Read The 2018 Vision Zero Boston Progress Report

From Livable Streets:

The Massachusetts Vision Zero Coalition released its third annual Vision Zero Progress Report for the City of Boston.

Here’s What You Need to Know:

1. In 2018, Mayor Walsh committed to an additional $5 million for transportation staffing and projects for FY19. How is Boston doing with implementing this funding? Read the Letter from the Coalition. 
2. Vision Zero Fundamentals are the core elements required to support systemic change on our streets. How did Boston score on data, accountability, and transparency in 2018? Learn more.
3. Vision Zero Actions are the tangible changes we can see on our streets. How did Boston score on reducing speeds, building safer streets, engaging Bostonians, and equitable enforcement in 2018? Learn more.
4. Fatal crashes are down, while the total number of crashes requiring EMS response has increased since 2016. Learn more. 

Explore the Full Report. 

What You Can Do

The momentum to prioritize safe, healthy, and equitable mobility for all is growing, and we encourage you to get involved by taking any of the actions below:

• Share the progress report on social media and with your neighbors and elected officials. #VisionZero
• Contact your city councilorsand ask them to ensure transportation and Vision Zero funding are a priority in the FY20 budget process this spring.
• Forward this email to one friend and invite them to join the Coalition’s mailing list.

What’s Next

Attend the Transportation Department hearing for the FY20 budget this spring, and testify in support of investments for safer, healthier, and more sustainable transportation, which will directly benefit Vision Zero.

Transportation Department Budget Hearing
Tuesday, May 7, 10:30 AM
Boston City Hall, 5th Floor, Iannella Chamber
1 City Hall Square, Boston, MA 02201

The Coalition is committed to reviewing the City’s performance to ensure public accountability in reaching its goals. This year’s assessment was made in adherence with the guidelines published by the national Vision Zero Network and LivableStreets Alliance in “Vision Zero: Planning an Effective Road Map For Action.”

Together we can eliminate fatal and serious injury crashes on our streets by 2030.

Thank you for your continued support,

LivableStreets Alliance
http://www.livablestreets.info

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Rally For Mass Ave And Critical Connectors

Got this in the email:

TLDR: Important rally to kick off our next big campaign, Tuesday, April 30, 6-7pm on Cambridge City Hall Lawn. RSVP and share on Facebook.

Mass Ave is a critical corridor for people who bike. Last year the city installed protected bike lanes from Memorial Drive to Sidney St but safe bike infrastructure is still lacking near Central Square and most parts north of Harvard Square. If the city installed quick-build protected bike lanes along Mass Ave near Central Square, it would complete a protected corridor from the Charles River near MIT to Harvard Square. This part of Mass Ave is part of our 2019 plan of action because building this segment in 2019 would make a huge positive difference in the safety of people who bike. For the section north of Harvard Square, we will be asking City Council candidates to sign a pledge to support quick-build protected bike lanes from Harvard Square to Arlington for 2020.

Last week we heard that Cambridge rejected the idea of protected bike lanes on its part of Webster Ave, which is one of the segments we identified as an important connector we want to see built this year. The connection in question is a short segment that would extend the protected bicycle lanes recently installed by Somerville another 500 feet to Cambridge Street–they currently end mid-block in a row of parked cars. This decision unacceptably compromises the safety of people who bike along this busy street. Read our statement here for why we think the city made the wrong decision.

Send a quick email to [email protected] and [email protected] and CC [email protected], [email protected] and [email protected]. Tell them that you are disappointed with their decision on Webster Ave and urge them to change their mind. Even a single sentence or two is enough to make a difference here.

On April 30 we will hold a rally to show the city that Mass Ave, Hampshire Street, Webster Ave and other critical connectors need quick-build protected bike lanes to make them safe for people of all ages and abilities. We’re asking the city to accelerate its construction of protected bike lanes and to prioritize safety for people walking and bicycling when allocating street space, for example on Webster Ave.

Our rally will include speakers from the community who will introduce our 2019 and 2020 protected network action plan, explaining the rationale for each segment. We’ll also ask you to join “action groups” for the segments that are important to you so that you can help us be more effective as we advocate for quick-build bike lanes on each of these critical connectors in the next two years.

• When: April 30 from 6pm to 7pm
• Where: Cambridge City Hall Lawn
• RSVP and share on Facebook

Craigie Bridge bike infrastructure meeting

There will be a meeting to discuss proposed bike infrastructure on the Craigie bridge. This process was started after Meng Jin lost his life biking on this bridge which has 6 lanes for vehicle traffic and no bike infrastructure at all.

We need to see protected bike lanes in this design. We don’t know what will be presented at this time but anything without proper separation is not good enough on a busy six lane road.

• When: May 1, 6pm-8pm
• Where: Museum of Science, Cahners Theater

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Superpedestrian signed onto our platform supporting a network of protected bike lanes in Cambridge. Thanks Superpedestrian!

Superpedestrian is a transportation robotics company located in Cambridge, Mass. Founded out of MIT and beginning operations in 2013, Superpedestrian develops core technologies for micro-mobility.

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Another preventable tragedy and ACTIONS you can take to help

From Cambridge Bike Safety:

Last Friday we lost a member of our community. Meng Jin was killed while biking on the Craigie Bridge near the Museum of Science. He was a grad student at Boston University studying economics and had just arrived in Cambridge two months ago to start school. We cannot imagine the pain and grief his family is now going through. Our hearts go out to them.

MassDOT and DCR were told a long time ago that this bridge badly needs bicycle infrastructure, something which is obvious to anyone who tries to commute across it. They promised to work on it after the Longfellow bridge project completed earlier this year, but it never happened. Meng is dead because MassDOT and DCR prioritized six lanes of motor vehicle traffic over safe bike infrastructure.

While we can’t bring him back, we can tell our governments that this isunacceptable and that these deaths are preventable. While the Craigie Bridge is under DCR jurisdiction, Cambridge has control over most of the roads leading up to the Craigie Bridge and a responsibility to keep people safe on them. Furthermore, the O’Brien Highway is identified as requiring protected bicycle lanes in the Cambridge Bike Plan, and Cambridge must work to build out its plan for 20 miles of protected bike lanes—including proactively engaging with state agencies—to prevent future injuries and deaths.

ACTIONS

1. Attend the World Day of Remembrance this Sunday, Nov 18 at 2pm at the Massachusetts State House, and Ghost Bike Ceremony at 12:30pm near Museum of Science. 

We will gather to mourn the people who have died on our roads this year and to tell our elected officials that protected bike lanes save lives. We will not accept any more heartless trade-offs in our streets.

Please tell everyone you know about this, including your elected officials, both local and state. We need a huge turnout to show our elected officials that many people care deeply about this, and that their decisions affect the lives of many people. Please attend this event if at all possible.

Earlier that day there is a ghost bike ceremony in memory of Meng Jin. Meet us at 12:30pm at the intersection of Charles River Dam Road and Museum way, near the Museum of Science where Meng Jin was killed. After the ceremony we will ride to the World Day of Remembrance event at the State House.

2. Email Cambridge officials [email protected],[email protected] and cc [email protected] and[email protected] and tell them:

• We want them to stand with us at the World Day of Remembrance so that they can hear the stories of people who are closest to the pain and learn from them.
• We want them to support rapidly building out the city’s own plan for 20 miles of protected bike lanes because protected bike lanes save lives.

3. Email your state representatives (find them here) and tell them:

• We want them to stand with us at the World Day of Remembrance. Their support is crucial for making changes happen at the state level.
• If the State House acts quickly there is a chance they can pass the piece of the bike omnibus bill which requires state and state-contracted trucks to have safety side-guards and convex mirrors. Tell your state representative that they should help pass this bill to keep us safe around trucks. (Only the State House can help here; the State Senate has already passed this bill.)

Every death leaves our community hurting and scared. We will work together to make sure our streets show compassion instead of violence.

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Want to Get Involved? This Thursday – Training, Intro, Meet & Greet

from the email:

The rally last week was amazing! With more than 175 of us gathering on City Hall lawn, we sent a clear message that Cambridge needs to do a lot more to make its streets safe for those biking and walking. But there’s a lot more work to do to make this a reality.

If you’re feeling energized by the rally, or if you had to miss it but want to get involved in pushing for a safe and equitable transportation system in Cambridge, we are holding a fun introductory event this week that you don’t want to miss: “CBS 101”. Come meet others pushing for safe streets, learn about Cambridge Bike Safety’s history and current efforts, and find out how you can get involved in ways large and small.

What: CBS 101 – Intro, Training, and Meet & Greet
When: This Thursday, Oct 25, 7-8:30pm
Where: The Democracy Center, 45 Mount Auburn St in Cambridge

RSVP on the Facebook event and share it with friends who might be interested.

Sincerely,
CBS Core

P.S. Check out coverage of the rally in the Cambridge Chronicle and Cambridge Day.

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Rally For Safer Bike Lanes TONIGHT 6pm, City Hall

From Cambridge Bike Safety:

Today is the day! Cambridge Bicycle Safety invites you to join us at 6:00 pm TONIGHT at City Hall, Wednesday October 17th, for the Rally for Safer Bike Lanes, our most important bike safety event of the year.

To show why this matters we will be putting 160 bikes on the City Hall lawn to represent how many times each year first responders are called to a crash when a person on a bike is hit by a car.

• RSVP now on facebook and show up at 6pm.
• Bring your bike and bike lights!
• Invite friends and family who support completing the network of protected bike lanes.

At the rally we’ll be officially launching a petition campaign to complete a city-wide network of protected bike lanes in five years and you’ll have the opportunity to hear the stories of people from all walks of life in Cambridge who bike and walk.

A citywide network of protected bike lanes would make 40% of crashes physically impossible, and many others less likely. The infrastructure changes we’re advocating for will also make the city safer for pedestrians to navigate and help avoid tragedies such as this year’s.

Join us in showing city officials that there is widespread support for implementing these lanes in order to create a safe, city-wide protected network that serves residents of all ages and abilities.

We look forward to seeing you tonight!

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