New bill makes biking in Boston even safer

While students biking down Commonwealth Avenue may not be safe from the ice and snow that cover the lanes, Beacon Hill passed new legislation to protect bicyclists from other fears.

After eight years of persistent grassroots support, Gov. Deval Patrick signed the Bicyclist Safety Bill into law Jan. 15. The legislation includes 13 changes to already existing laws, which cover topics including bicyclist and motorist conduct, helmet requirements and police training.

‘It’s pretty much common sense, but it’s stuff that wasn’t said explicitly in laws before,’ MassBike Executive Director David Watson said.’

MassBike is a bicyclist advocacy group that has worked closely with legislators since the the original bill was drafted in 2001.’

‘The key things are probably the changes that affect motorist behavior, because there are several different things that impact how motorists behave around cyclists,’ Watson said.’ ‘

Now drivers who open their car doors before checking to see if a biker is behind them can be charged a $100 fine. Before the safety law, a cyclist would have to file a lawsuit against the driver, and the wrongdoing was often hard to prove, Watson said.

‘This provision has definite benefits, both in terms of discouraging that behavior in motorists and giving cyclists recourse,’ he said.

Police are now required to learn the new law that also mandates that bike rental stores rent out helmets, among other provisions.

Mayor Thomas Menino’s quest to make Boston a ‘world-class bicycling city’ as part of his Boston Bikes program, launched Oct. 2007, will benefit from the new law, Boston Bikes director Nicole Freedman said.

‘Overall, the passing of the new bike law is a real victory for cycling,’ Freedman said. ‘Having this law in place will make the conditions better for bicyclists as well as pedestrians and motor vehicles.”

Menino released Boston Bikes’s first annual report Wednesday, trumpeting the success of the year-long program. Events, such as Hub on Wheels and Boston Bikes Week, have drawn thousands of bikers, and over six miles of bike lanes have been added to the city, according to the report. This includes a mile on Commonwealth Avenue, and another mile of bike lanes are planned for Commonwealth Avenue in 2009.

There were 22 bike accidents on Boston University’s campus in 2008, up from 17 in 2007. More students have bikes on campus now to ride down than in previous years, BU Police Sgt. Jack St. Hilaire said.’ ‘

Bike safety is the responsibility of motorists and the bicyclists, he said. Both groups should be cautious, but the new law will promote awareness, he said.

‘It’s a responsibility of the motorist to be aware of the bicyclists, but the bicyclist has to ride safely,’ he said. ‘They should wear helmets and stay within their lanes. The publicity and education with the new law will help.” ‘

The greatest numbers of bike accidents have occurred by Warren Towers, around which cyclists should be especially careful, St. Hilaire said.

‘Statistically, that’s the most dangerous area,’ St. Hilaire said.

The work is not over for MassBike and other advocacy groups, Watson said.

‘I think we’ve got a lot of work to do,’ he said.’ We’ve got to, first of all, get the word out to bicyclists and to motorists about the new provisions. This by itself isn’t going to make bicycling perfectly safe, but it’s a great step in that direction.’