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Skateboarder tumbles on Morrissey Boulevard drawbridge; winds up on the bridge grates, dazed and bloodied
By adamg on Sun, 08/04/2024 - 11:33pm
A man traversing the Morrissey Boulevard drawbridge southbound on a skateboard somehow fell off his board and the sidewalk and wound up on the grates where the two halves of the bridge come together, about a foot below the sidewalk, shortly after noon.
Boston EMS transported him to a local hospital.
Corgi Dad reports he was among the first to stop to try to render aid, after spotting him lying on the bridge:
He was rolling forward. ... He had blood all over his face. He tried to get up but kept falling over while we stopped and got out trying to help him. He was very disoriented, probably dizzy from the impact to his head, and couldn’t answer questions. We got him sit on the side walk while I called 911. State trooper and EMS arrived minutes after. He got better and could stand and the trooper and EMS was taking care of him when we were leaving.
Another couple stopped and got first aid kit to help him too. The black lady seems to be a medical professional with gloves and thought he should be OK.
He would be in much better shape if he had worn a helmet. But Morrissey Blvd is very hostile to anyone who isn’t driving. So sad.
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Comments
I wonder where he was heading
I wonder where he was heading? No way you could you use a skateboard to circumnavigate the Dorchester Bay Basin.
?
How do you mean? It's not clear what "circumnavigate the basin" means nor why it would be different on a skateboard as opposed to biking or walking. If by "Morrissey Boulevard Drawbridge" we are referring infact to the Beades Bridge, then this section of Morrissey connects to Savin Hill, Umass Boston, Freeport Street, and plenty of other locations. People-not-in-cars use for connecting to other parts of the city or pleasure riding all the time.
The only difference with a skateboard is the small wheels are especially vulnerable to getting caught in the metal plates at the edges of the draw bridge.
Ride around the Basin using Beades Bridge is what I meant
He was heading southbound on Beades Bridge, on the sidewalk, on a scooter.
Walking around the body of water where the Dorchester Yacht Club is located is easy; Using a a bike or scooter not so much.
I guess he could have been going to Boston Bowl? maybe.
Why would it be hard on a bike?
Yeah, its non-optimal to ride over metal grate surfaces but it doesn't usually present any special challenges for 700c wheels. Just like driving on urban roads with speedbumps, it just means slowing down and paying attention.
The only bridge I can think of that used to be a problem - now replaced - was Route 1A just south of Portsmouth, NH. It had very much raised flanges on the grating because it was usually wet from salt spray.
I used to ride on the grate surface of the old watermelon man bridge in Lowell at 13-14 mph, and it would raster and vanish visually, giving the illusion that I was flying, not biking over the Merrimack. First time was disorienting, next several hundred it was very cool.
@SwirlyGrrl
I'm talking about the stretch between Savin Hill Cove and the Dorchester Yacht Club parking area.
Looks like one of those Army Corps of Engineers tide walls like they have on the Charles River near the Hatch Shell covers that area.
So biking across a slanted, slippery, practically cobblestone type wall is what you'd have to do. Maybe the slants not that bad?
The drawbridge is nominally
The drawbridge is nominally part of the Harborwalk, even if that particular stretch is a narrow and poorly maintained sidewalk. (There are already plans in development to improve that along with other aspects of the road like how it constantly floods.) So it's part of a potentially pleasant trip along the coastline, plus it does lead to UMass Boston and the rest of Columbia Point.
Meeting on Morrissey Planning this week
https://www.mass.gov/event/morrissey-boulevard-commission-meeting-5-2024...