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Community Corner

A Map of Bicycle Crashes in 2011

Police have received 20 reports of collisions between bicycles and motor vehicles so far this year.

Somerville Police Department records show 20 reports received so far this year of collisions between bicycles and cars. In 2010, the Police Department received 88 bicycle crash reports and in 2009, 66. 

The map shows the exact and approximate locations of the 20 reported crashes in 2011. Many accident reports list the road, but not the address or cross street, where the collision occurred. 

  • Four crashes happened on Prospect Street.
  • Another four happened on Beacon Street. 
  • None happened near the McGrath Highway, which was by far the area of the city with the highest number of crashes reported between 1995 and 2001, according to a report published by the city in 2009 on transportation. During that time, police received 50 reports of bicycle crashes on Washington Street at McGrath and 30 where Somerville Avenue meets the expressway. 

Sgt. David Monte said that he didn't immediately see any "rhyme or reason" to the crash reports. Nevertheless, next week's column will put forward a more in depth analysis of the 2009, 2010 and 2011 reports. 

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However, the most detailed analysis may present a skewed picture of the actual number of bicycle crashes, since police only record collisions between bikes and cars, according to Monte. Mass Bike reports on its website that most bicycle crashes happen because of cyclists losing control of the bike over pothole pitted streets or on litter, or hitting curbs, trees and parked cars. 

Further, Monte said, cyclists involved in collisions with moving motor vehicles sometimes don't file accident reports because they weren't seriously injured or because they didn't want to deal with insurance companies or lawyers. 

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"A lot of the times," he said, "no one wants to get involved because nobody wants to be found at fault." 

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