Middlesex DA Contender Patalano calls for Safer Streets for Everyone
A letter from Donna Patalano:
Middlesex County is a fantastic place for cyclists. From the Minuteman Bikeway to the new bike lanes in Cambridge, thousands of residents get on their bicycles every single day. I contend, however, that we don’t spend enough time talking about the safety of those biking to work, to school, to the store, or just for fun — sharing the roads with cars and trucks.
The rates of dangerous and distracted driving are on the rise, leading to increases in pedestrian and bicycle deaths nationwide. The United States Department of Transportation reported that in 2016 there were 840 bicyclist deaths in the country — the highest number since 1991. There have been at least 33 cyclists killed in Massachusetts since 2015. In Cambridge, Somerville, and other Middlesex communities, tragedy has struck too many times. Yet, what I keep hearing on the campaign trail is that law enforcement and the Middlesex DA do not seem to be paying attention.
Boston Magazine reported about a collision of a truck with a bicyclist in Porter Square that left a physician, Bernard Lavins, dead. Though the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office said it would look into the 2016 collision, it took over a year and a half for the office to declare that the truck driver was not at fault. It is the responsibility of law enforcement to keep our communities safe, including clear and transparent procedures for the timely investigation of possible motor vehicle crimes. We need to be doing something to make roads safer for bicyclists and pedestrians.
As Middlesex District Attorney, I will advocate for a cultural shift focused on making streets safer for bicyclists and pedestrians. It seems that many members of law enforcement and the general public carry an implicit bias: that people walking and biking who are involved in crashes are the cause of the incident, rather than the victim. We need to create a shift in culture, working to make sure that everyone is doing their part to keep others in their community safe. The District Attorney is a critical voice for that change.
As District Attorney, I will also develop a protocol for investigating crashes involving drivers and pedestrians or cyclists, and I will make sure that investigators are equipped to assess the incident as a whole. If the street is not safe as designed, I will use my position as District Attorney to advocate for changes in infrastructure or signage. Recently, Cambridge implemented separated and buffered bike lanes and increased bike lane signage. This is important work. I will advocate for spreading these initiatives across Middlesex County.
Middlesex County needs a District Attorney who will commit to taking concrete steps to keep bikers and pedestrians safe. I look forward to hearing from you about your experiences on the campaign trail and seeing you at the polls on September 4th! I invite you to get in touch with my campaign at 857–529–7081 or to visit www.donna4da.com to learn more about my vision for both safety and social justice.
Donna Patalano, Candidate for Middlesex District Attorney
