Boston Injury Attorney Blog

Massachusetts bikers, motorists and pedestrians may soon have additional company on the road. The City of Boston will be receiving a $3 million grant award from the Federal Government for a bike sharing program. It is expected that the program begin in the spring of 2011. Under a bike sharing plan, people would pay for a membership, for unlimited access to a network of bikes and stations. The bikes can be rented at one station and returned at another.

Local sponsors have already pledged $2 million. This money, together with the grant money, will be used to purchase 500 bicycles and 50 rental stations, which is expected to make Boston more bike-friendly.

According to the Boston Globe, bicycle sharing was established in Europe. In the United States, the first programs began this year in Minneapolis and Denver and another is pending in Washington, D.C.

Advocates see it as a missing link to connect MBTA subway and bus routes, which is why the Federal Transit Administration selected the Boston bike sharing program. For Boston, bike sharing will be a viable component of a robust, green public transit network.

The City will have a year to make the streets more inviting for cyclists. By fall, it is expected that Boston will have created 35 miles of bike lanes, up from zero, and added 750 public racks.

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New Massachusetts legislation on the books should have an impact on cutting down on cell phone related car accidents. According to a press release by the Massachusetts Governors office, on July 6, 2010, Massachusetts became the 29th state to ban texting while driving and to ban all cell phone use for drivers under 18. The ban includes sending a text or instant message, use of electronic mail, accessing the Internet, or using your phone for GPS navigation. The ban applies to phones, laptops, pager or other handheld devices. In addition, these devices cannot be used while stopped at traffic lights or a stop sign. A GPS device is still allowed but a phone used as a GPS device is not.

The law also requires drivers 75 and older to have vision tests and to renew their licenses in person, rather than online.

The law will take effect in 90 days, in October of 2010.

The texting ban covers e-mailing, Internet searching, and other non-calling activity on a phone, laptop, or handheld electronic device by anyone operating a motor vehicle. It also applies to drivers not only while they are driving but also while waiting at traffic lights and stop signs. Texting and talking for those under 18 will still be allowed by a driver in an emergency or when the car is pulled over and parked.

Violations will result in a $100 fine, but the offense will not be considered a moving violation and will not result in an insurance surcharge. The fine for the second offense is $250, and any offense after that is $500. If you are under 18, your license or permit will be suspended for 60 days for the first offense, 180 days for a second and one year for a third, with an additional fine of $500.00 for reinstatement of the junior operator license after completion of a program and an additional driving test.

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