The outgoing Executive Director of Mass Bike joined officials from the Southeastern Regional Economic Development District (SRPEDD), Mass Department of Transportation (MassDOT), the Fall River Police Department and Traffic and Parking Office, Bike Fall River, and Fall River Mass In Motion for a two-hour walking audit of bicycle access in the Central Fall River area on December 3, 2014. Following a brief introduction and review of the audit process that was funded earlier in the year through a federal Highway Safety Improvement Plan grant given to Fall River and eleven other communities in Massachusetts. David Watson of Mass Bike led a team on a two-hour walking tour of central Fall River to observe traffic patterns and current routes that bicycles frequently travel in central Fall River. Following the walk audit, the group were joined by Fall River Police Sgt. Andrew Crook in the Fall River Police Department Community Room to debrief their observations and make recommendations for improving bicycling in the City. The audit report will help to inform future infrastructure changes that will lead to safer and less challenging bicycling experiences. Click here for a 35-minute video of the debriefing. Click here for photos of an audit of City walking routes. For more information about the project, contact Julie Kelly at 508-324-2405. (Top six photos courtesy of Julie Kelly).

(Top row) The audit group leaves the Police Station and walk East along Pleasant Street to the Quarry Street intersection where Rick Schwartz of Bike Fall river points out a problem for bikers. (Row two, left and right) Fall River Police Officer Richard Saraiva comments to Patrick Baxter of Toole Design Group and David Watson of Mass Bike before Fall River Traffic and Parking Clerk Laura Ferreira talks with Rick and David. (Row three) Allan Moore takes notes from the conversation while  Sgt. Andrew Crook listens. (Row three, right) Fall River Mass In Motion Coordinator Julie Kelly makes a point while Jackie Schmidt and Lisa Estrella Pedro of SRPEDD and Corey O'Conor from MassDOT listen. (Bottom row, left and right) Erin Reed of MassDOT's Safe Routes to School Program raises a question about youth riders as Alan Reed listens.