Safety Questions Raised After Cyclist Is Killed In Cambridge Crash
CAMBRIDGE (CBS) - A man riding a bicycle was killed when he crashed with a tractor trailer in Cambridge's busy Porter Square at the height of rush hour Wednesday.
The cyclist has been identified as 60-year-old Bernard Lavins of Lexington.
Sadly, locals said they were not surprised. "Basically, if you come through Porter Square on a bicycle, you're taking your life in your hands," said Matt Shepard.
Related: Victims' Families Urge Lawmakers To Make Safer Roads
Before he was identified, a fellow cyclist left flowers by the yellow tape, wondering if it was a friend. "I'm sure this person was that to people. It's really just sad, because this can be prevented," said Gabe Wolf.
It's a subject that's come up repeatedly in Cambridge. When another cyclist was killed in Inman Square four months ago, the community discussed how the traffic pattern could be adjusted for safety. On Beacon Hill last January, legislators discussed requiring side guards on trucks, among other possible regulations.
Cambridge City Councilor Jan Devereux says this latest fatality will raise the discussion again. "How we're designing our streets, the regulations we're putting in place for trucks, in terms of hours that they travel our streets, and the equipment they have in terms of mirrors, side guards, protections for vulnerable users," said Devereux.
The Cambridge School Superintendent sent a message to parents saying some students witnessed the accident on the way to school. Councilors were on hand, for any who may have been traumatized by what they saw.