Here's a handful of ideas: Come to the next BPAC meeting <https://lincolntown.org/1083/Bicycle-Pedestrian-Advisory-Committee> 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 <https://www.lincolntown.org/152/Roadway-Traffic-Committee> 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 <samat...@gmail.com> 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 <johntmendel...@gmail.com> > 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 > <https://www.nhtsa.gov/press-releases/2020-traffic-crash-data-fatalities> died > in crashes in 2020, a number that dwarfs countries including Spain (2.9 > <https://www.itf-oecd.org/sites/default/files/spain-road-safety.pdf>), > Israel (3.3 > <https://www.timesofisrael.com/virus-lockdowns-help-cut-israels-2020-traffic-deaths-by-15/>) > and New Zealand (6.3 > <https://www.itf-oecd.org/sites/default/files/spain-road-safety.pdf>). > And unlike most developed nations, US roadways have grown more deadly > during the last two decades (including during the pandemic > <https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/u-s-road-deaths-rise-at-record-pace-as-risky-driving-persists>), > especially for those outside of cars. Last year saw the most pedestrians > killed in the US in 40 years > <https://www.ghsa.org/resources/news-releases/GHSA/Ped-Spotlight-Full-Report22#:~:text=WASHINGTON%2C%20D.C.%20%E2%80%93%20Drivers%20struck%20and,Highway%20Safety%20Association%20(GHSA).>, > and deaths among those biking rose 44% > <https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/u-s-road-deaths-rise-at-record-pace-as-risky-driving-persists> > from > 2010 to 2020. > > On Thu, Aug 31, 2023 at 2:01 PM Laura Koller <laura.kol...@gmail.com> > 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 <bmwkbi...@gmail.com> 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 <johntmendel...@gmail.com> >>> wrote: >>> >>>> And I would strongly urge drivers to slow down, obey the law, >>>> <https://www.mass.gov/info-details/mass-general-laws-c90-ss-14> 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 <samat...@gmail.com> 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 <ly...@smith.net> 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 Smith >>>>> 5 Tabor Hill Road >>>>> Lincoln, MA 01773 >>>>> 781-258-1175 >>>>> Sent from my iPhone >>>>> >>>>> On 31 Aug 2023, at 11:24 a.m., Ginger Reiner <ginger.rei...@gmail.com> >>>>> 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 < >>>>> lincoln@lincolntalk.org> 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, >>>>>> Julianne >>>>>> j...@aol.com >>>>>> -- >>>>>> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >>>>>> To post, send mail to Lincoln@lincolntalk.org. >>>>>> Browse the archives at >>>>>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. >>>>>> Change your subscription settings at >>>>>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >>>>>> >>>>>> -- >>>>> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >>>>> To post, send mail to Lincoln@lincolntalk.org. >>>>> Browse the archives at >>>>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. >>>>> Change your subscription settings at >>>>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >>>>> To post, send mail to Lincoln@lincolntalk.org. >>>>> Browse the archives at >>>>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. >>>>> Change your subscription settings at >>>>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >>>>> To post, send mail to Lincoln@lincolntalk.org. >>>>> Browse the archives at >>>>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. >>>>> Change your subscription settings at >>>>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >>>> To post, send mail to Lincoln@lincolntalk.org. >>>> Browse the archives at >>>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. >>>> Change your subscription settings at >>>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >>>> >>>> -- >>> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >>> To post, send mail to Lincoln@lincolntalk.org. >>> Browse the archives at >>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. >>> Change your subscription settings at >>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >>> >>> -- > The LincolnTalk mailing list. > To post, send mail to Lincoln@lincolntalk.org. > Browse the archives at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/ > . > Change your subscription settings at > https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. > > >
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