The legislation requires cars to keep four feet away from cyclists and other “vulnerable” road users and eases the process for lowering speed limits on state-owned roads.
A new Massachusetts law requires drivers to remain four feet away from pedestrians, cyclists, and other “vulnerable users,” reports Taylor Dolven in the Boston Globe. In 2022, 10 cyclists and 99 pedestrians were killed by vehicles in Massachusetts, Dolven points out.
The law was signed by Governor Charlie Baker on Monday. Advocates say defining vulnerable road users sets “a standard of how motorists need to behave when they’re sharing public space.” The law also requires large state vehicles to install safety devices and gives cities the right to ask for speed limit changes on state-owned roads in their municipality.
As Dolven explains, “Trucks owned or leased by the state will be required to install devices to make it easier for drivers to see vulnerable road users and side guards to prevent cyclists and others from being run over by 2023. Trucks contracted by the state must have the same safety features by 2025.”
FULL STORY: Pedestrians, cyclists gain protections with new law meant to reduce traffic deaths
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‘Free’ employee increases driving. Parking cash-out laws reward commuters who use climate-friendly modes, which increases fairness and reduces traffic problems.
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Code Studio
TAG Associates, Inc.
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
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Knox County
Wichita-Sedgwick County Metropolitan Area Planning Department
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
