Vigil calls for action after death of two cyclists in Cambridge

The call for Cambridge to make the city safer for cyclists led to numerous protests before the city council meeting on Monday evening.

More than 100 people crowded the steps and lawn outside Cambridge City Hall after two women were killed while cycling in the city.

Minh-Thi Nguyen, a 24-year-old MIT graduate student, was struck and killed by a box truck at the intersection of Hampshire and Portland Streets near Kendall Square on Friday morning.

The tragedy occurred after 55-year-old Kim Staley of Florida was struck and killed by a delivery truck while riding a Bluebike near Kendall Square on June 7.

“We must work together to do everything in our power to ensure this never happens again,” said Cambridge Deputy Mayor Mark McGovern.

Nguyen’s family and friends said the fatal crash robbed him of an ambitious and adventurous spirit that still had so much to offer the world.

“It is unimaginable that someone so young and full of life could die in such a tragic way,” said Hudson Loughlin, Nguyen’s friend.

Nguyen was a National Science Foundation research fellow and received his PhD in atomic, molecular, and optical physics from MIT.

“I’ve had so many of the most beautiful experiences of my life in this city, following Minh-This’s leadership,” said Nick Krasnow, Nguyen’s friend. “She had wonderful, crazy ideas all the time, but she was able to bring them to life.”

Many of the participants were people who cycle around Cambridge every day.

They urged the city administration to make the intersections safer for cyclists and to expand the network of separate cycle paths.

Cambridge City Council added a last-minute agenda item on “Truck and Intersection Safety Improvements” for its meeting following the vigil.

The city councilors outlined a series of demands on which the city manager is to report by September.

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

Download the FREE Boston 25 News App for breaking news.

Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Þjórsárden. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW