I think the system worked in my case, though not in the way I originally expected. I had initially hoped to see the driver convicted in court, but after weighing the options carefully I chose to attempt mediation offered by the Boston Municipal Court. The case was finally settled this week. I know this result will not satisfy everyone, but I feel that it served my purpose. My primary goal was for the motorist to publicly take responsibility for what he had done, and he did. As part of the settlement, the motorist, David Monahan of Roslindale, MA, made the following statement:

On September 13, 2011, I intentionally struck a bicyclist, David Watson, with my car while he was stopped at a red light in Boston. I purposely pushed Mr. Watson’s bicycle with the bumper, pushing it completely out of the road as the light turned green. I cannot undo what I did, but I can and do accept full responsibility. In addition, I extend my sincere apology to Mr. Watson. This incident has served as a real wakeup call for me to be a more responsible, law-abiding, vigilant and aware driver. This is especially necessary in Boston where motorists like me must learn to share the roadways with a growing number of bicyclists.

Having talked face-to-face with the driver, I believe his statement is sincere – that he made a very bad choice and regrets it. I also believe he genuinely wants other motorists to learn from his mistake and do more to protect bicyclists. And I think for a motorist to say these things sends a powerful message that violence against bicyclists is wrong and will not be tolerated.

I hope other bicyclists will share their experiences dealing with the legal system. From my perspective, the system can protect us and hold drivers accountable, but the process is not quick or simple. The legal system has many hurdles built into it that must be cleared by any victim, bicyclists included, but patience and perseverance can lead to a fair result.

This year MassBike celebrates thirty-five years of promoting better biking. With its humble beginnings as the “Boston Area Bicycle Coalition” back in 1977, MassBike has had a history of growth and success. Since that time over three decades ago, we have expanded into a statewide organization with three local chapters, developed strong partnerships with other advocacy groups and government organizations, and hired an efficient staff of three full-time employees. MassBike has worked continuously to foster a safer, more accessible biking environment through education, legislation, and infrastructure design.

Here are just a few of the major successes we have had over the years:

• 1970s – Launched our education program, which has since educated thousands of adults and schoolchildren on safe riding
• 1985 – Successfully lobbied the MBTA to lift their ban on bikes
• 1992 – Helped lobby for the creation the Minuteman Bikeway, now one of the most popular rail trails in the U.S.
• 1996 – Secured passage of the Bike-Pedestrian Access Law, making Massachusetts one of only three states to guarantee equal access for cyclists on the road
• 2000-2011 – Lobbied the MBTA to: allow bikes on the T without a special pass (2000), dramatically expand the hours during which bikes are allowed on the subway (2004), purchase bike racks for 250 buses (2005), revamp bus driver training to ensure that drivers are aware of bicyclists (2010), and Helped to win reduced peak hour restrictions on the T’s Blue Line (2011).
• 2004 – Passed legislation requiring the Registry of Motor Vehicles to update the Driver’s Manual to include more information about bikes and bike safety
• 2005 – Persuaded the state to create the first Bicycle Advisory Board in more than a decade
• 2006 – Worked with the federal congressional delegation to win more than $5 million over five years to help make it safer for kids to bike and walk to school.
• 2009 – Helped work with legislators to create the Bicycle Safety Act which supplies significant legal protection to bicyclist throughout the state.
• 2010 – Partnered with MassDOT and MassRIDES to expand Bay State Bike Week into a truly statewide event
• 2011 – Launched our Same Road, Same Rules safety campaign, aimed at educating both bicyclists and motorists about their rights to road.

Over the years and with each new success, MassBike has evolved to meet the needs of bicyclist in Massachusetts. Currently supported by a membership base of roughly 3,000 members, we hope you join us in supporting all of the great work we have done and continue to do to advocate for the rights of bicyclist throughout the Bay State. If you haven’t already, please follow the link to become a member and support better bicycling for Massachusetts today!

The greatest injustice the Herald and other haters are perpetrating is that they dehumanize us. We end up nameless, faceless “bicyclists” – not who we really are, like mothers on bikes, grandfathers on bikes, or neighbors on bikes. When motorists are driving next to that nameless bicyclist, it’s easier not to pay attention to or care about that bicyclist’s safety. Last year, we did a campaign called “And I Ride” to put a human face on people who ride bikes. It’s worth taking another look and sending to your non-bicycling friends.

There is also lack of perspective in all this reporting. Yes, there are bicyclists who don’t follow the law or who act like jerks, but you can say the same of many motorists and pedestrians. Motorists routinely speed, fail to stop, and make illegal turns, and many pedestrians cross mid-block and against the light. We’ve got a cultural problem on our streets, where some people have given up on being considerate to others. These recent stories on bicyclists ignore the fact that bicyclists make up a tiny percentage of road users, along with a tiny percentage of users breaking the law.

But the truth is, bicyclists are being noticed because our numbers are growing. More bicyclists are out on the streets than ever before and that is a great thing. More and more people are finding out that bicycling is good for the environment, good for their own health, good for their wallet, and it’s fun, too. It’s no wonder that bicyclists are getting more attention.

So what can we, the bicycling community, do to end the vitriol? We’re doing our best at MassBike to foster change in our transportation culture, to educate motorists how to share space with us, and to get more police enforcement against dangerous motorists. Bicyclists can do their part, too. That means speaking up at public meetings, being a good bicycling ambassador wherever you go, and yes, following bicycling laws, too. MassBike strongly advocates that bicyclists should follow the rules of the road (see Same Roads, Same Rules, also urging motorists to respect bicyclists). Whether you agree with us or not, please consider how your actions might affect public perception of bicyclists and the safety of others on roads, paths, and sidewalks.

As more stories about bicycling make headlines, the media needs to be reminded of its responsibility to report fairly on issues of public safety. Bicyclists can do their part, but unless the media reports more responsibly, the negative perception of bicyclists won’t change.

Same Roads, Same Rules is aimed at both bicyclists and motorists. It is about coexisting in a shared space, respecting each other as human beings, using common sense, and keeping yourself and others safe by following a common set of rules. As the number of cyclists has skyrocketed in recent years, the need for more information has become urgent, with many on the road, bicyclists and motorists alike, unsure how to safely interact with each other.

The heart of the campaign is the website at SameRoadsSameRules.org, but you will also see our street teams handing out Same Roads, Sames Rules spoke cards. The spoke cards have simple safety tips for bikers and drivers, and we encourage bicyclists to stick them in your wheels and share them with others on the road.

The campaign is featured on the Registry of Motor Vehicles website, and the RMV will be distributing spoke cards to motorists at RMV branch locations. We expect other agencies to feature the campaign as well so that we reach as many people as possible.

TAKE ACTION: We need your help to get the word out, so please pass a link to SameRoadsSameRules.org to everyone you know who rides a bike or drives a car in Massachusetts.

And what better time to spread the word than Bay State Bike Week, May 17th-21st (next week)! Check the website for a complete calendar of events statewide and near you, then get on your bike and celebrate bicycling in Massachusetts at a bike breakfast, one of our own Pump n’ Lube Stations, a film fest, and much more! Be sure to register your mileage for the Mass Commuter Challenge, whether you ride for fun, fitness, or transportation next week. Over 100,000 miles have been pledged already!

Press Release:

SURGE IN BICYCLING SPARKS “SAME ROADS, SAME RULES” SAFETY CAMPAIGN
State Agencies and MassBike Partner on Education Effort, Encourage Residents to Bike to Work on Bay State Bike Week May 17-21

BOSTON – Wednesday, May 12, 2010 – In response to the sharp rise in bicycle commuters and recreational bicyclists, MassBike, in partnership with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, the Department of Conservation and Recreation and the Department of Public Health, has launched a new safety campaign to educate both bicyclists and motorists about the role of bicycles on the state’s roads. The centerpiece of the “Same Road, Same Rules” campaign is an educational website unveiled today at www.SameRoadsSameRules.org.

The agencies and MassBike are also encouraging residents to bike to work and take part in Bay State Bike Week on May 17-21, a week long series of bike events occurring statewide. For a calendar of events and more information visit www.baystatebikeweek.org.

“Bicycling is a fun, healthy way to travel, whether you’re just going to the store or commuting to work,” said Governor Patrick. “Due to the increase in popularity of bicycling we encourage both drivers and bicyclists to educate themselves about their separate roles and responsibilities on the road.”

The state’s partnership with MassBike on the Same Roads, Same Rules campaign is part of the Healthy Transportation Compact, an initiative of the Patrick-Murray Administration’s historic transportation reform that promotes collaboration between the departments of transportation and public health to adopt best practices, increase efficiency and achieve positive health outcomes through the coordination of land use, transportation and public health policy.

“It is thrilling to see all the bicycles during my morning and evening commutes. With so many bicyclists taking to the road it’s increasingly important that bicyclists and motorists learn how to interact safely,” said MassBike Executive Director David Watson. “Many of these bicyclists are new to riding in traffic, and many motorists are unsure what to do around bicyclists, but the common thread is that everyone wants to get where they are going safely.”

The Same Roads, Same Rules website focuses on the most important things both motorists and bicyclists need to know about the role of bicycles on the road. Visitors can explore safety tips for bikes or cars, detailed information about state laws or common myths and misconceptions from both bicyclist and motorists perspectives. The MassDOT and DCR websites will promote the Same Roads, Same Rules website and MassBike plans to heavily promote the new site to bicyclists via postcards, stickers and other materials.

“The Same Roads, Same Rules campaign aims to welcome both new and old bicyclists to the road and educate all road users, including drivers, about both the rights and responsibilities of bicycles on our roads,” said MassDOT Secretary and CEO Jeffrey Mullan. “MassDOT is working closely with the bicycling community to strengthen safety and education for our employees and to our customers throughout the state.”

“This campaign complements the work we do with Mass in Motion to encourage residents to take steps to improve their overall health and wellness,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. JudyAnn Bigby. “Riding a bike is an easy way for residents to incorporate exercise into their daily routines. This initiative will help create an environment where residents who choose to ride their bikes on our roads can do so safely.”

“Biking is practical, fun and healthy as long as riders and drivers alike share the responsibility of road safety,” said Public Safety Secretary Mary Beth Heffernan. “To promote bike safety, we will provide 157 communities over 14,000 helmets, purchased with public safety grants, to be distributed free of charge at local events during the spring and summer months.”

“The increased interest in cycling and bicycle safety is very heartening,” said DCR Commissioner Rick Sullivan, “and the Same Roads, Same Rules campaign is an excellent initiative to educate cyclists and motorists alike in how we should all behave to keep everyone safe.”

For transportation news and updates visit MassDOT at our website: www.mass.gov/massdot, blog: www.mass.gov/blog/transportation, or follow MassDOT on twitter at www.twitter.com/massdot.
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