Author: WalkMassachusetts

A truck with poor visibility: The driver can’t see a child directly in front or a motorcycle and a cyclist in the adjacent lane. Image courtesy of the study team.
What truck drivers can’t see

What truck drivers can’t see

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A study of direct vision in heavy-duty vehicles earned a 2024 Golden Shoe for its ground-breaking insights, which could make streets safer for both walking and cycling.

Have you ever walked or biked by a truck and wondered if the driver even knows you’re there? A landmark study by the Mass. Department of Transportation (MassDOT) found that a large share of vehicles in its fleet and those of key municipalities have major blind zones that can leave drivers unaware of vulnerable road users until it is too late.

The authors were honored with a Golden Shoe Award at our Annual Celebration on April 9.

The study, required by a 2022 state law and conducted in partnership with the federal John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center, measured how much direct vision is available to drivers of 60 types of vehicles used by MassDOT and nine cities, including Boston: from massive Mack trucks (heavy-duty), to large Ford and Chevrolet trucks (medium-duty), to smaller trucks and vans (light-duty) – as well as some alternatives available on the market.

In particular, the study team gauged the nearest point at which an adult and an elementary school-age child would be directly visible to a driver in a standard crosswalk and a buffered bike lane. Direct visibility is key because research has shown that when drivers directly see a person, they can react about 50% faster than when they see the person indirectly.

Direct vision and blind zones
Direct vision, blind zones and indirect vision (via mirrors). Image courtesy of the study team.

The results raise serious safety concerns: 50% of the heavy-duty vehicles were found not to provide direct visibility of a child in a crosswalk in front of the vehicle, for example; 90% of the trucks could not see a child in the bike lane, and 80% could not see an adult in a bike lane.

There are large differences in visibility even within vehicle classes, however. While drivers in the best-performing heavy-duty truck could see a child at 3.41 feet, for example, for half the trucks the distance exceeded 10 feet, and for the two worst performers, 15 feet.

Notably, drivers in all but three of the 20 medium-duty trucks tested – including many models used widely by the general public (e.g. Ford F-350 and F-450) – could not directly see a child from less than 4 feet away. Light-duty trucks and vans performed much better, with drivers in three of the eight models able to see a child at less than 2 feet from the front bumper. Still, there was a 10-fold difference between the best-performing vehicle and the worst.

The key takeaway from the study is that vehicle choice makes a major difference for pedestrian safety. Smaller vehicles should be used whenever possible, the authors advised, and within size categories, higher-visibility models should be chosen (given five stars in the report).

Good visibility: A truck driver can see a child directly in front of the vehicle and a motorcycle and cyclist in the adjacent right lane.
Good visibility: A truck driver can clearly see a person in front of the vehicle and a motorcycle and cyclist in the adjacent right lane. Image courtesy of the study team.

The study also found that visibility in legacy models of vehicles appears to be decreasing, but there are new options on the market with much better visibility. For example, a driver in the medium-duty 2024 model REE P7C could see a child as close as 1.53 feet from the bumper. Similarly, among the heavy-duty vehicles measured, those with a cab-forward design tended to have higher forward visibility. Some, but not all, also had more side visibility. 

MassDOT has adopted a Safe System Approach to road safety, which entails analyzing and addressing every aspect of the transportation system to improve safety. Safer vehicles is a key element of this, and the findings will inform future MassDOT truck fleet investments. 

Learn more and download the full study here.

2025 Bob Sloane Walk – North Station, North Point, Charles River Basin

2025 Bob Sloane Walk – North Station, North Point, Charles River Basin

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Save the date: May 27, 2025, 5:30pm
Annual Bob Sloane Walk
North Station, North Point, Charles River Basin

Start: Lovejoy Wharf (off Causeway Street). Look for a WalkMassachusetts sign.
View the location on Google Streetview.
End: Lingo Cafe + Bar in MassDCR’s North Point Park. Register

Each spring, we lead a free walk with a ~1-1.5 mile route that includes ~2-4 stops where we hear from a guest speaker. We start or end near public transit and usually end at a place where people can mingle or have a drink if they’d like to continue conversations. Since this is a point-to-point walk, we encourage you to use public transportation, walk, or bike to the start so that it is easy for you to head out afterwards.

On this walk, we’ll be looking at changes in/around the Charles River Basin near North Station and hearing from speakers at points along the route. There has been a lot happening in this pocket of the city since we last led a walk here back in 2017! We’ll see and learn more about:
• Bill Russell Bridge, formerly known as the North Washington Street Bridge
• Planned Draw One bridge behind North Station. Advocacy needed for missing pedestrian link!
• Graffiti artist-in-residence at Charles River Conservancy’s Lynch Family Skatepark

Help create events like this by joining our Events committee: contact the chair, Linda Sharpe.

This annual walk is named for Bob Sloane. Bob was a co-founder of WalkBoston (now WalkMassachusetts) and passed away in May 2021. He was a true pioneer in walking advocacy and a pillar of our organization, and we honor his legacy by hosting a walk each year in his name.

Map of pedestrian fatalities in 2024
2024 Crash Report finds older adults, people with disabilities, and EJ communities still most at risk

2024 Crash Report finds older adults, people with disabilities, and EJ communities still most at risk

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WalkMassachusetts calls for urgent safety investments as more communities organize walk audits to demand safer, more accessible streets across the state

WalkMassachusetts’ latest Fatal Pedestrian Crashes in MA report shows inequities in who is most at risk on our streets. Of the 369 total traffic deaths reported in Massachusetts in 2024, 78 were pedestrians. More than one-third of those killed were age 65 or older, and nearly 70% of fatalities occurred in Environmental Justice neighborhoods. For the first time, the report also includes data on crash victims using wheelchairs—underscoring the urgent need to design streets for people of all abilities.

“From Medford to Beverly, communities are organizing walk audits, documenting unsafe conditions, and calling for action,” said Brendan Kearney, co-Executive Director of WalkMassachusetts. “This data backs up what residents already know: our streets are not safe for everyone.”

Key 2024 findings:

  • 66.7% of fatal crashes occurred in Environmental Justice communities.
  • 37.2% of victims were age 65+.
  • New “personal conveyance” category includes people using wheelchairs and scooters.
  • 70.5% of crashes happened on locally controlled roads.
  • 61% occurred in the dark.

The report coincides with the 10th anniversary of Boston’s Vision Zero commitment. City speed data show that “Better Bike Lane” projects initiated over the last few years have led to better compliance with speed limits, creating safer streets for all users. While pedestrian injuries have declined, WalkMassachusetts urges renewed commitment—especially from cities with recurring fatalities.

“There’s been progress, but there’s more to do—particularly for people with disabilities and older adults,” said Kat Torres Radisic of the Boston Center for Independent Living. “We need bold leadership—and real investment—in street safety.”

To support growing demand, WalkMassachusetts is expanding its Walk Audit Academy—including bilingual walk audits  and hands-on training to help residents identify hazards and organize for change in Brockton this spring. A searchable directory of walk audits from across the state is also now available…

WalkMassachusetts calls for:

  • Regional Vision Zero planning efforts to continue even if federal funds are rescinded 
  • Increased municipal use of Chapter 90 funds for walkable, accessible infrastructure.
  • Continued support for community-led walk audits, especially in EJ communities.

Learn more and access the report.

Presenting the 2025 Golden Shoe Awards!

Presenting the 2025 Golden Shoe Awards!

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Our Golden Shoes Awards recognize individuals, agencies, municipalities and companies exemplifying the ideals of WalkMassachusetts’ mission. The winners accept their award during our Annual Celebration on April 9th, which will be in-person starting at 5:30pm (and live streamed starting at 6:30pm) from the Venture Cafe @ 1 Broadway, Cambridge, MA 02142. Register here to join us in celebrating & honoring their work! (link will be sent to virtual attendees early afternoon on 4/9).

This year’s Golden Shoe Awards go to…Direct Vision Study, Samuels & Associates / Lyrik, and our keynote speaker Worcester City Councilor Etel Haxhiaj. Congrats to all the winners!

Direct Vision Study

Direct vision refers to a driver’s ability to see outside their vehicle without relying on indirect vision devices like mirrors or camera displays. We’ll be recognizing the project team that published this report and performed measurements of fleet vehicles across the Commonwealth.

We especially appreciate this section of the report website:

“MassDOT has adopted a Safe System approach to roadway safety. This means we are interested in all the various components that contribute to — or detract from — roadway safety. One of those components is Safe Vehicles. As stated in our 2023 Strategic Highway Safety Plan, we intend to take an active role to affect change in vehicle design, features, and use. Safe vehicles are a core component of a Safe System Approach, as vehicle sizes and designs affect the occurrence and severity of collisions.

While vehicle design is usually thought of as a federal responsibility, we believe we have a role to play at the state level to improve the safety of vehicles that travel on state highways and roads in our cities and towns. This study on direct vision will help us better understand which vehicles we should purchase in the future to achieve better safety outcomes.”

Samuels & Associates / Lyrik

Samuels and Associates are the developers behind the Lyrik building project over the Massachusetts Turnpike in Boston’s Back Bay, an air-rights project that created new public space in an area that was once a windswept overpass between Newbury and Boylston Streets. The organization’s commitment to placemaking and community engagement in their developments has played a pivotal role in creating more walkable and connected urban spaces. We’ll be recognizing the project team that helped create this site.

Keynote Speaker: Worcester City Councilor Etel Haxhiaj

Etel Haxhiaj is a Worcester City Councilor who was recently selected for the T4MA Transportation Justice Institute, joining other elected officials from across the Commonwealth. She has been a dedicated advocate for Complete Streets, lowering speed limits to 25 mph, establishing safety zones in high-risk pedestrian areas, and championing zero-fare transportation.

We hope to see you on April 9th!

The winners accept their award during our Annual Celebration on April 9th, which will be in-person starting at 5:30pm from the Venture Cafe @ 1 Broadway, Cambridge, MA 02142. Register here to join us in celebrating & honoring their work! Can’t attend in person? Register for the livestream that will begin when the program itself starts at 6:30pm, or make a donation as part of the event that will help support WalkMassachusetts’ work throughout the year.

To read about previous Golden Shoe winners, click here.

A Walk Audit Academy on the North Shore

A Walk Audit Academy on the North Shore

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Residents of at least eight communities joined WalkMassachusetts staff for a half-day Walk Audit Academy training seminar on the North Shore on January 25, organized with the Beverly Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC).

Carl Kooyoomjian, chair of BPAC, brought together local advocates who had collaborated before on bike lane and resurfacing projects that crossed municipal boundaries. Participants learned about improving walkability and creating safer, more accessible communities.

Building on feedback from past Walk Audit Academies in Worcester and Springfield, the North Shore training included a demonstration walk audit in downtown Beverly, so all participants could get hands-on experience before preparing to lead their own walk audits.

BPAC intends to complete a series of ward based audits informed by incident data, routes to schools, and councilor input on residents’ concerns. The goal is to materially complete the audits by early May and have a formal City Council review in late May. The initial schedule has been planned to coincide with budget discussions for the remainder of the year.

A special thank-you to Gentile Brewing for hosting us! We look forward to seeing the results of BPAC’s efforts and to collaborate more in the future.

If you’d like to follow steps on how to lead your own walk audit, check out our Walk Audit Academy series and supporting materials at https://walkmass.org/waa.

Links we promised to share: