Inman Square is Worst Bike-Crash Site in Massachusetts

The worst site for bicycle crashes in the state is the area around Inman Square that straddles Somerville and Cambridge, according to the "2010 Top Crash Locations Report," which was released by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation in September.

The third worst bicycle-crash site in Massachusetts was the area around Porter Square, mostly in Cambridge, but partly in Somerville.

What's more, Davis Square, in Somerville, was the fifth worst site for pedestrian crashes in the state, the report says.

The 2010 Top Crash Locations Report looked at crash data from 2002 to 2010 to determine the worst areas for bike and pedestrian crashes. 

Bike crashes

When it comes to bike crashes, the Inman Square area, including Beacon Street and part of Washington Street in Somerville, was the worst area in Massachusetts. According to the report, there were 154 bike crashes in the area between 2002 and 2010. There were no fatalities, but 99 of the crashes resulted in injuries.

Cambridge dominated the top-ten list: Eight of the top ten bicycle-crash sites were in Cambridge, at least in part.

In addition to Inman and Porter squares:

• Central Square was number 2 on the list
• The area between Central and Harvard squares was number 4 on the list
• Harvard Square was number 5 on the list
• Massachusetts Avenue on the Arlington border was number 6 on the list
• The intersection of Broadway and Cambridge Street (near Harvard's campus) was number 8 on the list
• Massachusetts Avenue near MIT and the Charles River was number 10 on the list

Basically, most of Massachusetts Avenue in Cambridge was included on the list.

Pedestrian crashes

When it comes to pedestrian crashes, Davis Square saw 52 pedestrian crashes between 2002 and 2010. Of those, 1 was fatal and 43 caused injuries. It was the fifth worst area for pedestrian crashes in the state.

Car crashes

Somerville was also home to two of the top 200 car-crash sites in the state. The report looked at data from 2008 to 2010 to compile that list.

Coming in at number 23 on the list, the intersection of Mystic Avenue and McGrath Highway saw 63 crashes, 1 fatality and 24 injuries.

The intersection of Somerville Avenue and Bow Street, coming in at number 165 on the list, saw 42 crashes and 15 injuries.