KINGSTON, Mass. - Grief struck the South Shore cycling community Saturday when news spread that Bill Sykes, 65, one of the most influential people in New England cycling, had been critically injured after a collision with a car.

The crash reportedly occurred Saturday in Kingston while Sykes enjoyed a training ride with longtime friend and former Irish pro Paul McCormack.

For many, the month of July means vacation. For MassBike, however, summertime is a busy season where we press forward with our work to improve conditions for bicyclists in order to help make you feel like you belong on the roads of the Bay State. The work contained in this monthly update is made possible through the support of our members and donors. We encourage you to get involved and support MassBike through a donation or as a volunteer.

Sadly, we ended the month learning about a motorist striking and killing bicyclist Dan Pimenta. An experienced rider who raised thousands of dollars to find a cure for multiple sclerosis, Pimenta was struck and killed while riding along Hale Street in Beverly. A veteran Peabody firefighter, the loss is hard to fathom for friends, family and members of the North Shore cycling community. Dan Pimenta was the sixth bicycle rider killed on Massachusetts roads this year. While statistically cycling is safer than ever, we work for a day when there are zero traffic fatalities.

June was a busy one here at MassBike. After the excitement and events of bike month in May, June was all hands on deck to get back at it working to improve your ride experience across the state.

One cannot help but notice them. These young adults ride in small packs, often on a variety of inexpensive bikes, all about Cape Cod. Like a flock of birds, they arrive on cue in early June.

They are seasonal workers, mostly from Eastern Europe and Africa, who keep the tourist economy going. On Cape Cod there are 4,000 of them from 59 different countries and the majority of them ride bikes for transportation.

And MassBike, working with MassDOT’s MassRides team, is working to keep them safe.

Massachusetts lawmakers heard testimony Tuesday on many bike and pedestrian related bills including the omnibus bill An Act to reduce traffic fatalities (S1905/H2877). Advocates from across the state testified on behalf of the bill emphasizing its greater intentions to serve all that are on our roadways, beyond just bikes.

The legislation sponsored by Rep. David Rogers, of Cambridge, Rep. Jonathan Hecht, of Watertown, and Belmont Sen. William Brownsberger, includes a range of approaches to reducing road deaths, such as a local option for authorizing traffic enforcement cameras, a hands-free requirement for using mobile devices, and improving reporting protocol for crashes that involves people on foot or on bikes.

A hearing has been scheduled for our omnibus bike safety bill, An Act to reduce traffic fatalities (S.1905/H.2877). The Joint Committee on Transportation will hear testimony next week in support of and against various bills at the Massachusetts State House.

We're hiring here at MassBike for a part time Administrative Coordinator position! Please see the job description for more details. To apply please email a resume and cover letter to Richard@massbike.org

New language aims to reduce “dooring” incidents and other bicycle-automobile collisions

BOSTON – The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) has announced that the MassDOT Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) added several new key guidelines to the Massachusetts Driver’s Manual (Driver’s Manual) this year as part of an ongoing effort to promote road safety by educating bicyclists and motorists to be aware of their actions as they travel.

Today, MassDOT also produced a video educating drivers how to safely exit a vehicle to prevent bicyclist injury. To view this video, click here.

The updated RMV Driver’s Manual includes a section outlining the benefits of the “Dutch Reach” method for drivers as they open the doors of automobiles that are parallel-parked and will include new content regarding the use of separated bicycle lanes and “bicycle boxes,” which have become more prevalent in Massachusetts.

Our 40th Anniversary Party last week at John Hancock Financial was a fun celebration that marked bicycling milestones and honored those who have been a part of the movement since the beginning. Special thanks to our host and partner for the event, John Hancock Financial, and to Boston Triathlon for making this night possible.