Is Cycling in Boston Getting Safer?

Strategic improvements have made the streets of Boston safer for cyclists according to a recent Harvard University study. Data from the study published in the most recent issue of American Journal of Public Health shows that bicycle accidents injuries in Boston were reduced by 14 percent during the period from 2009 to 2012.

 

Researchers attribute this significant reduction to a number of strategic changes made by the city. Among the most important of these changes are: adding many more miles of bike lanes, improving crosswalks, installing more traffic-directing signs and the inception of the Hubway bike-share program in 2011. Overall, the study’s main author concluded that “improvements in infrastructure result in increases in safety.”

 

While these improvements are heartening to cycling enthusiasts and proponents of alternative transportation, bicycle accidents still happen all too often in Boston. Hopefully the conclusions drawn by the study will impel the city of Boston — and other cities nationwide — to take concerted steps to reduce the number of cycling accidents every year.

 

Progress in Bicycle Accident Injuries, But Not Accidents Overall

While the study had good news as far as a reduction in injuries resulting from a cycling accident, it did have sobering data indicating that the rate of accidents has remained flat overall even despite the city’s strategic improvements.

 

For instance, cycling accidents actually increased during the study period from 2009 to 2012. However, the number of active cyclists increased during that time, as well, creating a steady accident rate overall. According to the data, there were 488 bicycle accidents in 2012 compared to 358 in 2009.

 

Despite an uptick in the absolute value of accidents, city officials and transportation advocates point to the lowering of accident injuries as a positive sign that improvements are keeping cyclists safer. As an example, cyclists are 37 percent less likely to be injured on a main road in the city even though traffic levels are heavier on them. This correlation likely exists because main roads are more likely to have painted bicycle lanes on them.

 

Other study findings indicate that the city has a long way to go towards protecting cyclists from certain types of accidents. For instance, while the city shows a positive effect between having physical barriers between bike lanes and vehicle lanes, cyclists are still 225 percent more likely to get hit by a car door than any other type of accident. Since physical barriers reduce this risk, study authors and transit advocates are encouraging the city to build even more physical barriers adjacent to bike lanes.

 

A Long Road Ahead for Cycling Safety in Boston

Harvard’s study shows positive signs for progress in alternative transit in Boston, but other data shows that this should be only the beginning in terms of strategic infrastructural improvements. Last year, The Boston Globe reported on a 2014 study showing that the city had more fatalities per 10,000 cycling commuters than other cities like Minneapolis, Seattle, Portland, Denver and Washington D.C.

 

If you have been injured in a bicycle accident or have a loved one who was killed while cycling, you can use your legal right to pursue the maximum amount of compensation for your losses. Do not hesitate to call Kiley Law, your resident Boston bicycle accident attorneys, in order to obtain repayment for your medical costs and other losses you experience from a bicycle accident injury. You can also use the convenient contact form below to receive a free case review.

 

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