Following a horrific bicycle crash in 2016, Dr. Michael Rifkin has become a new type of bicycling advocate — one who is deeply committed to ending distracted driving.
Read his op-ed on Making Distracted Driving in Maine Taboo here.
Dr. Rifkin’s piece reminds us that we can be distracted by our phones and other electronic devices even when they are not in our hands. He shares with us some chilling statistics and some practical tips for getting rid of distractions in our vehicles. He also urges people of all ages, especially teens and youth, to commit to stigmatizing distracted driving.
Since his crash, Dr. Rifkin has also joined the Bicycle Coalition of Maine’s Board of Directors and taken other steps in his personal and professional life to ensure that the people in his own circles are not driving distracted. He is a former client of KRZ Attorney Lauri Boxer-Macomber, Maine member of the Bike Law Network.
Lauri Boxer-Macomber has been an avid rider for decades. Lauri’s Maine law practice is focused on advocating for the rights of bicyclists, pedestrians, and other vulnerable road users.
Lauri’s riding experience and legal training are complemented by her advocacy work. She is an active Board Member of the Bicycle Coalition of Maine, a Governor of the Maine Trial Lawyers Association, and a Member of the American League of Bicyclists. She also chairs the Bicycle Coalition of Maine’s Policy and Legislation Committee and is one of the founding members and facilitators of the Bicycle Coalition of Maine’s Law Enforcement Collaborative, a group of law enforcement officers, planners, bicycle advocates, and others who meet regularly with the goal of improving safety on Maine’s roadways.
