Like all other transportation infrastructure, pedestrian and bicycle facilities must be maintained and managed so that they operate safely and efficiently. Bike lanes, multi-use paths, and sidewalks (both publicly and privately owned) need to be kept in a state of good repair, cleared of snow, and made safe through the enforcement of traffic laws. Greater safety can also be achieved through education and enforcement of traffic laws, as they apply to both motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians. Better monitoring and reporting of pedestrian and bicycle crashes and injuries will also help cities, towns, and regional agencies take action to resolve problems.
Snowy and icy sidewalks, multi-use trails, and bike lanes disrupt travel for all users, especially those in a wheelchair or people with strollers and carts. When sidewalks are not cleared, pedestrians are forced onto the street where pedestrian-automobile crashes are far more likely to occur. Even in good weather, pedestrians and bicyclists are at risk from motorists who do not share the road. However, it is difficult to identify problem areas or to target improvements or enforcement due to the poor quality of state data on pedestrian and bicycle crashes and injuries, (including frequency, number, location, and cause.)
Municipalities can ensure the safety and function of pedestrian and bicycle facilities by developing maintenance and operations plans for sidewalks, multi-use trails, and bike lanes. These plans should also establish and enforce requirements for maintenance of privately-owned sidewalks, in order to ensure access along the public right of way and onto public accessible property such as shopping centers. Bicycle parking facilities are also an important part of bicycle infrastructure and should be widely available; municipalities should require bike parking facilities in all new development and should take advantage of MAPC’s regional bike parking program to purchase discounted parking equipment.
Under Massachusetts law, bicyclists are considered drivers of vehicles with rights to use the public roads and the responsibilities to follow the same traffic laws as motorists. In 2005, the Municipal Police Training Committee voted to incorporate training on bicycle laws into their “In-Service Legal Update” program, which provides professional development training for veteran officers. A proposed “Bicyclist’s Bill of Rights” would clarifying the rules and responsibilities for bicyclists and requiring bicycle law training for all police officers. Improved reporting forms and strong financial incentives for complete reporting by municipalities would increase the quality and availability of data on pedestrian and bicycle crashes.
14.a Municipalities and transportation agencies should develop and require maintenance and operation plans for paths, sidewalks, shoulders, and bicycle lanes
14.b All municipalities should participate in the Regional Bike Parking Program
14.c The Registry of Motor Vehicles and MassHighway should establish stronger requirements and an improved reporting system for pedestrian and bicycle crash data