National Bike Safety Month Kicks Off This Week

National Bike Safety Month officially begins this week and the Cambridge Police and Community Development Department are leading or participating in a wide variety of initiatives and events intended to increase the safety of all people who walk, bicycle, or drive.

As part of National Bike Safety Month, the Cambridge Police and Community Development Department will be giving away free bike lights and reflective gear, as well as child bicycle helmets, at more than a dozen outreach events (see full listing below) throughout the city this May. The free bicycle helmets were obtained thanks to a donation from Breakstone, White & Gluck, a Boston personal injury law firm. Breakstone, White & Gluck donated 140 bicycle helmets to the Cambridge Police in hopes of keeping children safe and preventing traumatic brain injuries from bicycle accidents.

Events

Throughout the month of May, officers and city employees from the Community Development Department will be stationed at highly trafficked areas in the city and will provide giveaways, fliers with bike safety tips and address any questions or concerns at the following dates and areas:

Bike Workshops & Bike Rides 

The Community Development Department, with support from the Cambridge Police and other city departments, will be leading two workshops in May and participating in the popular bowtie bike ride. All residents are highly encouraged to participate.

• Two Bicycle Maintenance workshops are scheduled on Wednesday, May 17th from 5:30-6:30 p.m. (Basics) and 7-8 p.m. (Beyond Basics) at a location TBD.  

• CPD, Community Development Department (CDD) and the City of Cambridge will be taking part in a citywide “Bow Tie Bike Ride” of Cambridge on Saturday, May 20 at 9 a.m. starting at the Cambridge Public Library.  

Be sure to view a complete list of events coordinated by the Community Development Department on their website.

Bicycle Patrol

With the warmer weather, the Cambridge Police Department once again has a full staff of bicycle patrol officers riding around city streets and neighborhoods. These officers not only help provide residents with a greater sense of safety around the city, but they will also be promoting safe driving, riding and walking, as well as enforcing traffic laws in the Commonwealth. One area of emphasis will be keeping bicycle lanes clear from illegally parked vehicles. Cambridge Police will also aggressively seek and look to mitigate bicycle theft.   

#CambMARoads Hashtag

As a way for people to identify and search for anything bicycle, pedestrian or motorist-related in Cambridge, the Cambridge Police and Community Development Departments will relaunch its use of the social media hashtag: #CambMARoads. The hashtag will be rolled out and featured on all relevant social media content produced by the two departments on their associated accounts, including Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. These accounts will help educate bicyclists, motorists and pedestrians about the rules of the road, as well as offer theft prevention tips. 

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The Cambridge Police Department is committed to the enforcement of laws and preservation of order that protect the rights and property of every person within the City of Cambridge. Our mission is to provide the highest quality of police service and to impact crime, and its associated elements, through the utilization of new and proven crime prevention strategies and problem-solving partnerships with our community.  For more information, follow @CambridgePolice on Twitter, or access the department’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/CambridgePolice.