One of the innovations pioneered by Boston’s New Urban Mechanics is a side guard feature that could be included on Public Works Department vehicles as a safeguard for pedestrians and cyclists. Neighboring Cambridge launched a similar pilot program in 2013 with guidance from of the City of Boston, in hopes of implementing the same feature on its hefty vehicles.
On Friday, Cambridge City Councilor Dennis Carlone introduced a bill that would bring these side guards out of the pilot program process and feature them on “on various city-owned trucks.” The trucks used by Cambridge to test its own side guards were “a rubbish packer, a large dump truck used in snow operations and a clam shell truck,” according to the measure. The measure likely would allow Cambridge to feature the guards on large city vehicles, like Mayor Marty Walsh’s ordinance would for Boston.
“Just this week, Cambridge Police reported an accident involving a bicyclist and garbage truck in mid-Cambridge,” Councillor Carlone, Chair of the city council’s Transportation and Public Utilities Committee, said on Friday. “Fortunately, the cyclist’s injuries were non-life-threatening, but the data shows that accidents involving trucks are quite serious, often fatal, and protective side guards can help make our roads safer for bicyclists and pedestrians alike.”
Councilor Carlone’s aide, Mike Connolly, told BostInno in an email that the legislation has been referred to the Councilor’s Transportation and Public Utilities Committee for further examination and another hearing, which they hope to schedule sometime in October. His office hopes to bring in local advocates, safety experts and city staff to testify on behalf of the side guards and help determine best practices for deploying them.
“We’ve already heard back from advocates at the LivableStreets Alliance as well as transportation experts with the DOT who are encouraging the council to adopt Councillor Carlone’s proposal as part of a broader push to implement the latest in safety technology,” added Connolly.
Mayor Walsh’s filing last week went before the City Council and was sent to the committee, where it will be considered before going before the Council for vote.
Stay tuned to BostInno for the latest updates from the City of Cambridge regarding bike safety measures.
