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It's spring, which means that the bikes are back on the street en masse. Bikes are great--exercise and transportation and saving the earth all in one. However, Bostonist would like to reiterate a couple of rules of the road.
1. Are you riding your bike on the streets? Please make sure that you are WEARING A HELMET! Bostonist was appalled to see last week that about one out of every three bikers coming down the construction-ravaged Mass. Ave by MIT was wearing a helmet. Bostonist has taken to yelling "helmet!" at bikers who go by with a bare head. This makes Bostonist look crazy. Please help and buy a helmet. They are only 20-30 dollars and they could make the difference between life and death and brain damage in the emergency room. Because accidents will happen, when you are dodging potholes and buses.
2. Secondly, dear bicycle commuter, please buy yourself a front-light and a tail-light and use them! Walking across the Mass Ave. bridge at dusk last week, pedestrian Bostonist was nearly killed several times by thoughtless bikers. (Who should've been on the street if they were following the rules of the road.)C'mon, now.
3. Are you in a car? Are you parallel parking on the street? Before you open your doors, check your mirrors as a bicyclist may be speeding by. You do not want to hit them. Bicycles have a right to the road and they deserve your respect.
4. Along those lines, bicylists, please act like the vehicle that you are. Bostonist understands that Boston is one of the worst cities to bike in and it's a shame but be respectful of the roads, be respectful of pedestrians on sidewalks as, technically, bikes are not allowed on sidewalks in Cambridge, because it's against the law. Safety first but please keep the rules of the road in mind.
5. Can't we all just get along? Tho' Bostonist does generally think that people on bikes are sexier.
6. Bostonist cares. Safety first!
Safety First! Bikers and Cars work together!
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Cyclists should note that in addition to their safety benefits, white front lights are required by the law of some cities and towns (Cambridge among them). Once the weather gets warm again, expect to see Cambridge cops stationed on Mass. Ave near Pearl Street pulling cyclists over and giving out citations for violating this rule. Also, if past years are any indication, the CPD will soon set up shop just east of the intersection of Hampshire and Windsor to ticket morning cyclists who run the red light there. Of course, you should never run a red light, but that is an especially bad place to do so.
cops seem like they hang out almost 24 hrs a day at the Mass Ave and Prospect intersection as well. they've been ticketing the crap out of people who've been making illegal left hand turns there recently, so watch out.
The single most important thing cyclists can do to be safe is to obey traffic law. This means not running reds, not going the wrong way down one way streets, and riding with traffic.
I'm a longtime urban cyclist, and if I *had* to choose between wearing a helmet and obeying traffic law I'd choose obeying traffic law. (Fortunately, I can have both! Ah, luxury!)
Well said, Lisa (but I might choose the helmet - I've been knocked over by cars twice and on both occasions I was obeying the law).
I can't believe it, my co-worker just bought a car for $70727. Isn't that crazy!