On Monday, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation announced a substantial investment in bike safety and awareness hoping to reduce fatalities and injuries by 20 percent in five years. The news comes hot on the heels of the MassDOT’s Healthy Transportation Policy Directive, which outlined goals for best practices and wellness initiatives.
According to MassDOT, the first year of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Awareness and Enforcement Program will yield $461,851 to be used in 12 specific communities – Brockton, Cambridge, Fall River, Haverhill, Lynn, New Bedford, Newton, Pittsfield, Quincy, Salem, Somerville and Watertown – in the form of law enforcement, safety awareness and infrastructure improvements.
Additional communities will be available for the program in the coming years, but the current 12 were chosen based upon several factors, as noted by MassDOT on its blog, including “the highest number of reported non-motorist crashes per capita and high proportion of trips made by bicycles and walking.”
“We have made safe travel regardless of transportation mode a priority, and we have work to do on many fronts,” said MassDOT Secretary Richard Davey in a statement. “We seek greater awareness among the traveling public to create a share-the-road approach and heightened enforcement of the rules of the road, and we must invest strategically in smart infrastructure choices that improve safety. This program will combine these efforts in coordination with our state, regional and local partners.”
Earlier in April, a Charlestown cyclist was struck and killed in a hit and run, exemplifying the widespread need for reinforced security measures for those most vulnerable on two wheels.
In terms of enforcement, the MassDOT is hoping the increased funding will bolster police presence to issue citations and warnings to haphazard drivers (as well as bikers), identify trouble areas where accidents occur more frequently and gather more data and feedback to implement best practices.
Awareness initiatives will be targeted at all motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists. Outreach programs will attempt to reach bikers no matter the level of experience in an urban setting, officials will distribute updated and comprehensive guides to road regulations and constituent services will help to emphasize the environmental and health benefits of cycling.
As for infrastructure, the MassDOT will wait until its received all applicable feedback from law enforcement before determining what street-level improvements are in highest demand, as each will be tailored to the 12 initial communities.
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