The Executive Director of MassBike Richard Fries praised state legislators for their support of improved conditions and safety measures for Massachusetts cycling enthusiasts.

By Tom Bannister

The Massachusetts Bicycle Coalition (“MassBike”) recently expressed its deep appreciation of each of the state legislators that sponsored bills to make roadways safer and more convenient for bicyclists. Among them, 27th Middlesex Rep. Denise Provost supported both bills that were presented, and 34th Middlesex Rep. Christine Barber supported the Bike Lane Protection Bill.

The newly appointed Executive Director of MassBike Richard Fries said in a statement released on Monday said, “I want to acknowledge and thank them for showing the political courage to support cycling and cyclists in Massachusetts. Please join me in thanking your senators and representatives for sponsoring these important bills.”

According to Fries, “Things are changing for the better for bicycling here in the world’s largest college town, Massachusetts. Working with our former executive director and current government affairs advisor, David Watson, we filed two bills for the new legislative session on Beacon Hill. The first was a Bike Lane Protection Bill, which makes it illegal for motorists to block established bike lanes. Every cyclist has experienced frustration with those hard-won bike lanes being used for everything from deliveries to taxi lines to double-parking spaces.”

The second piece of legislation is a Vulnerable Road Users Bill, which brings together pedestrians, cyclists, road workers, tow truck operators, police officers, and emergency personnel as vulnerable road users and defines what is a safe-passing distance. “This is landmark legislation that makes our entire state safer,” said Fries.

42 lawmakers signed on as sponsors or co-sponsors for each of the bills, representing 25 percent of the State Senate and 21 percent of the State House. “This support will not go unnoticed,” Fries said. “For too long, bicyclists have been simply tolerated by the transportation system. This legislation, if passed, will show that the Bay State – which has so much to gain by integrating pedestrians and cyclists into its streetscape – is not looking to just tolerate bicyclists but also to welcome and protect them as an important part of the transportation grid.”

Fries further stated that these lawmakers recognize that for the Bay State to be a leader in transportation, the bicycle is an important part of the streetscape, roadways, and transportation grid.