Hundreds gather in Boston to honor cyclist killed in crash, call for safer streets

BOSTON — Hundreds of people gathered at Boston City Hall Plaza on Thursday evening to honor Louisa Gag, a Boston transportation department employee and longtime advocate for safer streets, who was killed last week while riding her bicycle in Mission Hill.

Friends remember Boston cyclist killed as advocate for safer streets

The vigil served as both a memorial and a call to action, with attendees urging local and state leaders to invest in safer road infrastructure and pass legislation aimed at protecting cyclists and pedestrians.

“Tonight is about turning our grief into action,” said Stacy Thompson, executive director of the Livable Streets Alliance, who worked alongside Gag for six years.

Gag was widely recognized for her efforts to improve street safety throughout Boston. Friends and colleagues remembered her as a passionate advocate whose work helped shape transportation policy and infrastructure across the city.

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“My advocacy is in the world of trails and trees, and hers was in streets,” said Mary McCarthy of the New England Mountain Bike Association. “We are all just trying to navigate this beautiful city of Boston safely, so I feel hopeful and devastated. The irony of it is just tragic.”

According to officials, Gag was struck and killed by a truck while riding her bicycle in Mission Hill last Thursday. The crash remains under investigation.

Thompson said Gag’s impact extended far beyond transportation planning.

“In work that can be so volatile and so angry, Louisa always brought joy, authentic joy, to everything she was doing,” Thompson said.

Many attendees wore yellow in support of the Massachusetts Vision Zero Coalition, a statewide initiative working to eliminate traffic-related fatalities. Thompson is also a member of the coalition.

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu became emotional while speaking at the vigil, reflecting on Gag’s contributions to the city and the vision she championed.

“I can’t stop thinking about Louisa and especially the Boston that she wanted to live in — a Vision Zero city,” Wu said.

The mayor credited Gag with helping expand Boston’s Bluebikes bike-share program and playing a key role in advancing Massachusetts’ hands-free driving law.

“I’m sorry for the city for this loss of this champion,” said McCarthy.

Organizers used the gathering to renew calls for safety improvements, including additional funding for road redesigns and traffic-calming measures. Among the proposals highlighted were curb extensions, also known as bump-outs, which improve visibility at crosswalks by extending the sidewalk into the parking lane.

Mayor Wu said the investigation into the fatal crash is ongoing. She also called for a comprehensive review of the street’s design to identify potential safety improvements that could help prevent similar tragedies in the future.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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