Date of Completion

Fall 11-30-2017

Document Type

Open Access Capstone

Degree Name

Master of Education (MEd)

First Advisor

Carol Ann Sharicz

Abstract

Since 2007, Boston has made tremendous strides in shedding its designation by Bicycling Magazine as one of the “Worst Biking Cities” (Zezima, 2009, p. A12) by designating over 92 miles of bike lanes throughout the city and introducing bicycle initiatives like Boston Bikes, the Hubway bicycle sharing program. These efforts have resulted in a dramatic rise in the number of cyclists in Greater Boston and a decrease in accidents involving bicycles ((Pedroso, Angriman, Bellows & Taylor, 2016). While the quantitative research has been primarily positive, a 2017 survey initiated LivableStreets and the Longwood Area Cyclists of commuters in the Longwood area of Boston reveal fear and anxiety over the claustrophobic riding conditions with motor vehicles and urban infrastructure in desperate need of updating to improve cyclists’ safety (McFarland, 2017). While the Massachusetts Department of Transportation has introduced a public outreach campaign that encourages motorists to be cognizant of the threat they represent to cyclists and pedestrians through the “Scan the Streets for Wheels and Feet” campaign, there hasn’t been a serious push to empower cyclists to prepare themselves for riding in aggressive, high-density urban areas and to advocate for improvements to transportation infrastructure that will promote their safety. This paper addresses the development of an online course that addresses urban bicycle commuter preparedness and how it can be an effective resource for both novice and seasoned commuters to connect and further advance a bicycle culture in Greater Boston. It also explores a potential partnership with a bicycle sharing program such as Hubway to encourage their patrons to participate in the course.

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