Boston Cycling & Pedestrian Safety
Boston is one of the most walkable and bikeable cities in the United States. While that’s great for people who love to exercise, it also increases the risk of bicycle and pedestrian accidents. For instance, inattentive drivers often buzz down busy streets like Route 9, putting bikers and walkers at risk. Meanwhile, aging infrastructure results in cracked sidewalks and broken pavement, adding another layer of hazards.
While Boston’s busiest neighborhoods, such as Dorchester and Allston, are popular with cyclists and pedestrians, they’re also frequent sites of accidents. Meanwhile, for many Bostonians, biking or walking is the only reliable method for them to get to and from school, work, and public transit. Their safety is of the utmost concern.
Boston Pedestrian Safety Tips
Walking in Boston can be a lot like navigating an obstacle course. There are impatient drivers, narrow streets, sidewalks of varying condition, and many construction zones. Depending on the time of the year, snow, ice, flooding, or leaves can obscure roadways and sidewalks, making them slick or impassable. In some places, crosswalks can be as hazardous as jaywalking, and traffic lights don’t last long enough for pedestrians or cyclists to cross safely.
There are many varying causes of pedestrian accidents in Boston. However, accidents often result from drivers’ negligence, such as the following:
- Ignoring traffic signals
- Driving while distracted, such as using a mobile phone or texting
- Speeding
- Operating a vehicle without regard for others’ safety
- Driving while drowsy or fatigued
These issues aren’t just problematic for the most vulnerable, such as children and seniors, but for all who walk or bike in the city. It’s difficult to eliminate all risk, and controlling the circumstances outside yourself is impossible. However, you can take some steps to protect yourself, including the following:
- Use marked crosswalks when possible.
- Make eye contact with drivers when possible before you cross the road.
- Wear bright, reflective clothing.
- Watch out for drivers trying to turn on red who may ignore “WALK” signals.
- Stay alert, and avoid using your phone while walking or biking.
- Always wait for the “WALK” signal, even if the road looks clear.
- If there is a broken signal, blocked sidewalk, or other issue, call 311 to report it.
Be particularly cautious in places like Back Bay, where the city has adjusted the crosswalk signal from 40 seconds to around 17. This shorter time to get across the road can be tough for both children and elderly pedestrians. Therefore, crossing in a group and making eye contact with drivers is key to getting across safely.
There’s no way to fully insulate your child from emergencies while using public transit. However, teaching your child how to respond to common emergencies can help them remain safe and minimize harm.
Boston Cycling Safety Tips
The city of Boston is working to make bicycling safer by expanding its bike lane network by 9.4 miles. The 2022 initiative made excellent progress between 2022 and 2024, as reported in the Better Bike Lanes Year One Quantitative Evaluation of Fall 2024.
While Boston has taken steps toward supporting cyclists and preventing accidents and crashes, there are still challenges that you could come across. For example, some bike lanes end suddenly, or delivery drivers use them for parking. Additionally, aggressive or reckless drivers and poorly maintained roadways pose additional hazards.
Common cycling concerns in Boston include the following:
- Incomplete bike lanes
- Obstructed bike lanes
- Traffic swerving into or obstructing bike lanes, such as those along Mass Ave.
These issues can lead to accidents and serious injuries. Some of the most common bicycle injuries in Boston include the following:
- Head and brain injuries: Approximately 25% to 50% of cyclists involved in crashes suffer concussions or other kinds of traumatic brain injuries.
- Spinal cord injuries: These injuries are most common among men between the ages of 16 and 30.
- Broken bones: Fractured arms, legs, wrists, hands, fingers, and other body parts frequently occur because cyclists lack the protection of a vehicle.
Stay safer while biking by following these safety tips:
- Wear a properly fitting helmet in case of an accident.
- Use hand signals if you're turning or stopping.
- Travel in the same direction as traffic, and stay as far to the right as possible without putting yourself in danger.
- Ensure your bike has front and rear lights and use them always.
- Avoid using sidewalks, even temporarily, since doing so could lead to a pedestrian accident.
If you do get into a crash, stay where you are and call 911, or have someone call for you. Your safety comes first. Consider your health and safety before all else.
Laws and Regulations for Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety
$100 Fine for Dooring
4-Foot Passing Rule
Laws and regulations are in place to help prevent pedestrians and cyclists from getting into accidents and getting hurt. Vision Zero Boston is the city’s commitment to use its resources to eliminate fatal and severe traffic crashes by 2030. Better Bike Lanes, Safety Surge, and Neighborhood Slow Streets are just three initiatives that aim to improve safety.
In Boston, state and local laws aim to keep everyone on the road as safe as possible. Knowing what to do and your rights on the road can help prevent a serious crash.
Pedestrians should know the following:
- Drivers must yield to all pedestrians in crosswalks, even when there is no traffic light at an intersection.
- Drivers shall pass any other vehicles that have stopped at a marked crosswalk to permit pedestrians to cross.
- Drivers may not enter marked crosswalks while pedestrians are crossing.
- Pedestrians must follow all traffic control signals.
Cyclists should know the following:
- Cyclists 16 or younger must wear helmets.
- Cyclists must use bike lanes when available and travel in the same direction as traffic.
- Bikes are permitted on sidewalks outside business districts, unless prohibited locally.
Drivers must abide by many laws that protect cyclists and pedestrians. These include the following:
- Drivers must maintain an appropriate distance when passing, which is at least four feet from pedestrians or cyclists.
- Drivers must check for cyclists before opening car doors, which can lead to dooring. Opening a door into the path of traffic may lead to a fine of up to $100.
- Drivers must yield to oncoming cyclists when turning left and avoid sudden right turns in front of cyclists.
Boston Infrastructure and Design
As one of America’s oldest cities, its streets and infrastructure were designed and built in a long-gone era. Today, the narrow colonial roads, tight intersections, and uneven sidewalks pose hazards to cyclists and pedestrians.
Current infrastructure problems in Boston include sidewalk disrepair, missing or fading crosswalks, and incomplete bike lane networks. In some areas, pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists must share space, such as in Downtown Crossing, increasing the risk of a crash or accident.
Fortunately, the city has taken steps to improve safety for pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists alike. For example, the Vision Zero initiative uses crash data to prioritize safety redesigns. Better Bike Lanes aims to create a network of connected, safe, and comfortable bike lanes. Meanwhile, Neighborhood Slow Streets aims to calm traffic by reducing speeds around 15 neighborhoods using raised crosswalks, speed humps, parking restrictions, and more.
Faded crosswalk vs. Newly painted crosswalk
Sidewalk cracks vs. Repaired sidewalk with curb ramps
Safety Resources for Boston Pedestrians and Cyclists
The following organizations offer resources to make cycling, walking, and using public transportation in the city safer:
Walk Massachusetts, formerly WalkBoston
Report Unsafe Conditions in Boston
Boston residents and visitors can report unsafe conditions they find throughout the city. Whether it’s a damaged sidewalk, a broken crosswalk signal, or an obstructed bike lane, reporting the issue is the first step to getting it fixed.
Report issues like flooding, malfunctioning streetlights, illegal parking, broken sidewalks, and damaged signs to Boston 311, the city’s constituent service center hotline. When you submit a report to Boston 311, the city will open an investigation. If the issue requires a repair, the city will order one. Other changes may require municipal government action or legislation.
STEP 1: Spot
STEP 2: Report
STEP 3: Repair
How You Can Help Locally
To help keep Boston safe for pedestrians, motorists, and cyclists, consider participating in one of the city’s many initiatives. Join a neighborhood traffic calming or advocacy group, such as Neighborhood Slow Streets, attend public meetings on street design or city planning, and use the city’s tools, such as Boston 311, to report on safety and infrastructure concerns.
As a child receiving the call no one ever hopes to receive that his older brother was involved in a life-threatening car accident. He remembers the impact the accident had on him and his family.
Contact DiBella Law – Experienced Boston Pedestrian and Bicycle Accident Attorneys
Reducing accidents requires everyone, including drivers, cyclists, pedestrians, and city officials, to work together to make the roads and sidewalks safer. However, despite everyone’s best efforts, crashes still happen.
If you or a loved one has been hurt in a pedestrian accident or bicycle crash in Boston, Dibella Law is here to help. Our Boston personal injury lawyers understand what it’s like to face trauma after a collision because we’ve been there, too. Founder Chris DiBella remembers receiving a call that his brother was in a life-threatening car accident. That memory impacts how we treat our clients today.
Our experienced personal injury attorneys in Boston provide compassionate and skilled representation. We have earned a stellar reputation both locally and regionally for obtaining significant results for injured clients.
For a free case evaluation, call 617-870-0907 or contact us online to get started.