Walking? Cycling? Scootering? Stay Safe in Bike Lanes with These Tips

Walking? Cycling? Scootering? Stay Safe in Bike Lanes with These Tips

With so many electric scooters, bikes, and skateboards, it's crucial to remain vigilant navigating around campus

Amid a surge in battery-powered transit around Boston-bikes, scooters, even skateboards-the bike lanes lining both sides of Commonwealth Avenue on Boston University's Charles River Campus, and thoroughfares like Albany Street on the Medical Campus, have unquestionably improved the safety of city streets. But there's a catch-most of those electric vehicles can easily reach 25 mph or faster, meaning everyone from pedestrians to bicyclists to skateboarders to scooter riders must be more vigilant than ever when navigating their way through BU and Boston.

The University doesn't have statistics on accidents in campus bike lanes-for good reason. "Most bike, pedestrian, or scooter crashes go unreported, so they're hard to track," says Carl Larson, BU assistant director of transportation demand management and planning. The City of Boston's crash data mostly measures only accidents resulting in serious injury, he adds. A recent study of accidents-with-injuries at 10 sites before and after installation of bike lanes found that the lanes decreased crashes involving pedestrians 68 percent, while those involving bikes decreased 57 percent.

Larson offers these safety tips for everyone. For more information, check the University's Roll Safe site.

There is a bike lane speed limit-even if it's not posted.

"Boston's default speed limit is 25 miles per hour, and that applies to all vehicles on the Commonwealth Avenue roadway, which includes those in the bike lane," Larson says. "When sharing space with pedestrians on paths and sidewalks, slow down and pass with care." And if your bike, scooter, or board is capable of going faster than 25 mph-don't.

Be prepared.

Make sure your bike or scooter works properly. And for vehicle users and pedestrians, when crossing a bike lane or using a bike lane, put away those distractions, like phones and earbuds. You need your eyes-and your ears-to get around safely.

Follow the rules.

"Signs and red lights aren't just for cars," Larson says. And keep in mind that most bike lanes are one-way. So make sure you're going with the flow, not against it. As for pedestrians, even though the bike lanes are one-way, don't look just in the direction you assume vehicles will be coming from. It may be a cliché-but look both ways.

Be visible.

It's the law that vehicles must have front and rear lights on at night. Just because you can see in front of you does not guarantee a vehicle behind you can see you. Larson says students can get a free set of lights at the BU Cycle Kitchen or on the Medical Campus, at Transportation Services. Also, as it gets darker earlier, avoid wearing all-black clothing, especially around dusk.

Be predictable.

"Ride in a straight, consistent line and signal your turns," Larson says. Drivers cannot read your mind, so make no sudden turns.

Avoid the "right hook."

When turning to the right, drivers must first yield to any vehicles coming up in the bike lane to avoid cutting them off. But sometimes they don't. "So watch out," Larson advises. In other words, don't assume a vehicle will stop for you just because they're supposed to. Make sure they've stopped.

Don't get "doored."

Ride far enough from parked cars to avoid hitting a door that might suddenly swing open. And go one step further by peeking inside the driver's side of vehicles as you approach them to see if someone is sitting there, possibly about to exit.

Be especially careful around big vehicles.

Large vehicles like trucks and buses can have dangerous blind spots and the drivers sit much higher than in cars. "If you can't see the driver," Larson says, "they can't see you."

Slow your roll.

Traffic congestion, low visibility, and rain and ice are all good reasons to adjust your speed.

Helmets, helmets, helmets.

You can get one for free at the BU Cycle Kitchen or BUMC Transportation Services. Or get your own-and don't leave home without it. The American College of Surgeons says that helmets reduce the risk of head injury by 48 percent, traumatic brain injury by 53 percent, facial injury by 23 percent, and fatal injury by 34 percent. Helmets work.

Be aware that scooters and traditional bikes are legal on sidewalks, even when there are bike lanes available. The law regarding other vehicles, however, is murky or prohibitive.

Larson cites state law, which says that "bicycles may be ridden on sidewalks outside business districts when necessary in the interest of safety, unless otherwise directed by local ordinance."

But "state law also prohibits e-bikes from riding on sidewalks," Larson says, while "e-scooters and skateboards are in a legal gray area, but are generally treated like bicycles on sidewalks"-i.e., legal.

Legality still requires driver responsibility, per state law: "A person operating a bicycle on the sidewalk shall yield the right of way to pedestrians and give an audible signal before overtaking and passing any pedestrian." Unfortunately, circumstances vary between communities, Larson says. While Cambridge draws specific business districts in which sidewalk riding is prohibited, Boston does not.

Be aware of the MBTA.

Green Line trolleys on Comm Ave cannot be stopped quickly or be easily navigated. Be sure to look both ways on the tracks when crossing.

Explore Related Topics:

• Bike Safety
• Comm Ave
• Public Safety
• Transportation

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