WHAT:
The ATWG has been awarded two grants from America Walks and the Dedham Cultural Council to implement a street art/mural project at the crosswalk by the main entrance of the school.   (The project is inspired by the Safe Routes to School Pop-Up guide).

WHO:
The Dedham Active Transportation Working Group(ATWG) is a committee that reports to the Select Board that advocates for a broader and sustained focus on the many active modes of transportation including, but not limited to walking, bicycling, motor vehicle, public bus, train and ride hail companies.   You can click here and scroll to the section of “Submitted Updates” to learn more about the Active Transportation Working Group 

WHY:
The ATWG has identified several safety and design concerns on Needham St that make it a dangerous road for people who are walking, biking, and using wheelchairs or strollers.  Despite being a school zone, Needham St sees regular speeds between 30 and 45 mph, with the Dedham Police Department having issued nearly 1000 speeding tickets on the street in 2022. This is roughly 1/3 of all speeding citations in the town that year.

Research shows that asphalt art has a strong correlation with improved safety benefits, including a 50% decrease in the rate of crashes involving pedestrians and other vulnerable road users, and a 27% increase in frequency of drivers immediately yielding to pedestrians with the right of way. In effort to advocate for a safer Needham St for the Riverdale Community, the ATWG sought to explore this as a temporary yet effective solution to calm traffic. Check out some examples of asphalt art throughout the country on Bloomberg Philanthropies.

WHEN:
We hope the project will complete by Fall 2023, with more details to be communicated as they are available. This project is intended to be a Quick-Build project to respond to urgency of the conditions, while also providing evidence and justification for longer term, permanent design improvements. 

The ATWG is working with Town departments to achieve a better comprehensive design of Needham St to better represent all forms of transportation, making it a Complete Street.  

To get in touch with questions, willingness to participate in the project, or to share any personal experiences or concerns about Needham St in Dedham, please contact us via email at atwgdedham@gmail.com. 

As of April 1, 2023, new laws in Massachusetts are in effect to help make roadways safety for everyone, in particular those who use transportation services other than cars.

The Vulnerable Road Users Laws were passed in Massachusetts as part of an “An Act to Reduce Traffic Fatalities” that strives to increase roadway safety across the Commonwealth.

The following definitions and overview have been provided by MassBike.org to help provide context and clarity regarding the new laws and how they apply to all users.

What is a Vulnerable Road User?

Massachusetts now defines “vulnerable user” on our roads to include:

• People walking and biking
• Roadside workers
• People using wheelchairs
• Scooters, skateboards, roller skates, and other micromobility devices
• Horse-drawn carriages
• Farm equipment

Future policies and guidelines can be created with vulnerable road users in mind.

Safe Passing - Who is this for: Motorists

Drivers will need to provide a “safe passing distance” of at least 4 feet when passing vulnerable road users. (Note: Massachusetts is the 36th state to define safe passing as at least 3 feet).

According to the new laws, motorists are explicitly allowed to cross a double-yellow line in order to pass “when it is safe to do so and adhering to the roadway speed limit.”

MassDOT is required to put up signage to this effect across the commonwealth and will work in collaboration with municipalities to do so on public roadways.

Rear Red Light Requirement - Who is this for: Bicyclists

A new requirement for use of rear red lights at night will go into effect to ensure cyclists are visible on our roadways.

Bicyclists will now be required to use a front white light and rear red light and rear reflector when riding at night.

Police officers cannot use a light violation as a reason to stop a bicyclist. The lack of lights cannot be used as “conclusive evidence of contributory negligence” in a civil action, for instance when making an insurance claim.

Safer Speed Limits - Who is this for: Municipalities

Clarifies the process for municipalities to alter speed limits in thickly settled areas from 30 mph to 25 mph both on state-controlled roads and on the roads they control.

This is an update on the previously implemented Chapter 90, Section 18, giving authority to local jurisdictions to create safer roadways in their communities.

Crash Reporting - Who is this for: Police Departments

To improve statewide data collection surrounding vulnerable road user crashes, a standardized analysis tool will now be used to report crashes and incidents involving a person biking or walking. Standardized crash reporting will allow us to systematically measure, report, and track crashes which allow us to make data-informed changes that increase roadway safety.

Truck Safety Devices - Who is this for: Municipality/State Agency Contracting Trucks

State-contracted trucks that are class 3 or 10,000+ lb will be required to be equipped with “lateral protection devices” (safety side guards), convex and cross-over mirrors, and backup cameras to reduce fatalities of people walking and biking.

This requirement will reduce some of the tragic right-hook fatalities that we’ve seen in recent years.

The registrar shall also prohibit aftermarket accessories that obstruct visibility or endanger vulnerable users.