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For many Harvard students, cycling or scootering across campus or around Cambridge is a convenience, if not an outright necessity. But after the deaths of three cyclists in crashes with motor vehicles, it has also become a source of fear.

Two of the fatal crashes occurred in June, including one in the heart of Harvard’s campus. And in September, John H. Corcoran ’84 was struck and killed by a SUV while biking on Memorial Drive.

His son, Jack B. Corcoran ’25, said that cycling has felt “a lot more serious” since his father was killed.

“It just hit me that this is dangerous — that this really could happen to me,” Corcoran said. “You never think it can happen to you until it does.”

In interviews, nearly two dozen Harvard students said that their close calls while biking or scootering on Cambridge streets have been brought into sharp relief by the three deaths.

Quinn H. Brussel ’25, who biked to school every day growing up, said that navigating Cambridge streets on his bike is a “roller coaster.”

“There’s kind of no place for you on the road,” he said. “You’re not supposed to go on the sidewalks, but you’re putting yourself in a lot of danger on the streets.”

Brussel said that while he has been hit by cars before, the accidents did not seriously injure him. He added, however, that after June’s crash at the intersection of DeWolfe and Mt. Auburn Streets, he has become much “more careful” about where he bikes.

“I’d always been concerned about that right turn, and I’ve had close calls at that right turn, and then somebody actually died,” he said. “That definitely freaked me out a little bit.”

Several student athletes said that using scooters are needed to navigate between classes and their practices across the river, but they are concerned for their safety.

Owen Johnson ’27, a member of the football team, said that he had multiple “crazy close call experiences” with cars. He was almost hit by cars on JFK Street and DeWolfe Street, but he said he continues to use his scooter out of necessity.

“It’s the fastest way for me to commute,” he said.

Ainsley R. Tuffy ’28 said that she has become “more aware” while riding her scooter to avoid collisions. She added that her teammates on the hockey team keep her safe while scootering to practice.

“If a car pulls over, we all kind of warn each other and tell each other,” she said.

Sean L. Keohane ’28, Lucas W. St. Louis ‘28, William R. McDonough ’28, Justin Solovey ’28, and Mick E. Thompson ’28 — members of the men’s hockey team — all agreed that while scootering presents a risk, it is one that they are willing to take.

“I think it's worth it, because the main reason we have scooters is to get to and from the hockey rink,” McDonough said. “With that comes the risk of getting injured.”

McDonough added that he believes there should be “a designated scooter route from campus to the athletic area” to promote safety for student athletes.

“I don’t know how realistic that is, but I think that’d be very convenient because I think most of the students here have scooters for the sole purpose of getting to and from the athletic area,” he said. “So I think that’d be a major step in the right direction.”

Rikke K. Nielsen ’27 said she biked frequently at home in Denmark, but added that it feels far more hazardous in Cambridge, saying that it “isn’t a great environment for biking.”

“The bike lanes don’t seem very safe,” Nielsen said, adding that drivers in Cambridge “are very unsafe.”

The crashes have added fuel to a higly contested debate in Cambridge over constructing new bike lanes seperated from cars by a physical barrier, as is required by city law. Cambridge City Councilor Jivan G. Sobrinho-Wheeler wrote in a statement to The Crimson that he looks forward to establishing safer streets in Harvard Square.

“Harvard Square is one of the busiest squares in our community, and I look forward to working with Harvard, city staff, area businesses, and local residents to make the square safer for everyone,” he wrote.

—Staff writer Sally E. Edwards can be reached at sally.edwards@thecrimson.com. Follow her on X @sallyedwards04 or on Threads @sally_edwards06.

—Staff writer Matan H. Josephy can be reached matan.josephy@thecrimson.com. Follow him on X @matanjosephy.