Re: [LincolnTalk] To the cyclist who was almost hit on Lincoln Road by a School Van

Lynn DeLisi, M.D. via Lincoln Sat, 02 Sep 2023 06:37:32 -0700

 Hi All,I have been reading about this and tempted now to finally respond.To 
Ginger--you are so lucky not to be hurt and I am so sorry you had this 
traumatic experience. Aren't school bus drivers trained to watch out for 
bikes?I also feel terrible about the Tufts professor who died unnecessarily!
I am a car driver who watches very carefully for people on bikes and am very 
scared that one day I will hit one by accident--not in Lincoln, but on my daily 
drive to work down Mass Ave in Somerville and Cambridge. The streets are 
terrible. Although Mass Ave has bike lanes and bus lanes, cars now only have 
one lane to drive in, and it is a mess. Bike riders go through red lights when 
cars stop. Once I was turning left on Mass Ave and had a green arrow to do so, 
when a bike rider came straight through the red light in the bike lane and 
missed my car turning by inches. I was so traumatized by this that I now take 
the long way home and have never turned left on Mass Ave since!The other 
problem that scares me are bike riders with young kids--some times more than 
one on the back of their bikes and not all kids wearing helmets and also moving 
around and swaying the bikes. There should be some rules about safety for 
children as passengers on bikes.
I am not one of those distracted bad drivers that some of you have mentioned 
about. I hold my stearing wheel tightly and never use my cell phone while 
driving even though it is connected to my car. I am constantly vigilant and 
respect people who ride bikes to work. However, I wonder also if it would make 
sense to license bike riders as we do car drivers and have rules that they need 
to follow on roads they share with cars?
Its not just a problem for Lincoln to solve, but rather this whole Boston 
region.Be safe--whatever you use for transportation!Best/Lynn DeLisiSouth Great 
Rd
    On Thursday, August 31, 2023 at 11:21:50 PM EDT, Sara Mattes 
<[email protected]> wrote:  
 
 The use of spreed bumps is limited by topography and sightline.Somerville 
g=has wide, straight streets, unlike Lincoln’s narrow , winding country roads.
And, speed bumps maybe not be the best for bikes
------
Sara Mattes

On Aug 31, 2023, at 10:49 PM, gail o'keefe <[email protected]> wrote:
Hi John and all,
I'm curious why your list of ideas didn't include increased enforcement on our
road, or speed bumps? It wouldn't take much to reinstate the reputation of
Lincoln as being strict on speed. Bakers Bridge Road is another to add to the
above list of Sandy Pond, Weston Road, Tower Rd and Lincoln Rd.
An article in the Globe just highlighted the extensive use of speed bumps in
Somerville. Towns are catching on that the car culture has run its course.Gail

On Thu, Aug 31, 2023 at 2:40 PM John Mendelson <[email protected]> wrote:

Here's a handful of ideas:
Come to the next BPAC meeting on September 28 at 7:30pm on Zoom.
Speak to your friends and neighbors about the need to slow down and focus only
on driving when behind the wheel.
Encourage your local and state representatives to prioritize public and
alternative forms of transportation.
Volunteer as a crossing guard during Walk, Bike, Roll to School Week in the
Spring.
Walk back and forth along Lincoln Road between Town Hall and the 5 way between
7:45-8am to observe how many people are on their phones behind the wheel.
Attend an RTC meeting and voice your support for infrastructure improvements
that lower speeds and prioritize walkers and cyclists.
Try to eliminate 1 vehicle trip per week and walk or ride instead.
Thanks,
John
On Thu, Aug 31, 2023 at 2:21 PM Sara Mattes <[email protected]> wrote:

This is terrible.It should NOT be happening…but, I for one will do whatever I
can to protect myself, including wearing that ugly vest.At this time, that is
all I can do.We can come together, as a region, and discuss how we might be
proactive, as communities.How can we turn outrage from finger-wagging and furor
into practical constructive actions?

------
Sara Mattes

On Aug 31, 2023, at 2:12 PM, John Mendelson <[email protected]> wrote:
People, a SCHOOL BUS hit a cyclist in broad daylight. This is not about what
anyone should be wearing but rather about the fact that driving entitlement is
reaching epidemic proportions here in Lincoln and all across the country.
Much like gun-violence, there is plenty of outrage and lots of thoughts and
prayers and high-vis clothing suggestions but until we are willing to confront
the fact that traffic safety is a uniquely American problem and a result of
high vehicle speeds, larger cars, and road structure deficiencies, nothing will
change.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2022-11-03/why-us-traffic-safety-fell-so-far-behind-other-countries

The US underperformance in road safety is especially dramatic: 11.4 Americans
per 100,000 died in crashes in 2020, a number that dwarfs countries including
Spain (2.9), Israel (3.3) and New Zealand (6.3). And unlike most developed
nations, US roadways have grown more deadly during the last two decades
(including during the pandemic), especially for those outside of cars. Last
year saw the most pedestrians killed in the US in 40 years, and deaths among
those biking rose 44% from 2010 to 2020.

On Thu, Aug 31, 2023 at 2:01 PM Laura Koller <[email protected]> wrote:

I’m also a long time road cyclist, and I feel much more visible since I’ve
added front (white) and rear (red) blinkers to my bike. Passing cars seem to
give me much wider berth. It’s an extra step but seems very worthwhile. I also
wear a day-glo green helmet. Visibility really does make a difference, imo.
Laura
On Thu, Aug 31, 2023 at 1:54 PM V Saleme <[email protected]> wrote:

As a cyclist who resides in this town and accrues on average 250 miles a week
between trails and the road, I believe it’s important to devise a way of
getting out of this echo chamber and speak to the broader group of people who,
let’s face it, use this town as a cut through. They are the problem, not the
local residents.
If I had to hazard to guess, they’re (non Lincoln residents) not on Lincoln
Talk and as they execute twice the speed limit minimally, on Tower Rd.,
Deerhaven Rd., Sandy Pond Road, Lincoln Road, Bedford Road (where there’s an
actual sign that states “cyclists may use entire lane” if you can believe it)
thus head nodding amongst ourselves is not going to be effective.
Vic
On Thu, Aug 31, 2023 at 1:41 PM John Mendelson <[email protected]> wrote:

And I would strongly urge drivers to slow down, obey the law, and pay attention
to what is in front of them at all times when behind the wheel of a large,
powerful object capable of inflicting terrible injuries to walkers, cyclists,
and other drivers.
There is no clear consensus that high-visibility clothing makes a difference
for pedestrian nor cyclist safety so let's please avoid any potential
victim-blaming.
See:
https://www.cyclinguk.org/sites/default/files/document/2023/08/21-03_ca_hi-vis_brf_1.pdf
(includes multiple peer reviewed studies)

and
https://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-gear/bikes-and-biking/hi-viz-clothing-cyclists/

Thanks!
John
On Thu, Aug 31, 2023 at 1:21 PM Sara Mattes <[email protected]> wrote:

I would strongly urge all walkers and bikers to wear some sort of neon/
reflective safety vest.They are lightweight and cheap and they really help
drivers see us.
Dark clothing, esp at dusk or in mottled shade, makes us disappear.
------
Sara Mattes

On Aug 31, 2023, at 12:47 PM, Lynne Smith <[email protected]> wrote:
Fascinating article! As a helmet and goggle wearing cyclist, I’m now going to
be extra careful since some drivers might not recognize me as human!
Lynne Smith5 Tabor Hill RoadLincoln, MA 01773
781-258-1175Sent from my iPhone

On 31 Aug 2023, at 11:24 a.m., Ginger Reiner <[email protected]> wrote:

Julianne,
That was me. I actually was hit by the school van in the interaction although I
stayed upright and am not hurt. Thanks for reaching out and I’d love a witness
statement.
To the rest of LincolnTalk, I write this as a reply-all because people on bikes
are sometimes viewed as “less human” or seen as being “not from Lincoln” (which
shouldn’t matter), and I hope that attaching my name to Julianne’s story might
help to counteract both of those impressions.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1369847823001018
Ginger
On Thu, Aug 31, 2023 at 8:59 AM jsug--- via Lincoln <[email protected]>
wrote:

Hi There,
If you are the cyclist who was nearly hit by the school van on Lincoln Road
this morning just before 8 am, and you were hoping to report this, I wanted to
let you know I would be happy to provide witness statement if needed.
Best,[email protected]
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Re: [LincolnTalk] To the cyclist who was almost hit on Lincoln Road by a School Van

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