Bicyclist killed in Back Bay incident identified; was doctor, Beth Israel researcher

Heartbreaking AND infuriating. This intersection which lies on the most direct route route I can cycle between my home and my job is one among a number of notorious Gordian knots scattered across this city that I do my best to approach with great caution. I feel safer pedaling through it during rush hour when the volume of traffic forces everyone whether on two wheels or more, motorized or not, to slow way down and take notice of all the merging, turning, weaving, honking and crossing going on. Other times, people have a tendency to blast through the intersection accelerating at the yellow lights. Last winter, I had a close call myself on another stretch of Massachusetts Avenue about a mile to the south at the corner of Shawmut when a somebody in a Hummer-like tank rolled up quickly behind me to make a speedy right turn across my path. I was saved only by the relatively plodding pace I've adopted on parts of my route allowing me time to react and in this case pick myself and my bicycle up off the pavement unscathed. That Ms. Kurmann was not so fortunate is a tragic sign that even after all the progress Boston has made toward becoming a more cycling a friendly city, there is still a much longer way to go.

P.S. Thanks to whomever left the bunch of flowers I saw leaning against the traffic light as I passed by yesterday evening.

What a terribly sad, scary and tragic loss, on so many levels. Condolences to her loves ones and colleagues.