, officials said.

The publication goes on to note that:

Trucks have been involved in many bicyclist deaths in and around Cambridge, including of Matthew Barker in a parking lot in The Port near Central Square in September 2022; Cantabrigian George Clemmer being killed in a collision with a dump truck in Boston in July 2022; Darryl Willis in August 2020 by a tractor-trailer near the Harvard Square T Station; Meng Jin, 24, struck and killed November 2018 by a dump truck at Museum Way and Monsignor O’Brien Highway; and Bernard “Joe” Lavins, who was hit by a tractor-trailer in October 2016 in Porter Square.

Vision Zero Boston reports that, as of January 1st, 2024, six cyclists have died with 945 injured here in Boston.

Is Vision Zero working?

What is Vision Zero? Per CBS News:

Vision Zero is “a big, overarching goal to eliminate serious injuries and fatal crashes on roadways,” explained Brendan Kearney of WalkMassachusetts.

“It’s really a change in philosophy, in terms of how we approach roadway design,” added Mike Knodler, the Director of the UMass Transportation Center in Amherst. “We know human factor is a big part of [crashes] and we know humans are going to make mistakes, so given those two things, let’s design a roadway system that recognizes that.”

However, is Vision Zero in Boston working? Some say it’s not.

Boston adopted the Vision Zero initiative in 2016, aiming to reduce traffic-related deaths and serious injuries. Despite its efforts, there have been ongoing challenges in achieving the goals. Here are some reasons why Vision Zero might not be fully working in Boston:

• Infrastructure challenges. Many streets in Boston were designed primarily for cars, making them less safe for pedestrians and cyclists. Transforming these roads to be more inclusive requires significant investment and time. Ongoing construction can lead to detours and temporary changes in traffic patterns, potentially increasing risks.
• Funding and resources: Limited funding for transportation projects can slow down the implementation of necessary changes. Competing priorities within the city’s budget can lead to insufficient resources being allocated to Vision Zero projects.
• Enforcement and education: Inconsistent enforcement of traffic laws can lead to dangerous driving behaviors. Educating the public about traffic safety and the Vision Zero initiative is vital, and a lack of widespread awareness can hinder progress.
• Data and analysis: Accurate and comprehensive data collection is essential for identifying problem areas and measuring progress. Incomplete or inaccurate data can lead to ineffective solutions. Even with good data, the analysis must be thorough, and solutions must be effectively implemented to see tangible results.
• Cultural and behavioral factors: Addressing dangerous driving behaviors such as speeding, distracted driving, and impaired driving is challenging. Resistance from the public, especially when changes inconvenience drivers, can impede progress.

Efforts to improve Vision Zero in Boston include better street design, increased funding, enhanced enforcement of traffic laws, comprehensive public education campaigns, and more robust data collection and analysis. Ongoing community engagement and political commitment are also critical to achieving the goals of Vision Zero.

Cambridge Day further notes:

The intersection will change. The city will act. The sad reality is that it took a life to do it. We’re one of three area cities with Boston and Somerville that have adopted Vision Zero goals – to eliminate traffic fatalities through engineering – but we’ve struggled to meet checkpoints. Potentially extending CSO deadlines only addles those efforts.

There is a sprig of hope, however, as on Monday the council gets a policy order asking the city to undertake a review of intersections where crashes have resulted in a serious injury. It’s a decade late, but something that could have real results. And getting measurable results is the only way to evaluate downstream efforts: ink is cheap, blood is not. Furthermore, as we become a denser city, we need to rethink how we use our streetscapes and who uses them. It’s not just about safety. It’s also about equity.

Have you been injured in a bicycle accident in Boston? At Breakstone, White & Gluck, we represent cyclists and work to ensure you receive the justice and compensation you deserve. Our experienced team understands the unique challenges faced by cyclists and is dedicated to holding negligent parties accountable. Don’t navigate this difficult time alone—contact us today for a free consultation and let us fight for your rights and recovery. Call or contact us today for a free consultation. We serve all of Massachusetts from our Boston offices.