Cambridge, MA Bicycle Accident Lawyers
Breakstone, White & Gluck is known for our work representing cyclists, pedestrians and others who have been injured by negligence. We are also known for our commitment to cycling safety and work to prevent accidents. For more than 20 years, we have supported bicycle safety organizations and clubs in Massachusetts. And through our Project KidSafe campaign, we partner with several community organizations in Cambridge each year, donating bicycle helmets to local children. Our partners include CYCLE Kids, the Cambridge Police Department, the Windsor Street Care Center and the iCan Shine Bike Camp.
If you have been injured in a bicycle accident, learn your rights. For a free legal consultation, contact us at 800-379-1244 or use our contact form. We also invite you to watch our video below.
Cambridge: Cycling Demographics
Cambridge had 110,651 residents in the 2016 Census Bureau estimate. But even more people work here. According to the 2011-2015 American Community Survey, 126,544 people worked in Cambridge. The city’s largest employers include Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Mount Auburn Hospital, and pharmaceutical companies such as Vertex and Biogen.
Many commuters and residents travel by bicycle. Local surveys suggest about 7 to 9 percent of Cambridge residents commute to work by bike. For every 100 households in Cambridge, there are about 150 bikes, according to the City of Cambridge Community Development Department. Hubway, the regional bike share, offers rental bikes through 39 bike share stations in Cambridge. The program has numerous corporate partners, from tech companies like Google to the universities to the Cambridge Side Galleria shopping area, which is located near Lechmere Square and the Museum of Science.
Count public school students among the bike commuters. Cambridge Rindge & Latin - the public high school - has about 1,900 students, many cyclists.
With funding from the Helen & William Mazer Foundation, the city has been gathering bicycle counts in Kendall Square for the past few years. According to the Broadway Eco-Totem counter, more than 76,000 cyclists passed through during July and August 2017. These are significant numbers and may very well increase when the state completes the Longfellow Bridge reconstruction project in 2018.
The League of American Bicyclists has recognized Cambridge as a Gold Award Bicycle Friendly Community.
Top Cambridge, MA Bicycle Crash Locations
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) reports on top crash locations for motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians. Cambridge has 8 of the top 10 crash cluster locations for cyclists in all of Massachusetts, according to the 2014 Top Crash Locations report.
Top Cambridge Bike Crash Locations
1 - Central Square Cambridge. The first cluster includes Massachusetts Avenue from Memorial Drive to Bow Street, including the Vassar Street intersection, Cambridge City Hall and the Central Square MBTA station. There were 306 bike crashes reported, including one fatal bike crash and 185 bike crashes resulting in injury.
2 - Inman Square in Cambridge and Somerville. This cluster includes the intersection of Hampshire and Cambridge streets, where a cyclist was killed in a truck crash in 2016. There were 263 bike crashes, including 162 crashes with injury.
3 - Porter Square in Cambridge and Somerville. From Everett Street to Rindge Avenue.
4 - Union Square in Somerville. This includes the intersection of Washington Street, Somerville Avenue and Bow Street. This is one of two clusters entirely outside Cambridge.
5 - Harvard Square. Harvard Square and Brattle Square in Cambridge, just outside Harvard Yard at Harvard University.
6 - Broadway in Cambridge. Including the intersections of Inman Street and Fayette Street.
7 - Northampton. This one was far from Cambridge, out in the community of Northampton in Western Massachusetts.
8 - Broadway including Cambridge Rindge & Latin. Area includes Quincy Street, Cambridge Street and Trowbridge Street. Cambridge Rindge & Latin and the Cambridge Public Library are in this cluster.
9 - Massachusetts Avenue in Cambridge. This area includes Clarendon Avenue.
10 - Cambridge Street, including Berkshire Street and Carlos Medeiros Avenue. This cluster is located in both Cambridge and Somerville. Source: MassDOT 2014 Top Crash Locations Report
Common Types of Bicycle Accidents in Cambridge
Dooring Accidents. Drivers who open doors without looking for cyclists cause about 20 percent of bike accidents in Cambridge, according to the city's Community Development Department.
Left Hook Accidents. This is when a driver turns left in front of a cyclist who is traveling straight.
Side-Swiping Cyclists. Side-swiping or side-impact crashes can happen when cars or trucks move through traffic or try to park without watching for cyclists.
Truck Accidents Injuring Cyclists. Large trucks and buses are a danger to cyclists, especially when vehicles are not equipped with proper safety mirrors and side guards under the truck's frame. Over the past few years, truck crashes have killed cyclists in Boston and Cambridge. Our attorneys are experienced in representing cyclists who have been injured and investigating truck crashes.
If you or a loved one has been injured, call us for a free legal consultation to learn your rights. Call 800-379-1244 or use our contact form.
Bicycle Laws and Bike Lanes in Cambridge, MA
The primary bicycle law in Massachusetts is M.G.L. c.85 § 11B. You can also read our article, "Quick Facts About Massachusetts Bicycle Laws" for answers to common questions.
Many cyclists have questions about where they are allowed to ride. Under Massachusetts law, cyclists can ride on the road or the side of the road. The City of Cambridge offers bike lanes and protected bike lanes in many areas. Motorists cannot travel in regular bike lanes in Cambridge, but can use them to turn or enter a parking space.
Cyclists are not permitted to ride on sidewalks in many areas, including Central Square, Harvard Square, Inman Square or Porter Square. Many sections of Massachusetts Avenue are also banned. If you want to use the sidewalk, you must walk your bike.
In 2017, the City of Cambridge introduced new separated bike lanes on Cambridge Street near Inman Square, and Brattle Street. This is great news for cyclists.
About Breakstone, White & Gluck and Our Project KidSafe Campaign
The lawyers at Breakstone, White & Gluck have over 100 years combined experience handling personal injury claims, including cycling accidents and pedestrian accidents. In 2013, we launched our Project KidSafe campaign. Since then, we have proudly donated more than 20,000 bicycle helmets to children across Massachusetts. We are proud to donate bicycle helmets in Cambridge each year. Our goal? To encourage children to wear helmets every time they ride, as soon as they get on a bike.
Contact Breakstone, White & Gluck in Boston
If you have been injured, learn your rights for seeking compensation. For a free legal consultation, contact us today at 800-379-1244 or use our contact form.