He says relatively few reported accidents concerned pedestrians and cyclists.

Saltonstall, author of the traffic laws, adds that the statutes grant cyclist two privileges which most vehicles do not have permission to pass on the right cars which are stopped at a red light, and to ride on sidewalks in areas not zoned as business district although this does not allow one to ride on sidewalks in areas not zoned as business district although this does not allow one to ride on sidewalks in a congested area like the Square.

Otherwise, the cycling laws remain somewhat vague and often go unendorsed.

In accidents involving cyclists and pedestrians, Saltonstall says the cases often end up in lawsuits because they are not covered by most insurance policies.

"Many police departments don't enforce, the laws against cyclists because they say they have more serious things to do," Saltonstall says, adding "I don't know what can be more serious than keeping people from being killed."

"A lot of times I'll pass a cop going down a one-way street the wrong way and he won't even look twice," says one frequent cyclist.

McCarthy says, "We're not interested in punishing bikers. We just want to keep people safe."

"I'm asking for cooperation, a team effort to save lives," he says. "I don't want to be melodramatic, but there's nothing more pitiful than seeing someone's brains spreadout out under a truck just for not thinking just for being stupid."