Tuesday morning, I witnessed the reality of biking in a commuter city. As I was walking to class along Commonwealth Avenue, past the BU Bridge and into the BU Central area, I saw a horrifying scene -- a bicyclist on the ground near the T tracks, shoes in the middle of the street, broken glass everywhere and a crowd of concerned onlookers.
I knew instantly this biker had been hit by a car, and I immediately felt sick to my stomach. I, too, frequently ride my bike to campus and through the streets of Boston.
This accident reinforces the importance of bike safety, especially here in Boston. The city has been taking steps to make Boston a more bike-friendly city, especially after a biking initiative started this summer by Mayor Thomas Menino. While the addition of bike lanes on Commonwealth Avenue increases biking safety, the volume of commuters both in cars and on bikes still poses a serious issue that cannot simply be solved with bike lanes.
The blame cannot be placed on either drivers nor cyclists, and both parties must take responsibility in this issue. Cyclists must be just as attentive and defensive as drivers by following traffic laws and wearing helmets as a safety measure. We all share the same road, after all.
With the number of students who use bikes as their mode of transport around campus, maybe it is time the administration and the Boston University Police Department stepped in to really promote bike safety to the student body.
Kelly Wrather
COM '09
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