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Transmitting a communication from City Manager, Yi-An Huang, regarding an update on micromobility regulation.
January 2026
Special commission on micromobility report
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Foreword | Special Commission on Micromobility
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Foreword | Special Commission on Micromobility
Table of Contents
00
Foreword
2
Letter from the Commission
4
Purpose of the Commission
5
Commission Members
6
Executive Summary
8
Introduction
10
01
Micromobility in the US
14
Micromobility Share Systems
15
Consumer Growth
18
Food and Package Delivery Services
20
Policies Across the US
22
Emerging Tech
26
02
Micromobility in Massachusetts
29
Massachusetts General Law (MGL) Review
30
Code of Massachusetts Regulations (CMR) Review
32
Review of Select Local Ordinances
33
03
Challenges in Massachusetts
38
04
Recommendations
40
Core Framework
42
Safety & Enforcement
58
Infrastructure
69
Growth
77
05
Appendix
84
I
Glossary
85
II
Case Studies
90
III
MGL and CMR Text
94
IV
Topics Discussed by the Commission
105
V
Works Cited
108
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Foreword | Special Commission on Micromobility
Summary of Recommendations
The Commission recommends 16 actions that the legislature, MassDOT, and several other entities should take to
respond to the increasing prevalence of micromobility in the Commonwealth, grouped into four thematic categories.
These recommendations will be explored in more depth later in this report in Chapter 4.
Core Framework
42
1
Legislative and Regulatory Changes
43
2
Speed-Based Classification Schema
47
3
Micro ID
56
Safety and Enforcement
58
4
Police Training
59
5
Crash Report and Vulnerable User Data
61
6
Default Maximum Speed on Paths
63
7
Education Campaign
65
8
Automated Enforcement
67
9
Model Municipal Traffic Control Ordinance
68
Infrastructure
69
10
Design Guidance
70
11
Micromobility Integration
72
12
Funding for Upgrades
74
Growth
77
13
Expand Bikeshare
78
14
Fund More E-Bike Subsidies
80
15
Commercial Use Micromobility Study
81
16
Presumed Liability Study
83
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Foreword | Special Commission on Micromobility
January 31, 2026
To the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Legislature -
In November 2024, as part of the economic development bond bill, you created the Special Commission on
Micromobility to focus on three key areas: classification, regulation, and expansion. First convening in April of this year,
the Commission met five times through the end of December to discuss the current status of micromobility use and
rules across the Commonwealth. The Commission has 15 members including secretariats, policy makers, public safety
officers, advocates, and innovators. We heard from experts on topics related to battery fire safety, discrepancies related
to classification and enforcement, and incentive programs to expand the daily use of micromobility. We want to thank
the Chairs of the Joint Committee on Transportation and the MassDOT team, specifically the staff of The Lab, for their
skillful stewardship of a complex and comprehensive process. After nine months of work and discussion, we are pleased
to present the Commission’s final report.
The Commission recognizes the importance of our charge to address several of the existential crises facing our
Commonwealth, including roadway congestion and motor vehicle pollution: Massachusetts ranks fifth in the nation for
roadway congestion, despite being third in capital and bridge spending per mile.[1] Our overall performance ranks 48th
among the states, with the average person spending 93 hours in traffic annually, and our transportation sector remains
the state’s largest source of greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for roughly 37% of the total—putting serious
pressure on our ability to meet our mandated 2050 climate goals.[2]
Micromobility presents a solution to many of these challenges: in Massachusetts, 57% of all trips are three miles or
fewer—a typical biking and scooting distance for many people—and yet 80% of those trips are currently made in
automobiles.[3] Increasing the use of micromobility for short trips can reduce congestion and emissions statewide, while
delivering meaningful benefits such as improved physical and mental health, greater affordability and independence,
and expanded access to the Commonwealth’s natural resources.
The Commission’s charge, then, is to provide a framework of regulatory and incentive recommendations for the
legislature and administration to act upon to accelerate the adoption of micromobility in a safe, sensible, and
comprehensive way. By enabling and encouraging new ways to move around, we can begin to meaningfully address
the real mobility challenges we face.
Our recommendations aim to enhance safety on roads and pathways while improving accessibility and affordability for
everyone, including those most vulnerable—such as older adults, youth, and people with disabilities. Micromobility
should be proactively integrated into the Commonwealth’s transportation system, rather than managed through
reactive and fragmented regulations, to ensure that all users—regardless of speed or device—can share space safely
and harmoniously.
This requires consistent standards so that regulators, law enforcement, policymakers, planners, retailers, and
consumers share a clear understanding of how to move Massachusetts forward to a cleaner and less congested future.
In the near term, we propose a tiered classification system for micromobility devices based on top speed, along with
simple, effective data metrics to track usage and crashes. Looking further ahead, we outline strategies to expand
adoption through innovation, design guidance, infrastructure investment, education, and targeted public funding.
This report is an important first step that we hope will inform timely legislative and administrative action to bring clarity,
consistency, and direction for micromobility policies in the Commonwealth. We thank you for the opportunity to serve
and to offer our recommendations on these important issues.
Sincerely,
The Special Commission on Micromobility
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Foreword | Special Commission on Micromobility
Purpose of the Commission
The Massachusetts Legislature sought to establish the Special Commission on Micromobility to provide legal and
regulatory clarity to micromobility users, and all other road users interacting with micromobility users; to support and
enhance mobility access for residents of the Commonwealth; and to ensure Massachusetts remains innovative and
competitive in this emerging industry.
In the Session Law Acts of 2024, Chapter 238, Section 306, lawmakers established the commission, saying:
“There shall be a special commission to study and recommend ways to regulate micro-mobility vehicles. The
study shall include, but not be limited to: (i) a review of current state and local laws and regulations for micro-
mobility vehicles; (ii) recommendations to regulate micro mobility vehicles, including on bike paths, sidewalks
and shared use paths; and (iii) recommendations to support the expansion of micro-mobility vehicle use and
innovation including shared micro-mobility options for municipalities.”
By naming a number of relevant state agencies, as well as external partners and subject matter experts, the Legislature
gave Massachusetts the opportunity to explore best practices, thoughtfully engage with complex questions of
regulation and expansion, and make solid recommendations for the Legislature to consider.
The commission could not solve every issue raised in its short tenure, and has therefore highlighted areas requiring
future work, which the Legislature could assign to new working groups going forward.
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Foreword | Special Commission on Micromobility
Commission Members
Phil Eng
Chair, Interim Secretary, MassDOT
Leonardi Aray
President, Consulting Planners of Massachusetts
Rep. James Arciero
2nd Middlesex; Chairperson, Joint Committee on Transportation
Gerald Autler
Director of Trails and Greenways, DCR
Naroa Coretti Sánchez
Researcher, MIT Media Lab
Sen. Brendan Crighton
Third Essex; Chairperson, Joint Committee on Transportation
Dorothy Fennell
Co-Founder & CEO, CargoB
Nick Gove
Deputy Chief of Transportation, City of Boston
Chief John G. LeLacheur
Chief, City of Beverly Police Department
Nathaniel Malloy
Senior Planner, Town of Amherst
Galen Mook
Executive Director, MassBike
Scott Mullen
TDM Director, A Better City
Kara Oberg
Owner, The Ride Cafe
Alicia Rebello-Pradas
Senior Advisor, Executive Office of Public Safety and Security
Stefanie Seskin
Board Member, WalkMassachusetts
Alternate Commission Members
Alex Chilton
Legislative Director, Sen. Crighton’s Office
Brendan Kearney
Executive Director, WalkMassachusetts
Craig Kelley
Founder, Urban Core Strategies
Jonathan Gulliver
Undersecretary, MassDOT
Stella Lensing
Trails & Greenways Planner, DCR
Susan Terrey
Deputy Secretary, Executive Office of Public Safety and Security
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Foreword | Special Commission on Micromobility
Commission Support Cast
Kris Carter
Chief Innovation Officer, The Lab @ MassDOT
Caroline DeMarco
Graduate Co-op, The Lab @ MassDOT
Jaclyn Youngblood
Deputy Chief Innovation Officer, The Lab @ MassDOT
Special thanks to Niren Sirohi, Bonnie Polin, Monica Tibbits-Nutt, Hayes Morrison, Kevin Galligan, Mike Knodler, Angelina
Caggiano, Pete Sutton, Faisa Sharif, Matt Warfield, Kunthea Ly, Elijah Sinclair, Miller Nuttle, Tejus Shankar, Laura Kavanagh,
Mike Carpentier, Derek Krevat, Meghan Haggerty, Ha Nguyen, Rebecca Yao, Amélie Clark and everyone else who gave
comments, lent their expertise, and helped make the Commission’s work possible.
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Foreword | Special Commission on Micromobility
Executive Summary
Micromobility, including electric bicycles, electric scooters, mopeds, and other small, powered devices, has become a
common sight on streets and paths across Massachusetts and the nation. These devices offer people a convenient,
affordable, and low-emission way to travel short distances, which make up a large share of daily trips. Micromobility
can help reduce traffic congestion, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and expand access to jobs, schools, and services.
However, rapid growth and fast-changing technology have made it difficult for laws and regulations to keep pace. As a
result, riders, municipal officials, law enforcement, and the public often lack clear guidance about where different
devices belong and how they can be used safely.
The Legislature identified the need to further study these devices and develop possible regulatory and statutory
frameworks that could be implemented. The lack of clarity in existing laws and regulations impedes the effective
governance of these devices, and the ability of state and local government to support necessary infrastructure to
accommodate micromobility device users.
The Special Commission on Micromobility was formally established to provide recommendations for how best to
structure regulation and improve transportation options in this growing sector.
In Massachusetts, the need for action is urgent. The Commonwealth struggles with some of the worst traffic congestion
in the country, while transportation remains our largest source of climate pollution. Many trips are short enough to be
taken on micromobility devices, yet existing laws do not clearly distinguish between slower, bicycle-like devices and
faster, heavier vehicles that pose greater safety risks. This has led to confusion, uneven enforcement, and a patchwork
of local rules. At the same time, serious crashes and injuries, often involving young riders, delivery workers, and
pedestrians, have increased public concern. These challenges highlight the need for clearer statewide rules that
improve safety without limiting access to these affordable transportation options.
The Commission’s recommendations begin with creating a clear and modern framework for micromobility
classification. At the center of this framework is a speed-based tier system that groups devices according to their
maximum operating speed. Speed is one of the strongest indicators of risk, affecting stopping distance, crash severity,
and the suitability of different devices for shared spaces. By organizing micromobility into clear speed tiers, the
framework provides a consistent way to determine where devices can operate and what safety rules apply. This
approach replaces unclear or outdated labels with a system that reflects how micromobility users actually behave in
real-world conditions.
Under the proposed framework, lower-speed devices would be treated more like traditional bicycles and allowed
broader access to paths and bike facilities, while higher-speed devices would face stricter rules, such as roadway use,
age limits, or additional safety requirements. This tiered structure allows the state to prioritize safety for vulnerable users
without restricting low-risk devices that support everyday travel. The Commission also recommends a simple “Micro ID”
system tied to these tiers, which would help identify device type and speed class, support enforcement and data
collection, and reduce confusion for riders and retailers. Together, the speed tiers and Micro ID system create a flexible
foundation that can adapt as technology evolves.
A second set of recommendations focuses on safety and enforcement, recognizing that clear rules must be paired with
education and reliable data. Better crash reporting is needed to capture micromobility incidents more accurately,
including crashes that do not involve motor vehicles. The Commission also recommends improved training for police
officers so laws can be applied consistently and fairly. To reduce risk on shared use paths, the Commission
recommends a default maximum speed, along with public education campaigns on safe riding, battery safety, and
respectful behavior around pedestrians and other road users. Model local ordinances and carefully designed
automated enforcement tools could further support municipalities while keeping enforcement focused on the most
dangerous behaviors.
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Foreword | Special Commission on Micromobility
The final group of recommendations addresses infrastructure and growth, emphasizing that safe micromobility use is
supported by well-designed streets and paths. The Commission recommends updated statewide design guidance that
reflects mixed-speed travel and newer device types, along with better integration of micromobility into transportation
planning and transit systems. Dedicated funding is needed to close gaps in bike and path networks, improve
intersections, and create safer spaces for vulnerable users. To expand access, the Commission also recommends
growing bikeshare systems and increasing funding for e-bike subsidies.
The Commission recognizes that this report is the beginning of a conversation, not an endpoint. Technology will
continue to evolve, and new devices and business models will raise new questions. For this reason, the Commission
identifies several areas for future work, including studying commercial micromobility use to better understand safety,
labor, and infrastructure impacts; battery safety; data sharing; and liability frameworks. Continued collaboration
among state agencies, municipalities, advocates, industry, and residents will be essential. With thoughtful action,
Massachusetts can lead by taking bold action to improve safety, support innovation, and enable clean, affordable
transportation options for people across the Commonwealth.
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Foreword | Special Commission on Micromobility
Introduction
In recent years, Massachusetts has seen a dramatic surge in the use of electric-assisted bicycles, scooters, mopeds, e-
motos (electric dirt bikes), and other micromobility devices. This is a national trend, too. Micromobility has become
increasingly visible on our roads and paths: commuters riding to work, students gliding across campus, moped-riding
delivery drivers shuttling meals down local streets, and urban or suburban residents opting for e-bikes over cars for
daily trips. With this rapid growth that has unlocked mobility for many has come an increase in serious injuries,[4]
crashes, and confusion over how to best accommodate these devices. It demands our attention.
This report details the efforts of the Special Commission on Micromobility over the last year. Commission members
arrived at a set of recommendations to improve the safety of our public ways, address confusion around these devices,
and enable more people to access the mobility they offer. The Commission’s mission was to evaluate the existing
regulatory and legal framework governing micromobility in Massachusetts and develop a set of concrete
recommendations to guide how micromobility devices are safely and equitably integrated into our transportation
system.
Although the term “micromobility” can be difficult to define, the Commission spent its time looking at e-bikes, e-
scooters, mopeds, and other powered devices that are ‘smaller than a golf cart’ that are found on streets and paved
paths in Massachusetts.
A Surge in Popularity
Micromobility devices unlock mobility for many people in the Commonwealth at a price point that they can afford. E-
bikes, e-scooters, and other powered devices can help people access work, school, and social activities that keep our
economy thriving and the population connected. There are many positive benefits to micromobility, including
significant emission reduction potential.[5] The prevalence of micromobility devices has skyrocketed nationwide over the
last ten years. Consider the case of just e-bikes: in 2016, they made up 2 percent of U.S. bicycle sales revenue. A decade
later, they account for 28 percent[6] of the market. This equates to over 1.7 million e-bikes[7] sold in 2024. Consider the
case of the older adult demographic experiencing this growth in micromobility. Charlie Knight, a Springfield, MA resident
and a recent participant in the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission’s ACT4All program that provided low-cost e-bikes
to structurally disadvantaged residents put it this way “…this e-bike makes it almost as if I was 45 and not 77!”8 Cycling
Past 50,[9] a recurring North American survey of older adults who cycle, reported a growth in older adult ownership of e-
bikes (from 3 percent in the Year 1 survey to 29 percent in the Year 5 survey). This is not to say that all older adults
choose or are able to bike, but rather to show that even as folks age, some people are finding e-bikes a useful tool to
unlock more personal mobility, either for transportation or recreation.
But micromobility isn’t just a means of recreation or transportation; it unlocks economic opportunity. Luis Montes De Oca
of Lawrence, MA uses a low-cost shared e-bike as a tool for his job making grocery deliveries.10 The potential of these
devices to improve the lives of people in the Commonwealth with access to opportunity or improved health is
significant. However, as with any new technology, micromobility brings with it the need for improved regulations, new
societal norms, changes to infrastructure, more education, and well-constructed laws that foster safe use.
Serious Injuries and Crashes
The number of emergency department visits for both e-bike and e-scooter injuries have also increased. Micromobility-
related injuries have trended upward since 2017, increasing an estimated average 23 percent annually according to the
Consumer Product Safety Commission.[11] Although it's not an apples-to-apples comparison, it bears noting that the
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Foreword | Special Commission on Micromobility
total number of serious injuries and fatalities from motor vehicle crashes is significantly higher than those from
micromobility crashes in Massachusetts.
From low-power pedal-assist bicycles to high-speed e-unicycles and throttle-driven scooters, the pace of innovation
has been dizzying. Because of this device diversity, a single term like “e-bike” or “micromobility device” can mask a wide
spectrum of performance, risk, and regulatory needs. This has left laws and regulations in Massachusetts and other
states across the country racing to catch up with the safety challenges local communities are experiencing.
The growth in the variety and severity of injuries tied to micromobility
devices is concerning. Trauma centers[12] are beginning to see a
steady uptick in severe injuries tied to high-powered e-devices. The
biggest risks come from larger and faster vehicles. Off-road e-dirt
bikes and illegally modified scooters can reach speeds well above
the current classes of e-bike and mopeds (currently termed
motorized bicycles) defined in Massachusetts General Laws.
Off-road electric dirt bikes, also referred to as ‘e-motos’, often have
weights closer to mopeds than traditional bicycles, magnifying risks
of injury to riders and pedestrians. Unfortunately, they are also often
conflated in reporting and broadly grouped together in common
parlance with Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes that operate at much
slower speeds and with smaller motors.
Emerging Hazards
Further complicating the picture are risks beyond crashes. Many e-
bikes and e-scooters use lithium-ion batteries. When these types of
batteries malfunction or are improperly charged, they can cause
dangerous fires in an event called “thermal runaway”. The
Commission spent time learning from the former Fire Commissioner of New York City on this topic, something of
concern for firefighting professionals in New York City, which has had over 30 deaths from battery related fires since
2022.[13]
Beyond the fire risk of batteries, nationally, micromobility-related fatality counts have risen as more devices contend for
space on our car-centric infrastructure. But without good data, the picture in Massachusetts is still fuzzy. Regulatory
clarity, better data, education, and enforcement can help us assist riders and other roadway users.
It is important to keep in mind that micromobility devices represent a small fraction of the overall fatal vehicle crashes
in Massachusetts each year. While we do not have a reliable publicly available dataset for fatal micromobility crashes
that don’t involve a motor vehicle, we do know that there were 10 fatal crashes involving bicycles with a motor vehicle in
2024. Collisions involving motor vehicles remain the top contributors to fatal crashes. In 2024, 349 people died in all
motor vehicle-involved crashes in Massachusetts.
A Growing Concern
In recognition of these mounting risks and the evolving transportation landscape, the Massachusetts Legislature tapped
the leadership of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) to coordinate the Special Commission
on Micromobility.
This Commission did not
include Off-Highway
Vehicles (OHV)
These vehicles, commonly used for
recreational, off-road activities, include ATVs,
dirt bikes, and ‘four-wheelers’. They are
regulated by MGL Chapter 90B, Section 20 and
overseen by the Massachusetts Environmental
Police. The Commission also excluded the
emerging category of “mini-mobility” or “Local
Use Vehicles”, which are larger and are often
built with three or four wheels. MassDOT has
recently joined a multi-state, multi-city
research effort looking at this separate topic.
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Foreword | Special Commission on Micromobility
The Commission was tasked with turning around recommendations in a matter of months to the legislature. The
urgency indicated was not hypothetical. Recent events underscore just how real and devastating the consequences of
regulatory gaps can be.
•
In June 2025, a 13-year-old in Plymouth suffered “catastrophic” injuries after his e-moto collided with a car. The boy
had to be flown to a Boston hospital with 24 broken bones and brain and abdominal bleeding. This incident was not
the first serious injury crash involving e-motos in Plymouth this year.[14]
•
In early August 2025, a 64-year-old man from Braintree was hit by a delivery driver on an e-bike in Copley Square,
Boston. He was hospitalized with life-threatening head trauma and died from his injuries a few weeks later.[15]
•
In late November 2025, a 13-year-old in Stoneham was killed when the electric dirt bike he was riding crashed into a
car. The tragedy shocked the community and triggered calls for stricter oversight of e-dirt bikes, improved
classification of micromobility vehicles, and mandatory licensing or age restrictions.[16]
The combination of age and speed is a classic
cocktail for risk on America’s roads. This trend shows
up in motor vehicle crash data where teen
drivers have a higher crash rate than any other
age group.[17] Perhaps it is not surprising that this
trend also exists for this new set of devices, some
capable of speeds nearing 100 MPH. For example,
a report from the Consumer Product Safety
Commission in 2023[18] found that children 14
years and younger accounted for 36 percent of
micromobility injuries from 2017 to 2022, double
their 18 percent proportion of the U.S. population.
Age restrictions on faster devices are starting to
emerge in other states.
This Commission was tasked with striking a
balance between unlocking affordable mobility
for residents and improving safety for vulnerable
road users. It is clear that the rapid uptake of
powered micromobility devices in
Massachusetts has reached a tipping point for
action.
Why the Commission’s Work Matters
The formation of this Commission represents an inflection point. At its best, micromobility delivers significant benefits:
reduced traffic congestion, lower emissions, more equitable access to transit, a flexible alternative to cars, and
improved physical and mental health. But without careful analysis and action, those benefits risk being overshadowed
by mounting human costs in injuries, deaths, and public distrust. The choices we make on this topic matter.
The Commission’s work offers an opportunity: to re-envision mobility in Massachusetts; to integrate micromobility
thoughtfully and safely; to expand access to clean, affordable, efficient transportation; to design streets, sidewalks, and
trails that accommodate riders alongside pedestrians, drivers, and transit users; and to lay the groundwork for
responsible micromobility usage not just for today, but for decades to come.
E-Scooter Injuries, 2017-2021
Source: US Consumer Product Safety Commission, Micromobility Products-Related Deaths
Injuries and Hazard Patterns 2017-2021
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Foreword | Special Commission on Micromobility
This moment demands realism, bold policy thinking, and collaboration among state agencies, municipalities, transit
planners, public health experts, local law enforcement, schools, local businesses, and community stakeholders. If done
well, Massachusetts can lead with a model that balances innovation and safety, sustainability and responsibility.
Call to Action
In this report to the legislature from the Special Commission on Micromobility, a series of recommendations are laid out
to address this challenge. Now is the time to commit to a safer, smarter micromobility future. That means:
•
Investing in accurate and comprehensive crash and injury data collection, so that policy is grounded in evidence
•
Revising laws and regulations to address the realities of modern powered micromobility devices, including
appropriate classification that is tiered based on speed, outlines safety requirements, and sets clear rules for
shared use paths, bike lanes, and streets
•
Expanding and improving infrastructure: protected bike lanes, separated micromobility corridors, shared use paths,
and traffic-calming designs that protect vulnerable road users
•
Promoting public education around safe riding practices, battery and fire safety, communication on benefits and
risks, and respectful coexistence among riders, pedestrians, and drivers
•
Engaging communities to understand how micromobility intersects with equity, accessibility, and environmental
justice
•
Expanding access to shared micromobility systems throughout the Commonwealth and empowering programs
that provide disadvantaged residents a new tool for accessing their communities or participating in the economy
This report could be the first leg of a journey for the Commonwealth. It is a roadmap of sorts. If we do this right, we can
welcome micromobility not as a dangerous add-on to our streets, but as a safe, equitable, and integral part of our
transportation future.
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Micromobility in the US | Special Commission on Micromobility
Chapter 1-
State of US Micromobility
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Micromobility Share Systems
15
Consumer Growth
18
Food and Package Delivery Services
20
Policies Across the US
22
Emerging Tech
26
01 Micromobility in the US
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Micromobility in the US | Special Commission on Micromobility
Micromobility Share Systems
Micromobility share systems have cropped up in nearly every major city across the globe in the last 15-20 years to offer
short-term rental bicycles, e-bikes, or e-scooters at centralized (docked) or decentralized (dockless) locations. Shared
micromobility provides low-cost public transportation without the need for personal ownership. While bikeshare
systems emerged slowly over the last two decades with considerable public investment, input, and steady growth of
ridership, e-scooters seemed to magically appear overnight in some cities in the late 2010s-early 2020.[19] Contrary to
the station-based bikeshare systems that often took years to fund, plan, and deploy, the two biggest players to date,
Miami-based Bird Global and San Francisco’s Lime, began their services by placing hundreds of scooters at a time on
city sidewalks and other publicly shared spaces, most of the time without permits or permission from the city. This
strategy initially worked for them, and although they were kicked out of some cities, Bird now operates in 350 cities and
Lime operates in over 30 countries.
Here in Massachusetts, the most prominent and long
running docked bikeshare systems are the metro-Boston
system of BlueBikes (initially launched as Hubway) and the
Pioneer Valley system of ValleyBike. Various dockless pilots
were launched in the Commonwealth as well. Brookline piloted a dockless shared e-scooter program in 2019 with the
companies Lime, Bird, and Spin. West Springfield and Pittsfield also tested out dockless scooter share with Bird in 2022-
2023. Finally, Lime won an open Request for Proposals (RFP) and operated thousands of dockless bicycles, including
pedal-assist e-bikes, in 16 metro Boston communities for 18 months between 2018-2019.
Cities have evolved in their permitting strategies in recent years and the age of rogue deployments of dockless shared
bikes and scooters has largely ended. Micromobility share systems are as popular as ever, though. The National
Concord, MA
Learn more about Bluebikes in Appendix II: Case Studies
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Micromobility in the US | Special Commission on Micromobility
Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) estimates that in the US, 133 million trips were taken in 2023,
surpassing pre-pandemic numbers and increasing 20% since the previous year. [20] These micromobility share systems
are a part of the fabric of public transit in the city, and there are many ways cities have implemented them. According
to the North American Bikeshare and Scootershare Association (NABSA), shared micromobility was responsible for
offsetting 101 million pounds of CO2 in 2024. [21] Of the 171 million shared micromobility trips taken in 2024, 35% replaced a
car trip.
Shared E-scooters
Nearly every shared e-scooter program is designed as a dockless system. The key characteristic of a dockless system is
that users can park an e-scooter anywhere when they are finished using it. In a docked system, by contrast, the rider is
required to leave the device at a specific docking location, usually a streetside kiosk.
Effective management of dockless scooters has evolved from the early days of ‘scooter drops’. In some cities, ‘lock-to’
requirements and parking corrals have helped address sidewalk clutter, but docked e-scooter systems are rare in the
US. At the time of this report, only Chicago has a docked e-scooter system. Lyft Urban Solutions, which operates the
local bikeshare program Divvy Bike, has been experimenting with introducing e-scooters that are compatible with the
existing bikeshare infrastructure.[22] The pilot is still underway, and while e-scooters are popular in many cities, it remains
to be seen what impact this docking application will have on people’s travel preferences.
The innate decentralization of scooter parking in dockless systems can be unpopular with some local residents, and
non-compliance with federal manufacturing guidelines at the time of the initial boom of dockless scooters led
Massachusetts to halt their introduction. Brookline experimented with a limited pilot of a dockless scooter program in
2019, as mentioned above. Brookline’s dockless e-scooter pilot geofenced the scooters to the town of Brookline, and a
rider couldn’t start a ride if they were outside that geofence. The scooters were placed at designated locations within
Brookline at 5 AM and removed every evening at 10 PM. New riders were required to watch some educational content
before their first ride and had to submit ID proving they were over the age of 18. Despite survey data that showed over
68% of people wanting scooter share to continue, the Town did not continue the program after the pilot ended.23
Shared Micromobility in the US, NACTO 2024
Shared Micromobility Ridership in the US
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Micromobility in the US | Special Commission on Micromobility
In most places where Lyft operates a service, it has begun removing all dockless bikes and scooters from its fleet, citing
reduced labor costs, better fleet management, and better overall relationships with cities with docked systems.[24] Lyft
Urban Solutions currently holds the operating contract for Bluebikes, which is the publicly owned bikeshare service in the
Boston metro area.
Bikeshare
Bikeshare refers to programs that include both e-bikes and traditional pedal bikes, and like e-scooters has seen a
notable increase in use in recent years. The same dichotomy between docked and undocked systems discussed above
for scooter-share appears in bike-share, as well. E-bikes, however, need a place to charge. Unlike traditional pedal
bikeshare that can operate stations on a small solar charger, e-bikes need to be plugged in. Combined with proprietary
charging hardware, docked e-bikes are harder to steal, too. On average, e-bikes get more rides per day than traditional
pedal bikes, in some cities by a factor of two or three.
Dockless bikeshare systems are less prevalent than docked bikeshare systems, but not non-existent. Both Bird and Lime
have e-bike offerings. According to NACTO, about 7 million rides were taken in the US and Canada on dockless e-bikes
in 2023 [25]. They make up about 10% of all devices and 4% of all rides and seem to be most popular in fair-weather cities.
In 2019, the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) reviewed 18 months of operation data from Lime, who
introduced a dockless bikeshare program in 16 municipalities. They found that, unlike docked bikes, which see
significant use as connectors to public transit, dockless bikes provided connections to moderate- and low-density
neighborhoods that do not see enough volume to support a dedicated bikeshare dock.[26] Market forces led to Lime
ceasing operations in Massachusetts in early 2020. The company never reentered the market, but many of the pilot
municipalities ultimately joined the Bluebikes system. ValleyBike is the e-bikeshare system in the Pioneer Valley and
Metro Mobility recently rolled out e-bikeshare in Worcester, Lawrence, and Lowell.
Trips Per Station-Based Bike Per Day, September 2023
Trips Per Station-Based Bike Per Day, September 2023, NACTO 2024
18
Micromobility in the US | Special Commission on Micromobility
Consumer Growth
Private ownership of micromobility devices has increased in the last 10 years and is expected to continue to rise steadily
in the next decade. With an increasingly environmentally and budget conscious consumer base, innovations in battery
technology, and the accelerating cost of owning a car, the US micromobility market is ripe for expansion.[27]
Market Outlook
The US micromobility market saw impressive growth
from 2022 to 2023, when it grew from $20 billion to $35
billion.[28] In markets like China and Europe that are
further ahead than the US in adoption, growth more
than doubled in that period. The global market value is
projected to grow from $175 billion in 2022 to $360
billion in 2030, with the North American market
potentially being worth $56 billion.[29]
E-bikes are quickly outpacing traditional pedal bikes in
terms of imports.[30] In 2022, there were 1.1 million e-
bikes sold in the United States, almost four times as
many as were sold in 2019.[31] E-bikes are expected to
see sustained demand, and there is growing demand
for add-on services like theft protection.[32]. E-bikes are
increasingly representing larger percentages of bike
imports every year.[33]
This growth is not without its challenges. Most
manufacturers are international, the largest being
companies in China and Taiwan. With little domestic
manufacturing capacity, prices could stay high even as
demand increases. Complex supply chains and
manufacturing logistics have historically been the drivers of startup failures even as top line revenue grows.[34]
Infrastructure like publicly available charging capacity, safe travel lanes, secure parking, and multimodal integration will
be key to meeting the needs this growth will bring.[35]
Demographics
Micromobility users represent a diverse set of backgrounds, use cases, abilities, and incentives. Potential users
are influenced by a number of factors, including trip efficiency, perceived safety, and weather.[36] One study
looking at e-scooter adoption in Washington DC and Portland, OR found that female riders tended to be young,
affluent, and likely have other vehicles or modes of transportation available to them.[37] These riders used e-
scooters for tourism, leisure, and time-saving. Male riders, meanwhile, spanned a wider range of ages and
income groups. They tended to not have very many transit options and used their e-scooters for commuting
and errands. An environmentally conscious individual is more likely to try micromobility, but concerns around
privacy, safety, and difficulty of use hold back adoption. [38]
Source: McKinsey, Value of the Micromobility Market by Region,
$ billion, 2024
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Micromobility in the US | Special Commission on Micromobility
Mode Shift
According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, it costs the average owner more than $1000 a month to
own and maintain a car.[39] Further, more than half of all car trips are less than three miles,[40] a distance that is
reachable by micromobility for many people. At the time of writing, a monthly unsubsidized Bluebikes
membership is $30.50, and an annual pass is $13/month. On average, a new e-bike will cost around $1,500 to
$2,000, and a new e-scooter can cost less than $500. These prices are expected to drop as the market expands.
One study found that e-bikes led to a 19 percent reduction in car mode-share in households that own two types
of modes, as compared to car-owner-only households.[41] A range of other studies found that new owners of e-
bikes replaced short car trips with their e-bikes 20% to 86% of the time.[42]
The value proposition for the average consumer is clear given these numbers, especially for people who live in
dense urban areas where the cost of storing a car can be burdensome. Micromobility can also act as a
connector to public transit nodes, giving more mobility options to people who live farther away from transit
stations or in single-car households. For people who are reliant on a car to get to work but are kept in a cycle of
poverty because of the cost of that vehicle, micromobility can act as a force to break that cycle. E-bike subsidy
programs have been successful and in high demand. The program run by the Massachusetts Clean Energy
Center (MassCEC) this past year, which was designed to give out 2500-3000 vouchers, received interest from
over 10,000 voucher applicants.
Learn more about the MassCEC e-bike voucher program in Appendix II: Case Studies
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Micromobility in the US | Special Commission on Micromobility
Food and Package Delivery
According to estimates by the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC), in 2023 there were about 445 million
package deliveries in Massachusetts and more than 120 million “rapid food deliveries”.[43] Massachusetts has a higher
share of e-commerce for retail sales compared to the U.S. average (25% and 16%, respectively). Those e-commerce
sales are typically delivered directly to buyers at home, work, or a community parcel locker.
These numbers are increasing. National data indicates upward trends for both percentage of retail sales that are e-
commerce, as well as net revenues from e-commerce (including both package and rapid food delivery).[44] According
to MAPC’s report, “In 2023, the United States' online food delivery market generated around $287.5 billion in revenue, with
projections suggesting a 74% increase to over $500 billion by 2028.”[45]
There is clear demand from consumers due to the convenience and speed of e-commerce deliveries. Therefore, as e-
commerce purchases increase, for both parcel and rapid food delivery, we can reasonably expect the traffic from
delivery vehicles to increase, too.
In New York City, for example, one study estimated that 536,000 packages were delivered daily in Manhattan. These
were made via an estimated 853 delivery trucks. Sensor data was used to identify double-parked trucks and vans in
four different locations. Double parking was identified in all four locations — most commonly on weekdays — and
ranged from five to over 70 minutes of double-parking, with an average duration of 10.5 minutes.[46] Double-parking by
delivery companies contributes to congestion on streets by forcing vehicles to queue behind the double-parked vehicle,
or maneuver into the adjacent lane, thereby impacting traffic in both directions. It also has significant emissions
implications. Shifting to smaller delivery vehicles, including e-bikes, could reduce or eliminate congestion-causing
double parking in dense urban areas.
Some food and parcel service delivery companies have seen an increase in contracted deliverers making deliveries on
micromobility devices, such as mopeds or electric bicycles.[47] While this is likely an improvement in terms of emissions
and congestion, it still creates potential safety issues, particularly when these vehicles operate in traditional bike lanes
at speeds that are perhaps unexpected for the width of the lane
and by others users of the lane; sometimes going against the
flow of traffic; or riding on sidewalks to reach destinations as
quickly as possible often due to financial incentive structures
imposed by the platforms.
Here in Massachusetts, Boston has experimented with shifting
some of these parcel deliveries to zero emissions vehicle modes,
such as electric cargo bikes. The City of Boston’s Boston Delivers
project ran from September 2023 through January 2025. The
grant-funded program delivered approximately 20,000 items
via cargo e-bike, logging nearly 6,000 miles traveled. One of the
goals of the program was to right-size delivery vehicles for
Boston’s narrow, congested streets. Another was to improve
safety by reducing the size, speed, and environmental impacts
of commercial delivery vehicles.[48] According to the University of
Washington’s Urban Freight Lab, the program’s evaluator,
“Boston Delivers shows both the promise of the shift [to cargo e-
bike delivery] and the challenges in connecting success with
other planning and policy efforts.”[49]
Source: MAPC, Boston Delivers
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Micromobility in the US | Special Commission on Micromobility
Boston has also been working to address challenges largely associated with food delivery platforms. In the downtown
area, deliveries have increasingly moved from four-wheel motor vehicles to various micromobility devices. While there
are many positives associated with this shift to smaller vehicles, public concern over the poor operating behaviors of
those delivery drivers responding to the time-incentives of the food delivery platforms led to the City of Boston issuing
an ordinance requiring app-based food delivery platforms to 1) have a permit to operate in the city, 2) agree to certain
data-sharing requirements and 3) carry umbrella insurance for all of their contracted deliverers.[50]
Seattle recently launched its Commercial E-Cargo Bike program. The program is one response to the city’s expected
42% increase in goods traveling the freight network by 2050. In September 2025, Seattle City Council passed legislation
classifying e-cargo bikes as a legal vehicle type, allowing the Seattle Department of Transportation to permit their
ability to park at the curb. Through its program, Seattle hopes businesses will realize cost-savings (e-cargo bikes being
cheaper to purchase than vans or trucks); and to decrease delivery times (one study showed cargo bikes can make
deliveries up to 60% faster than vans or trucks in urban areas).[51]
The growth in e-commerce, and those deliveries being made on micromobility devices, is not just a trend in the United
States. In London, cargo bikes reportedly traveled 6% faster than cars throughout the city’s congested streets,
representing a time-savings for delivery service providers.[52] Further, according to a study by Columbia University’s
School of Professional Studies, London is ”projecting that by 2030, 17 percent of all delivery trucks in London will be
replaced by bicycles, removing 30,000 tons of carbon-dioxide from the air.”[53]
While e-commerce and its associated deliveries will increase, cities and towns will have the same finite sidewalk, street,
and curb space. Navigating that balance and associated tradeoffs will be an important task for the 351 municipalities
across the Commonwealth.
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Micromobility in the US | Special Commission on Micromobility
Policies Across the US
At the time of the writing of this report, there is no one unifying federal policy that regulates the classification or use of
micromobility devices. Rules vary widely from state to state. With no federal guidance on the horizon, state and local
policies are evolving rapidly. New approaches are being tested all over the country. Nearly all states have an e-bike
policy, and 28 states have passed some form of e-scooter law. This section looks at policies that have passed and been
implemented as of June 1, 2025.
Federal Guidance
E-bicycles were officially recognized by the federal government in 2002 with the passage of Public Law 107-319. This law
set the precedent that e-bikes whose top speed is 20 MPH are consumer products that must comply with 16 C.F.R. Part
1512 and are not considered motor vehicles. E-bike classes are not covered in that law. Therefore, electric bicycle-like
devices that travel over 20 miles per hour are not considered ‘bicycles’ in that federal regulation. In reference to e-bikes
as a kind of off-road vehicle in 43 CFR 420.5, e-bikes are defined as:
Electric bicycle (also known as an E-bike) means a two- or three-wheeled cycle with fully operable pedals and
an electric motor of not more than 750 watts (1 horsepower) that meets the requirements of one of the
following three classes:
(1) Class 1 electric bicycle means an electric bicycle equipped with a motor that provides assistance
only when the rider is pedaling, and that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches the
speed of 20 miles per hour.
(2) Class 2 electric bicycle means an electric bicycle equipped with a motor that may be used
exclusively to propel the bicycle, and that is not capable of providing assistance when the bicycle
reaches the speed of 20 miles per hour.
(3) Class 3 electric bicycle means an electric bicycle equipped with a motor that provides assistance
only when the rider is pedaling, and that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches the
speed of 28 miles per hour.
Other micromobility devices are not formally defined by the federal government and do not have to comply with any
consumer protection regulations. Some other micromobility devices, such as e-scooters, are recognized by the
Department of Transportation as “low-speed electric vehicles” but have not been included in legislation by Congress.
State-by-State Policy Approaches
Policies toward micromobility vary substantially across states
and are rapidly evolving. Several policy themes are addressed
in this review as they relate to the recommendations
developed by the Commission. This is not a comprehensive
review of all approaches taken by all states, and no doubt new
ones will come about as micromobility continues to evolve in
the coming years.
This report discusses the currently existing relevant
Massachusetts laws and regulations found in
Massachusetts General Law (MGL) and the Code of
Massachusetts Regulations (CMR) in
Chapter 2: Micromobility in Massachusetts.
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Micromobility in the US | Special Commission on Micromobility
3 Classes of E-bikes
Thirty-six (36) states and Washington, D.C. classify e-bikes using a three-
class system.[54] Class 1 e-bikes have pedal assist motors, but no throttle,
and have a top speed of 20 MPH. Class 2 e-bikes have pedal assist
motors, a throttle, and similarly have a top speed of 20 MPH. Class 3 e-
bikes are pedal assist-only and have a top speed of 28 MPH. In
Massachusetts, Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes are defined in law, but Class
3 e-bikes are not. These classes aid states in creating boundaries for use.
For example, several states have age restrictions on Class 3 e-bikes, but
not on Class 1 or Class 2 e-bikes.
Some places have taken a different approach. New Jersey only
recognizes two classes of e-bikes. Class 1 are e-bikes that can go up to
20 MPH and Class 2 are e-bikes that can go up to 28 MPH. Class 1 e-bikes
are largely treated the same as solely human-powered pedal bikes,
whereas Class 2 e-bikes are required to have licensing and registration.
Alaska treats e-bikes almost the same as motorcycles; New Mexico
treats e-bikes as mopeds; and Arkansas treats e-bikes like traditional
pedal bicycles.[55]
E-bike Age Limits
For Class 3 e-bikes, or e-bikes that can go
faster than 20 MPH for states that don’t
use the three-class system, some states
require the operator to be a certain age,
though most let underage users ride as a
passenger.
The most common minimum age is 16.
Alaska considers all bikes with a motor
attached to be a “motor-driven cycle,”
which requires a class M license. This is
available at age 14. Maine extends the age
requirement to Class 2 e-bikes as well.
Hawaii requires e-bike registration, which
the owner needs to be at least 18 years old
to do, however people 15 years old or older
can ride an e-bike registered to a
member of their household. Utah’s law
does not allow individuals under the age
of 14 to operate an electric-assisted
bicycle without the direct supervision of
their parent or guardian and prohibits any
individual under 8 from using an e-bike.
Source: National Council of State Legislatures, State Electric Bike Laws
Examples of California’s new mandated stickers
24
Micromobility in the US | Special Commission on Micromobility
Stand Up E-scooters
Twenty-eight (28) states have
introduced some kind of e-scooter
legislation setting guardrails for
operator age, maximum speed,
weight, use, and a variety of other
factors. Of the 15 states that set an age
minimum for operating an e-scooter,
the minimum age for operating an e-
scooter is generally 16, though there
are exceptions. For example, in Illinois
the minimum is 18. Max speed also
varies. Seventeen states have made
the maximum manufactured speed 20
MPH, and of those, seven set the
operational speed maximum at 15
MPH. Illinois caps speeds at 10 MPH,
whereas in Oklahoma, it is legal to go
up to 25 MPH.
Hawaii, Illinois, Louisiana, Minnesota,
and New York forbid operators from
holding anything that could potentially impact steering or braking. Illinois, New York, and Utah have made it illegal to
operate an e-scooter under the influence or while carrying alcoholic beverages.
Delaware and Pennsylvania have the most restrictions on e-scooters. Delaware prohibits e-scooters and e-skateboards
from being operated on any highway, street, sidewalk, or right-of-way, and anyone under the age of 12 can only operate
an e-scooter on land owned by their parent or guardian.[56] Pennsylvania, meanwhile, considers e-scooters to be motor
vehicles and thus subject to titling, registration, licensing, and inspection requirements. This means that e-scooters
must have equipment like turn signals and mirrors which most lack, making them de facto illegal to operate on any
roadway in the state.[57]
License and Registration
Alaska, Hawaii, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Dakota, and South Dakota are the only states that may require a license
for e-bikes, depending on the max speed of the device.[58] In California, Florida, and Alabama, neither the e-bike needs
to be registered nor the operator licensed, but the manufacturer or distributor must apply a sticker identifying the class
of the bike prominently on the frame.[59] California is also considering adding an age requirement.[60]
Alaska, New Jersey, and Hawaii are the only states that require e-bike registration, and Hawaii is the only state that
explicitly requires e-scooter registration.[61] Hawaii’s registration for e-bikes and e-scooters consists of a one-time $30
fee that goes towards infrastructure improvements. In some states, seated e-scooters get lumped in with gas-powered
mopeds and inherit those licensing and registration requirements, but these devices tend to lack Vehicle Identification
Numbers (VINs), which makes registration more difficult.
Source: National Conference of State Legislatures, State e-Scooter Laws
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Micromobility in the US | Special Commission on Micromobility
False Advertising
The Commission did not thoroughly examine the issue of false and deceptive advertising in the micromobility market,
though individual members and support staff reported seeing many troubling examples, especially online. Devices are
often marketed as e-bikes but do not meet the current e-bike definitions in Massachusetts law. Some Off-Highway
Vehicles are being marketed as bicycles and dubiously advertised with “street-legal” versions. Confusion among
parents and guardians from these marketing practices have likely led to devices that are more akin to motorcycles
being purchased for youth, whose family members may believe they are buying e-bikes.[62] Other states have begun to
respond to this misinformation. California and Minnesota have passed laws prohibiting the false advertisement of any
device as an e-bicycle which does not fit the legal definition of an e-bike.[63] Connecticut introduced a similar bill that
died in committee in the 2025 legislative session. [64] California and Utah also require e-moto sellers to explicitly
communicate state regulations and restrictions at point of sale.[65][66]
26
Micromobility in the US | Special Commission on Micromobility
Emerging Tech
Micromobility came to US cities rapidly, and the innovation behind this technology continues to evolve at a blistering
pace. Micromobility, and particularly electric-powered micromobility, is an emergent and ever-changing space. The
advent of lightweight and battery-powered devices has shifted how people get around cities, campuses, and towns
around the world. Reports estimate that the overall micromobility market could be worth $56 billion in North America by
2030. Long dominated by stand-up e-scooters and e-bikes, there is a new wave of innovation. Since 2024, we’ve seen
product announcements from electric car companies ready to produce a 100-mile range e-bike; stand-up scooters
that close in on a top speed of 100 MPH; new electric uniwheels and one-wheel-skateboards designed for high-speed
dirt singletrack trail use; the first US deployment of bucket-style (or “bakfiets”) cargo e-bike share to the streets of
Boston; and the addition of cargo quadricycles to the streets of New York City. Some manufacturers are selling devices
that allow users to select e-bike Class modes through variable power output in an app. For example, the same device
could be set to operate in Class 1 mode where the rider has pedal-assist, no throttle action, and it tops out at 20mph;
Class 2 where the throttle becomes functional; or Class 3 mode which would top out at 28 MPH. These innovations blur
the legal lines drawn in many states. It can be hard to keep up both with the pace of innovation and the speeds of the
vehicles themselves.
Quadricycles (e-Quads)
One emerging tech development Commission members didn’t have enough time to wade into is quadricycles.
However, it’s important to note the potential growth of quadricycles. These are small, four-wheeled micromobility
vehicles built for commercial delivery use cases. For logistics companies, they offer a compelling last-mile solution in
dense urban environments without relying on traditional vans and accruing parking fines or causing emissions
associated with current delivery models. As the micromobility fleet grows, quadricycles may become a key piece in the
puzzle of sustainable urban logistics. For example, New York City and Seattle have adopted rules for commercial e-bikes
and have launched commercial e-bike delivery programs. In Massachusetts, cities may want to consider looking at
rules for parking, infrastructure use, and the operation of commercial pedal vehicles that have a larger form factor (e.g.,
wider than 36”).
AI and GeoFencing
Beyond the new devices themselves, micromobility technology is also pushing into smarter, more efficient systems. Like
many industries, the impact of artificial intelligence is being felt in advanced fleet management of shared systems.
There is a promise that this technology will allow operators of bike- and scooter-share systems to better predict
demand, proactively rebalance vehicles, and detect maintenance needs before breakdowns occur. All of that should
ultimately result in more reliable public micromobility transportation in cities across the US.
On the infrastructure side, geofencing is becoming increasingly common to minimize safety impacts among shared
devices. Geofencing — marking virtual zones on a digital map — is based on Global Positioning System (GPS) data,
which is a constantly improving technology, whose accuracy can be impacted by various factors, such as tall buildings,
weak signals, and complex infrastructure.
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Micromobility in the US | Special Commission on Micromobility
Both Bluebikes and ValleyBike restrict the speeds of their e-bikes universally, without using geofencing. Micromobility
devices are being programmed to slow down automatically in restricted areas like school zones or pedestrian-heavy
streets. In Hartford, Connecticut, local regulators require scooters to slow to 8 MPH in certain parks via geofencing. In
Santa Monica, California, geofencing has been used to create deactivation zones around the beach, where scooters
automatically decelerate and stop to protect pedestrians. However, with personally owned devices, geofencing
technology is not currently a solution and thus infrastructure design, enforcement, and education will continue to play
significant roles.
E-Motos and Modifications
Electric motorcycles, or “e-motos”, are gaining popularity for their efficiency, performance, and lower environmental
impact compared with traditional gas-powered motorcycles. There is also considerable social media hype among
younger riders for these devices and for modifying them beyond their factory settings. Many of these are designed to be
legally ridden off-road but are marketed for on-street use by their manufacturers. However, they present unique
regulatory and safety challenges, particularly when riders attempt to modify them. Modifications such as aftermarket
app upgrades, magnet-based speed limiter circumvention, or hardware tweaks can significantly increase speed and
power beyond legal or safe limits. These alterations not only put riders at risk but also complicate enforcement for
regulators, as speed-limiting technology is increasingly easy to bypass.
A growing concern arises when high-powered e-motos are classified or perceived as e-bikes, either intentionally or
through loopholes in federal, state, and/or local regulations. If they were actually motorcycles, they would need to follow
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) for motorcycles. Some may look like fat-tire bicycles but have motors
up to 5000 watts, more than six times the maximum wattage for an e-bike as defined in Massachusetts and federal law.
These vehicles often share infrastructure, such as bike lanes and shared use paths, with other micromobility users, but
their weight, acceleration, and speed far exceed the design assumptions of these spaces. This creates safety hazards
for riders and the public alike. The combination of easy-to-bypass software limits, rapid technological upgrades, and
blurred regulatory classifications makes it difficult for authorities to ensure consistent safety standards, leaving both
riders and communities vulnerable to crashes and legal uncertainty.
Source: Darren Cole
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Micromobility in the US | Special Commission on Micromobility
This is a topic being looked at in states across the country. It was brought up on the Commission from first responders
and local law enforcement. Increasingly, it has been a topic of reporting in the press and in discussion among parent
groups looking for guidance on safe devices that enable freedom of car-free movement for young people. Addressing
these challenges requires a combination of updated regulations at the federal and state level, technological
enforcement tools, and better public education. Some states have moved to action on this issue, including California
Senate Bill 586 that sought to better define off-highway electric motorcycles and their requirements, which passed in
October. Manufacturers and software developers could be encouraged or required to design tamper-resistant systems
to prevent users from bypassing limits. Manufacturers and retailers should be required to clearly indicate if a particular
device’s motor exceeds legal e-bike limits for motor power, thereby rendering it illegal for on-street use. Clear rules,
combined with awareness campaigns on the risks of modifications, would likely help reduce crashes.
Micromobility Outliers
What will the future hold? The only constant is change. More than just e-bikes and e-scooters exist in the consumer
micromobility market, and new devices are being introduced every year. It’s unlikely that any of these devices will be
taking the majority of the micromobility market-share anytime soon, but they are important to consider. Whatever
framework the legislature decides to adopt, these edge cases need to fit somewhere. The advent of autonomous
micromobility is not just science fiction but is being prototyped and tested by the MIT Media Lab among others. This will
bring with it the need for scalable urban simulations to determine impacts of this new technology and responsive public
policy to minimize the negative externalities and maximize public benefit.
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Micromobility in Massachusetts | Special Commission on Micromobility
Chapter 2-
Micromobility in Massachusetts
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Massachusetts General Law (MGL) Review
30
Code of Massachusetts Regulations (CMR) Review
32
Review of Select Local Ordinances
33
02 Micromobility in Massachusetts
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Micromobility in Massachusetts | Special Commission on Micromobility
Massachusetts General Law (MGL)
Review
Massachusetts General Law (MGL) includes definitions and laws on micromobility devices across multiple sections of
Part 1 Title XIV.[67] The following chapters are relevant to this Commission.
M.G.L. c. 85 § 11B-E outlines restrictions for use, manufacturing, safety, and
traffic violations for electric bicycles.
•
§ 11B: Bicycles; operation and equipment; regulations; federal product
safety standards, effect; races; violations; penalties
•
§ 11B 1/2: Mandatory helmet use for persons 16 years of age or younger
•
§ 11B 3/4: Electric bicycles; rights, privileges, duties; regulations
•
§ 11D: Bicycle helmets; display of sign requiring use
•
§ 11E: Traffic law violations by bicyclist
MGL c. 90 § 1, § 1B-E outlines the rules for legally operating motorized bicycles, motorized scooters, and electric
bicycles. § 1H and § 1I handle registering vehicles that can go faster than 30 MPH but not faster than 40 MPH.
•
§ 1: Definitions
•
§ 1B: Motorized bicycles; operation regulations
•
§ 1C: Motorized bicycles and scooters; compliance with federal standards
•
§ 1D: Motorized bicycles; sales; number sticker or plate
•
§ 1E: Motorized scooters; operation regulations
•
§ 1H: Registration of motor vehicles designed for operation on public ways but not capable of exceeding 40
miles per hour
•
§ 1I: 3-wheeled motor vehicle registered as a motorcycle
MGL c. 90B §20-22, §25, §26 handles rules and registration for recreational vehicles, all-terrain vehicles, off-highway
vehicles, etc.
•
§20: Definitions
•
§21: Recreation vehicle safety and responsibility course
•
§22: Registration; application; period; certificate; name and address; transferability; fees
•
§25: Operation on public ways; emergencies; regulations
•
§26: Prohibited or limited operation by underage persons; restrictions
N.B. This review includes current
laws as written. It does not account
for language changes that would
be made if the recommendations
of the Commission were to be
adopted.
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Micromobility in Massachusetts | Special Commission on Micromobility
MGL c. 90E §1-3 defines the rules for bicycles and e-bicycles and the various paths, ways, and lanes designated for
bicycles to use.
•
§ 1: Definitions
•
§ 2: Rules, regulations and plans; bikeways program; participation
•
§ 2A: Accommodation of bicycle and pedestrian traffic in construction projects
•
§ 3: Funding; expenditures; federal funds
Definitions
C. 90 § 1 contains definitions for class 1 e-bike, class 2 e-bike, electric bicycle, motorcycle, motorized bicycle, motorized
scooter, and vulnerable user. Note that while class 1 and 2 electric bikes are defined, there is not a definition for class 3
electric bikes at present.
C. 90E § 1 contains the definitions for bicycle, bike path, bike lane, bike route, bikeway, and bicycle facility.
Current Requirements
This chart summarizes the current laws around use of these devices that are directly relevant to the recommendations
in this report. The full text of these laws can be found in Appendix III: MGL and CMR Text.
Registration
Licensing
Mandatory
helmet use
Speed limit
Bicycle
Under 16 years old
Electric
Bicycle
Under 16 years old
Motorized
Bicycle
license or permit
*any class
25mph
Motorized
Scooter
license or permit
*any class
20mph
The full text of these laws is included in Appendix III: MGL and CMR Text.
32
Micromobility in Massachusetts | Special Commission on Micromobility
Code of Massachusetts Regulations
(CMR) Review
Regulations around micromobility are currently found in three sections of the Code of Massachusetts Regulations
(CMR). Below is a summary of the relevant text.
302 CMR, Department of Conservation and Recreations (DCR) contains regulations around micromobility use on DCR
land.[68]
•
A class 3 e-bike is defined as “an electric bicycle, other than a Class 1 electric bicycle, equipped with a motor that
provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling, and that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle
reaches or exceeds 28 miles per hour.”
•
Electric bicycles are prohibited from operating on the Appalachian Trail.
•
Motorized devices are largely not allowed on trails maintained by DCR.
•
Class 1 e-bikes are allowed on paths that are wider than 8 feet.
•
Class 1, 2, and 3 e-bikes are allowed in bike lanes.
540 CMR, Registry of Motor Vehicles contains several definitions for micromobility devices and regulations around
registration and conversion.[69]
•
Motorized bicycles cannot be converted and registered as a motorcycle. If a motorized bicycle can go faster than
30 MPH, the registrar can refuse to register it.
•
An off-road vehicle cannot be registered for on-road use unless it installs the requisite parts and passes
examination.
•
Motorized scooters are not allowed to register.
•
A Class D license or permit may be used to operate a motorized bicycle or scooter.
•
If a vehicle fits the definition of a motorcycle and its top speed is between 30 and 40, it should be registered as a
“limited use motorcycle” and can be restricted from certain ways.
700 CMR, Massachusetts Department of Transportation contains few mentions of micromobility and only insofar as to
define traffic control devices and violations of legal road use for bicycles.[70]
•
Bicyclists are beholden to separate bicycle traffic lights, where installed.
•
Bicyclists are not allowed on limited access highways.
The full text of these regulations is included in Appendix III: MGL and CMR Text.
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Micromobility in Massachusetts | Special Commission on Micromobility
Review of Select Local Ordinances
In Massachusetts’ 351 cities and towns, municipalities have passed dozens of local ordinances about micromobility
devices to fill in where state law does not provide clear guidance, or where additional municipal regulation is needed to
address residents’ needs. Through the Commission’s process we have heard a continued desire from city and town
officials and residents for additional clarity from the state.
This report includes several distinct ordinances found around the Commonwealth that illustrate how local authorities
have been tackling micromobility in their communities. This is not an exhaustive list of ordinances, nor is it an exhaustive
list of cities and towns that use the same or similar ordinances. The curated section below is intended to give readers a
sense of the types of efforts being undertaken by municipalities across the Commonwealth.
Definitions
Several municipalities have additional micromobility-related definitions.
Below are a few of those definitions culled from ordinances across the
Commonwealth.
•
“Class 3 – Speed Pedelec”, The electric drive system on the e-bike is
activated by pedaling which ceases to provide assistance once the
e-bike reaches 28 mph.[71]
•
“e-cargo bikes”, motorized bikes, which can come in any class listed
above, that are designed to carry heavy loads, including additional
people, or goods.[72]
•
"Moped" shall have the same definition as a "motorized bicycle" under
Massachusetts General Law Chapter 90, Section 1.[73]
•
“Motorized Uniwheel”, any motorized device with a single wheel.[74]
•
“class 3 e-bike” A Class 3 e-bike has an electric motor that assists
only when the rider is pedaling and can go up to 28 mph.[75]
•
“Electric Assist Scooter”, a primarily human-powered or low speed
electric stand-on vehicle used by an individual for transportation.[76]
•
“Shared Mobility Device (SMD)”, a human-powered or low speed
electric vehicle for public shared use to individuals on a short-term
basis and may include bicycles, scooters, Segways or similar
devices.[77]
•
“Electric personal assistive mobility device (EPAMD)”, a self-balancing device with two wheels not in tandem,
designed to transport only one person by an electric propulsion system having a maximum speed on a paved level
surface of less than 20 mph. For purposes of this Section, EPAMDs shall include, but shall not be limited to, the
Segway® PT. […] electric or motorized wheelchairs and powerchairs shall not be considered EPAMDs.[78]
Boston, MA
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Micromobility in Massachusetts | Special Commission on Micromobility
•
“Multi-Use Trail” shall mean a paved trail or pathway eight-feet wide or greater specifically created or designed for
bicycle and pedestrian travel to the exclusion of autos and motorcycles including the entire length and width of any
such trail or pathway as well as landscaped or areas within or adjacent to such trails or pathways.[79]
•
“Electric Bicycle” shall mean Class 1 and Class 2 electric bicycles as defined by M.G.L. c. 90 § 1 with tire widths of five
inches or less.[80]
•
“Electric Scooter” shall mean a device that carries a passenger that: has two to four wheels with diameters of 12
inches or less, is no wider than two feet nor longer than six feet, weighs less than 35 pounds, has a maximum speed
of 15 miles per hour and an electric motor with 300 watts or less of power.[81]
Bicycle Registration
In Nantucket, all bicycles must be registered with the town to assist in
recovering stolen or abandoned bikes.[82] The owner of the bicycle receives
a decal upon registration which must be displayed at all times.[83] The
registration fee is $2.50.
In addition to a registration sticker, Nantucket provides free e-bike
classification stickers to spread awareness of the e-bike classification
system.[84] These locally designed stickers are available at public schools,
police stations, and the Planning and Land Use Services (PLUS) offices.
Foxborough requires bicycle owners to register the device with the local
police department, and the police department will issue them a plate that needs to be displayed somewhere on the
bicycle. If the owner ever decides to sell the bicycle, the registration plate has to be removed and surrendered to the
police department or transfer the registration to the new owner.[85]
Travel Restrictions
Nantucket has prohibited class 3 e-bikes from paths; operators of class 3 e-bikes must ride in the street and have a
speedometer. While paths have no set speed limit and ostensibly have been designed for a maximum of 20 MPH, the
town urges bike riders of all kinds to ride slowly.
E-bikes have also been banned from use on school grounds in Nantucket. If a student is found to be riding an e-bike
where they’re not supposed to, the school will confiscate the bike’s battery. The battery can be reclaimed by the
student’s parent or guardian.[86]
Motorized bikes and motorized scooters have a blanket speed limit of 20 MPH on all ways in Marlborough. Motorized
devices are banned from off-street paths, limited access highways, state highways, but are allowed to operate in bike
lanes.
Malden gives default right-of-way to human-propelled micromobility over motorized micromobility on paths.[87]
Agawam passed an ordinance in November 2025 that e-scooters will be banned from roads with speed limits over 30
MPH. This pairs with a similar restriction to e-bikes that the town passed in the summer. Neither type of device is allowed
to operate after dark.[88]
On shared-use paths in Northampton, only e-bikes that weigh less than 170 lbs and have a maximum speed of 20 MPH
are allowed, and the path speed limit is 12 MPH.[89]
Nantucket's 3-Class E-bike Decals
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Micromobility in Massachusetts | Special Commission on Micromobility
In their regulation of multi-use trails passed in 2023, Malden uses the current M.G.L. definition of e-bikes, but adds the
stipulation that the tires are less than 5 inches in width to exclude “fat tire” bikes from this category.[9] Malden also limits
operational speed to 15 MPH on multi-use trails and 20 MPH elsewhere.[90]
Fall River prohibits e-scooters from using sidewalks and operating on public property.[91]
Rentals
Nantucket requires businesses who rent out motorized bicycles on a short- or long-term basis to provide helmets equal
to the passenger carrying capacity of each e-bike.[92] They maintain a registry of rental e-bikes which includes all crash
records, and they expressly forbid operating an e-bike with more than the intended number of riders.
Reckless Use
While Hanover has not passed any local ordinances around micromobility devices, the police chief has said that
anyone under the age of 18 cited for violating MGL Ch. 85/11B, which prohibits operating a bicycle recklessly, will have
their e-bike impounded.[93]
Operational Requirements
Like many other towns, Marlborough prohibits anyone under the age of 16 from operating a motorized bicycle or a
motorized scooter. The town also prohibits motorized devices from operating at night or being used without a helmet.[94]
Source: MassDOT
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Micromobility in Massachusetts | Special Commission on Micromobility
Crash Data Collection
Cambridge tracks collisions between vulnerable road users (e.g. bicyclists, motorized scooters, pedestrians) in crashes
that do not involve a motor vehicle in their crash database.[95] Typically, the crash report form requires an operated
motor vehicle to be involved in a crash in order to be entered into the Massachusetts crash data system, but in
Cambridge’s system, a collision can be recorded in the event that it is with another vulnerable road user.[96] There were
42 such reported incidents between March 2024 and November 2025.
Cambridge, MA, Bicycle Crash Frequency Map 2018-2022
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Challenges in Massachusetts | Special Commission on Micromobility
Chapter 3
Challenges in Massachusetts
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03 Challenges in massachusetts
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Challenges in Massachusetts | Special Commission on Micromobility
Challenges in Massachusetts
Given the context in Massachusetts, and in the United States overall, it is clear that there are a number of micromobility-
related challenges we must tackle. Commission members heard and discussed three main challenges: overall
confusion, insufficient infrastructure, hampered growth.
Overall Confusion
The commission heard repeatedly, from a variety of stakeholders, that the current state of micromobility is confusing. It
is confusing for micromobility users themselves, who may not know exactly which device they have, what it is capable
of, or where it is allowed to go. It is confusing for law enforcement officers, who are trying to fill out crash reports
accurately, apply laws consistently, and maintain safety on our streets and paths. It is confusing for buyers, such as for
parents considering a micromobility device for their teenager who just got a job and can’t get to it on transit or can’t
afford a car. And it is confusing for local leaders and state officials, who are trying to explain the complicated (and
sometimes contradictory) rules to their communities and stakeholders.
Recommendations 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, and 9 aim to address this concern.
Insufficient Infrastructure
Commission members heard, and have experienced themselves, that infrastructure for micromobility users across the
Commonwealth is incomplete. We are introducing new devices into and onto infrastructure that has been largely
unchanged from its original car-centric designs for almost a century. Even the growing network of bicycle facilities
added over the last decade is insufficient to meet the demand of current micromobility vehicles available today.
Whether a lack of sidewalks or shared use paths in more rural areas, or an unconnected network of paths in denser
parts of the state — a micromobility user (or potential user) does not experience a seamless, separated network of
facilities. While grants like MassTrails, Shared Streets and Spaces, and Complete Streets aim to address these issues, the
reality is that gaps exist today and likely will for some time.
Additionally, even where infrastructure exists, a common complaint is that it is not enforced (e.g., a bike lane is blocked
by a parked vehicle). This is a problem because it means micromobility users are sometimes forced into the road,
where they have to mix with heavier, faster traffic (e.g., cars and trucks). Micromobility users are more vulnerable than
motor vehicle operators in the event of a crash, due to their lower speed and device weights. It is a problem because it
deters would-be or potential riders from accessing the mobility unlocked by these devices.
Recommendations 5, 6, 8, and 10 attempt to mitigate this concern.
Hampered Growth
Commission members noticed that their discussions often started at the statutory mandate to clarify vehicle types and
where they’re allowed to travel and didn’t always transition into the commission’s second statutory mandate to
encourage growth. There was an inherent tension in the commission’s work: acknowledge the current status quo (e.g.,
confusion, safety concerns) while also acknowledging that we want more micromobility devices to be used by more
people.
The growth goals for micromobility in Massachusetts may be hampered by public perception of the riskiness of these
devices. As discussed in the introduction, serious injury and fatal crashes rightly increase the urgency of the discussion,
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Challenges in Massachusetts | Special Commission on Micromobility
but have — in some other places — led to crackdowns and outright bans on certain devices. While commission
members affirmed safety as paramount, they also agreed that micromobility devices can offer new or increased
mobility for various users.
The desire for the growth of micromobility use also highlights the need for additional resources, both for supporting
infrastructure and for increasing access to devices. The Commission heard consistent feedback about the need for
increased funding for this mode of transportation, whether in shared or personally owned scenarios, to provide mobility
for all residents of the Commonwealth, and to ensure it is done in an equitable fashion.
Recommendations 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 seek to remedy these situations.
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Challenges in Massachusetts | Special Commission on Micromobility
Chapter 4
Recommendations
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Core Framework
42
Safety & Enforcement
58
Infrastructure
69
Growth
77
04 Recommendations
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Core Framework Recommendations | Special Commission on Micromobility
Recommendations
The Commission recommends 16 actions be taken by the legislature, MassDOT, and various other parties. These
recommendations were developed by commission members and contain expertise from state and local experts.
Methodology
The first three recommendations were initially developed by the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV), informed by research
on vulnerable users from the University of Massachusetts Transportation Center in collaboration with MassDOT’s
Highway Safety team, and were refined by the Commission over several sessions.
For the remaining recommendations, the Commission heard presentations on various topics concerning micromobility,
after which commissioners submitted potential recommendations. These recommendations were presented to the
Commission in the October 14th, 2025 meeting, and commissioners were given the opportunity to indicate their
preferences, priorities, and any opposition they may have had. See Appendix IV for more information on this process.
Of the 54 recommendations that were presented, five received immediate majority consensus. Eight additional
recommendations were refined based on discussions held within the Commission. Finally, in consultation with the RMV
and additional subject matter experts, a ‘core schema’ was developed and broken out into three additional
recommendations. Final recommendations were selected in the November 3rd, 2025 meeting.
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Core Framework Recommendations | Special Commission on Micromobility
Recommendations
1
Legislative and Regulatory Changes
43
2
Speed-Based Classification Schema
47
3
Micro ID
56
Core framework
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Core Framework Recommendations | Special Commission on Micromobility
The legislature should add the necessary legal definitions to Massachusetts
General Law and update all existing relevant definitions or remove those that
are no longer relevant to accommodate these new definitions. Additionally,
the legislature or the relevant regulatory body should enact appropriate
statutory and/or regulatory changes that would provide the legal framework
for the classification schema.
The Commission agreed that there are currently gaps and inconsistencies in Massachusetts General Law (MGL) and the
Code of Massachusetts Regulations (CMR) that the legislature and/or the appropriate regulating body should remedy.
This recommendation is divided into four sections containing the changes that the Commission has identified. All the
existing relevant law can be found in MGL Part 1 Title XIV Chapters 85, 90, and 90E.
New Definitions
To bring our state law up to date with the emergence of micromobility, the Commission recommends adding the
following definitions and where to put them in statute:
Chapter 90 § 1
“Maximum design speed-based tiers”, creating speed tiers for all micromobility devices. Tier 0: <=20 MPH,
Tier 1: 21-30 MPH, Tier 2: 31-40 MPH and Tier 3: 41+ MPH).
This definition unlocks the ability to have better education, safer operation, and when needed, enforcement.
“Cycle”, a powered or unpowered device with functional pedals OR if it lacks functional pedals, rider must be
seated during typical operation (cannot stand and operate)
This definition will serve as the overarching category for these kinds of devices.
“Scooter”, a powered or unpowered device without pedals where the rider can sit and/or stand on a
footboard for typical operation.
This definition will serve as the overarching category for these kinds of devices.
“Class 3 electric bicycle", an electric bicycle equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when the
rider is pedaling, and that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 28 miles per
hour.
This definition is the same as the federal definition of class 3 e-bike as written in 23 USC § 217(j)(2).
Legislative and Regulatory Changes
1
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Core Framework Recommendations | Special Commission on Micromobility
“Solely Human Powered micromobility device”, A micromobility device (non-electric bicycles, push
scooters, skateboards, longboards, unicycles, roller skates, inline skates etc.) that is propelled exclusively by
human muscular effort and has no onboard motor capable of delivering tractive power to the device.
Excludes Mobility aid devices.
This definition is to be used to differentiate motor-assisted devices from traditional non-motorized devices that are
propelled by human power.
“Powered micromobility device”, A micromobility device (scooters, skateboards, hoverboards, unicycles
etc.) that has an onboard motor capable of delivering tractive power to the device either as power assist or
as sole propulsion (aka throttle). Excludes mobility aid devices.
This definition is to be used to refer to devices like e-scooters, e-skateboards, hoverboards, etc. that are motor-assisted.
Eliminating the current definition of “Motorized Scooter” is also important so as to not conflict with this definition.
“Mobility aid device”, A device, other than one used for general transportation, used by a pedestrian with a
mobility disability to assist with indoor and outdoor locomotion. Will encompass existing EPAMD mentioned
in vulnerable user definition, and group wheelchairs, mobility carts, etc.
This definition refers to mobility disability assistive devices that are treated as distinct from all other motorized
micromobility.
“Maximum designed speed tier classification system”, the system by which micromobility devices are
categorized by the fastest speed the manufacturer designed the device to attain on a flat surface in normal
conditions by an average rider.
This definition and the following four set up the legal framework for the speed tier system laid out in Recommendation 2.
“Speed Tier 0”, The category that contains all motorized devices whose top designed speed is 20 MPH and
all non-motorized devices.
“Speed Tier 1”, The category that contains all motorized devices whose top designed speed is 30 MPH.
“Speed Tier 2”, The category that contains all motorized devices whose top designed speed is 40 MPH.
“Speed Tier 3”, The category that contains all motorized devices whose top designed speed is faster than 40
MPH.
Chapter 90E § 1
“Separated micromobility lane,” a micromobility travel lane within or adjacent to a roadway that is
physically separated from motor vehicle traffic by a vertical element such as a curb, median, flexible post,
parked vehicles, or other barrier, and designated by signs or pavement markings for exclusive use by
bicycles.
This definition splits out micromobility lanes with a physical barrier from lanes separated from traffic only by paint.
Further, the legislature should consider reviewing all definitions in c. 90E § 1 that reference “bicycle” or “bike”
lane/route/way (etc.) only and change to “micromobility”.
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Core Framework Recommendations | Special Commission on Micromobility
“Shared use path”, a path intended for transportation or recreational use that is designed for people of all
ages and abilities on foot or using motorized or non-motorized micromobility devices and is physically
separated from motorized vehicle traffic within a highway right-of-way or an independent right-of-way
with few crossflows with motor vehicles.
This definition combines the definitions used in other state laws with ones currently used by MassDOT and the American
Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) in design and planning guides, and other important
documentation. These types of paths are sometimes also called trails, multi-use paths, or bike paths. Types of shared
use paths include rail trails, which are built on abandoned rail beds; rails with trails, which run adjacent to active rail
lines; side paths, which run adjacent to roadways; and other types including linear parks, canal towpaths, waterfront
trails, and paths along utility corridors. Shared use paths must meet pedestrian accessibility surface requirements. This
addition is also discussed in Recommendation 6.
Additionally, addressing the current requirements for Motorized Scooters in this section is important. The Commission
recommends striking the current requirements while enabling new requirements under the micromobility speed tiers.
Currently, Section 1E requires that a “Scooter shall be equipped with operational stop and turn signals”; that a user must
have a valid driver’s license; and that devices are operated only during daylight hours. The current requirements
increase confusion among all parties and should be replaced with the speed tier device and operational requirements.
Updated Definitions
•
In MGL c. 90, § 1, update the definition of "Electric bicycle'' to include “Class 3 electric bicycle”, so that it reads: “…a
bicycle or tricycle equipped with fully operable pedals and an electric motor of 750 watts or less that meets the
requirements of a class 1 electric bicycle, a class 2 electric bicycle, or a class 3 electric bicycle.”
•
The legislature needs to identify and amend any existing definitions and/or sections that conflict or are inconsistent
with new definitions with the appropriate new definition(s). For example, in the definition for “Vulnerable User” the
phrase “electric personal mobility assistive device (EPAMD)” needs to be replaced with "Mobility Aid Device”.
•
The legislature should rename “motorized bicycle” as “moped” to align with colloquial use. This should also update
the definition to remove the requirement of an automatic transmission and include devices with electric motors.
•
In MGL c. 90, § 1B, explicitly disallow mopeds from bike lanes: “...Motorized bicycles [renamed as mopeds, per above]
shall not be operated in bicycle lanes adjacent to the various ways, and shall be excluded from off-street
recreational bicycle paths….”
New Laws and Regulations
The Commission recommends adding the following laws and regulations:
•
Micromobility device lightweight registration, which will provide the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) with the
rulemaking authority to design an identification and registration program for devices in tier 1 and above, where one
does not exist today in 540 CMR.
•
Tier 3.A powered micromobility device, which will be regulated as a motorcycle.
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Core Framework Recommendations | Special Commission on Micromobility
•
Micromobility device operating rules and requirements, which provides the RMV with the rulemaking authority to
design operational and device requirements by speed tiers and device sub-tiers in 540 CMR.
•
Enforcement and penalties for micromobility devices, which will provide penalty guardrails (ranges, caps,
aggravators allowed, civil vs criminal disposition, impound authority, due process etc.) for micromobility infractions
by speed tier and grant power to specific officials to enforce said penalties.
•
Anti-tampering law, which makes it illegal for an e-bike user to modify their bike to go faster than its original
designed speed unless 1) the e-bike continues to meet the definition of a class 1, 2, or 3 e-bike and 2) the e-bike's
labeling is updated to reflect its new class, when appropriate.
Updated Laws and Regulations
•
The definition of “reportable crash” needs to be updated to include micromobility-only crashes. Without this
change, data on micromobility crashes that do not involve an operated motor vehicle will continue to be difficult to
obtain.
•
Updating MGL c.6, § 116 to include other micromobility devices as it relates to the development and establishment of
courses in bicycle safety enforcement for police training.
Why This Matters:
The definitions used to describe micromobility devices in our state laws have been defined over multiple decades
through a patchwork of laws. This has been confusing for many people in the Commonwealth, but especially for users
of these devices. To best address modern micromobility challenges, the legislature must realign the language around
these devices.
Where To Start:
•
The legislature should hold a hearing to discuss these potential changes.
This report discusses the currently existing relevant Massachusetts laws and regulations found
in Massachusetts General Law (MGL) and the Code of Massachusetts Regulations (CMR) in
Chapter 2: Micromobility in Massachusetts.
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Core Framework Recommendations | Special Commission on Micromobility
The Commission recommends that the legislature adopt a methodology to
classify micromobility devices; define requirements for operating a device
based on its classification; place restrictions on where a given device can be
operated; define what standards a device should be manufactured to; and
devise a way to identify an individual device.
This classification schema was developed by MassDOT
from research conducted by the UMass Transportation
Center and refined by the Commission.[97] This schema,
once enacted, can be used as a uniform foundation for
regulating micromobility devices.
Categorization is the first step to properly setting
regulations in place for safety purposes. A flexible, future-
oriented framework allows for new devices to be slotted
into the appropriate tiers based on the maximum speed
without needing to insert a new definition in MGL for
each new device. Within each speed tier, devices are
grouped into categories. This two-step structure makes it
easy to understand, apply, and extend to new devices.
The classification framework is anchored in maximum
speed because speed is findable on every device, enables
field identification and enforcement, and supports tier-
based regulation. Higher speeds directly correlate to
crash risk and injury severity. Higher speed devices are
uncomfortable to travel alongside in a bike lane and can
lead to dangerous maneuvering by riders who want to go
faster than riders on slower devices. On the other hand,
devices that cannot go more than 50 MPH cannot
contend with typical highway speeds.
Importantly, a class 2 e-bike that can be switched to a
class 3 e-bike should be a Tier 1 device. Modifications to
any micromobility device that increase the maximum
operational speed, such that it also changes that device’s
tier, are permitted so long as the new tier’s rules are
followed. Maximum speed modifications are controversial,
and both California[98] and Florida[99] attempt to address
this potential for modification, which should be reviewed
further.
Speed-Based Classification Schema
2 2
Defining Speed
Speed is not a one-size-fits-all term. Given that two of
our goals for the framework are that it is future-proof
and has clear definitions, the Commission
recommends thinking about speed in a nuanced way.
Therefore, apply the definition that is most
appropriate for the situation:
Maximum Assisted Speed applies to e-bikes and
any device with electric/motor pedal assist:
The highest speed at which the motor provides
propulsion on level ground with factory settings
Maximum Designed Speed applies to fully
motorized devices (no pedals):
The highest speed the device is designed to reach on
level ground under its own power in factory settings.
Typical Operational Speed applies to human-
powered only devices:
The expected speed on level ground in ordinary use,
not including downhill coasting.
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Core Framework Recommendations | Special Commission on Micromobility
Classification Schema
How should devices be grouped?
The goal of developing a classification schema is to make the laws and regulations that would be based on it simple,
intuitive, risk-based, futureproof, field-ready, action-oriented, legally grounded, and clear. The Commission and
representatives from the RMV developed this speed-based schema, which it recommends the legislature adopt.
^ Currently called Motorized Bicycle in MGL
“Powered” and “motor” in this case can refer to electric, gas, hybrid, or other non-human-powered propulsion systems.
Tier 0 (0-20 MPH)
These devices include the majority of current commercially available micromobility devices. This tier includes non-
powered devices, mobility aid devices used by people who require assistance because of a mobility disability, or
powered devices that have a maximum designed speed of 20 MPH. This includes, but is not limited to:
•
All non-powered bicycles and tricycles, including road bikes, mountain bikes, BMX bikes, etc.
•
All non-powered kick scooters
•
Class 1 and 2 e-bikes and e-trikes, where the maximum assisted (Class 1) or throttled (Class 2) speed is capped at
20 MPH by design
•
Powered scooters with maximum operational speed of 20 MPH
•
Other powered micromobility devices such as hoverboards, electric skateboards, uniwheels, etc. that can go no
faster than 20 MPH
•
Cargo e-bikes and cargo e-trikes capped at 20 MPH
•
Powered wheelchairs and other mobility aid devices for people with disabilities
This tier is capped at 20 MPH to align with 36 other states[100] and the federal government,[101] which have adopted Class 1
and 2 e-bike definitions with maximum speeds of 20 MPH. This provides some certainty for the industry and consumers
across the US.
Tier 0
0-20 MPH
A.
Human-powered Micromobility Device
B.
Powered Micromobility Device
C.
Mobility Aid Device
Tier 1
21-30 MPH
A.
Class 3 E-bike
B.
Powered Micromobility Device
C.
Moped^ with 2 or 3 wheels
Tier 2
31-40 MPH
A.
Limited Use Motorcycle
B.
Powered Micromobility Device
Tier 3
41+ MPH
A.
Motorcycle
B.
Powered Micromobility Device
Limited use motorcycle and
motorcycle already have
definitions in MGL. They are
required to have FMVSS-standard
motorcycle equipment. Any cycle
device that goes faster than 30
MPH and does not meet FMVSS is
considered a powered
micromobility device.
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Core Framework Recommendations | Special Commission on Micromobility
Additionally, according to a widely regarded study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, [102] the risk of a pedestrian
suffering major injury or death when struck by a motor vehicle increases from 18% if the vehicle is going 20 MPH to 50% if
the vehicle is going 30 MPH. Although micromobility devices have considerably less mass – and therefore less kinetic
energy – than motor vehicles, this study is still the best guidance for where to delineate the end of the first speed tier.
For reasons we will address in Recommendation #5, data on micromobility-related crashes is sparse and unreliable at
present.
Tier 1 (21-30 MPH)
These devices are meant to include devices that are safe to operate at typical neighborhood speeds (e.g., 25 MPH for
municipalities that have adopted MGL c. 90, § 17c) but can go faster than any solely human powered micromobility
device operated by an average person on a flat surface. The Commission considered folding Tier 1.A into Tier 1.B, to
combine all powered micromobility devices in that speed range. This tier includes:
•
Class 3 e-bikes, with maximum assisted speed of 28 MPH
•
Mopeds, currently defined in MGL as motorized bicycles
•
Scooters, hoverboards, electric skateboards, etc. that have a maximum designed speed of between 21 and 30 MPH
Tier 2 (31-40 MPH)
Cycle devices that fall into this category should be thought of as “limited use motorcycles”, which must follow relevant
federal requirements. The Commission recommends explicitly banning devices in this tier from bike lanes, shared use
paths, and other ways that non-motorized bicycles operate on.
Tier 3 (41+ MPH)
This tier includes any device capable of reaching speeds over 40 MPH. The Commission recommends explicitly
banning devices in this tier from bike lanes, shared use paths, and other ways that non-motorized bicycles operate on.
Devices in Tier 3.A are allowed on the road and limited-access highways, if the operator follows posted speed limits. Tier
3.B are non-cycle micromobility devices capable of these speeds, however, should still be banned from limited-access
highways.
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Core Framework Recommendations | Special Commission on Micromobility
Device Requirements
What is the device required to have to be street legal?
The Commission recommends several device standards be put in place to protect consumers and enable safe
operation. These requirements fit the speed-tier classification schema as follows:
UL Electrical
Standard
UL Battery
Standard
Lights,
Brakes, Horn
Motorcycle
Equipment
Speedometer
Stop and
Turn Signals
Tier 0
0-20 MPH
0.A: Human-Powered
n/a
n/a
◼
0.B: Powered Micromobility
UL 2849 or UL 2272
UL 2271
◼
0.C: Mobility Aid Device
Tier 1
21–30 MPH
1.A: Class 3 E-bike
UL 2849
UL 2271
◼ *
◼
1.B: Powered Micromobility
UL 2272
UL 2271
◼
◼
1.C: Moped^
UL 2849
UL 2271
◼ **
◼
◼
Tier 2
31–40 MPH
2.A: Limited Use Motorcycle
UL 2849
UL 2271
◼ **
◼
◼
◼
2.B: Powered Micromobility
UL 2272
UL 2271
◼
◼
◼
Tier 3
41+ MPH
3.A: Motorcycle
UL 2849
UL 2271
◼ **
◼
◼
◼
3.B: Powered Micromobility#
UL 2272
UL 2271
◼
◼
◼
^ Currently called Motorized Bicycle in MGL
* Follow the federal motor vehicle guidelines for bicycles (see 16 CFR Part 1512)
** Follow FMVSS standards (see 49 CFR part 571)
# Need to follow the motorcycle pathway i.e. FMVSS, VIN etc. else illegal on public roadways
UL Electrical and Battery Standards
Lithium-ion battery fires burn hotter, faster, and are more
difficult to extinguish than normal fires. Between 2022 and
2025 in New York City, there have been more than 800
fires caused by lithium-ion batteries, 70% of which were
caused by e-bikes and e-scooters.[103] These fires are the
leading cause of fire death in the city, directly causing 17
deaths in 2024.[104] Because of the construction and
chemistry of lithium-ion batteries, when a battery is
damaged and fails, it triggers a chain reaction called
thermal runaway. Combustion events like these quickly
produce thick, toxic smoke and the resulting fire is
resistant to water and fire suppressing foam, making
them very difficult to put out.
Since the most common place for users to charge their
micromobility devices is in their home, subpar or
damaged batteries can be a hazard. Specific risks are
tied to dangerous charging and storing practices and the
use of aftermarket or third-party batteries. While many
devices in our homes may have lithium-ion batteries (e.g.,
laptops, cell phones, toys), micromobility device batteries
are unique in the amount of moisture and physical
damage they are exposed to through regular use, making
them perhaps more susceptible to failure.
The best tool we have to fight these fires is to keep them
from happening in the first place. UL-certified batteries
are less prone to failure, having to meet certain standards
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Core Framework Recommendations | Special Commission on Micromobility
for materials and construction.[105] By requiring
micromobility devices to use certified batteries, the state
can potentially reduce incidents of fires caused by faulty
batteries.
Faulty batteries are also known to cause fires at waste
centers across the state, and the Massachusetts Extended
Producer Responsibility (EPR) Commission recommends
that an EPR law for batteries would provide greater access
to recovery of removable lithium-ion batteries (such as
those found in e-micromobility devices), the cost of which
would be funded by industry, significantly increasing the
likelihood of participation by residents.[106]
Additional Device Requirements
Beyond battery requirements, any additional device
requirements are for the purpose of safe operation at
night; to conform to federal safety standards set out in the
Code of Federal Regulation (CFR); and/or to provide the
means of safe and legal operation.
Nearly all these requirements are already in place. For
standard non-motorized pedal bicycles, MGL c. 85 § 11B
requires brakes, lights, and reflectors that perform to a
certain standard to be installed and functional. Bicycles of
this kind and Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes are also required
to follow the CFR standards set out in Chapter II
Subchapter C Part 1512,[107] which includes specifications
for various additional parts of the bicycle. The
Commission’s addition here is to extend these
requirements to Class 3 e-bikes.
Mopeds, limited use motorcycles, and motorcycles are
considered motor vehicles and are thus also subject to
the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS),
which is a subsection of the CFR handled by the National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The
requirement set out above for motorcycle equipment is to
conform to this federal standard for the purposes of
decreasing the likelihood of collision and increasing
survivability in case of a crash.
UL Standards
UL 2849 (e-bike “system” safety): A system-level standard that evaluates an e-bike’s entire electrical system working together
— battery, motor/controller, wiring and the specific charger — for fire/electrical hazards. It’s certified by an OSHA-recognized
NRTL (e.g., UL, Intertek, SGS) and includes construction + test requirements and required markings.
UL 2271 (battery pack safety for LEVs): A pack-level standard for lithium-ion battery assemblies used in light electric vehicles
(including e-bikes/scooters). It focuses on the battery pack’s design, BMS, abuse/thermal tests, production checks, and
labeling. It’s distinct from automotive EV batteries (UL 2580).
UL 2272 applies to personal e-mobility devices (e-scooters/hoverboards, etc.) at the device electrical system level.
Many jurisdictions pair UL 2272 for scooters with UL 2271 for their batteries, and UL 2849 for e-bikes.
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Core Framework Recommendations | Special Commission on Micromobility
Operational Requirements
What is required of a user?
This table describes what requirements the Commission recommends for a micromobility user to operate a
micromobility device based on the tier system.
Helmet
Age 16+
License/
Education
Insurance
RMV
Registration
State Micro
ID/Decal
Tier 0
0-20 MPH
0.A: Human Powered
◼‡
0.B: Powered Micromobility
◼‡
0.C: Mobility Aid Device
Tier 1
21–30 MPH
1.A: Class 3 E-bike
◼
◼
Education
◼
1.B: Powered Micromobility
◼
◼
Education
◼
1.C: Moped^
◼
◼
◼ Class D
◼
◼
Tier 2
31–40 MPH
2.A: Limited Use Motorcycle
◼
◼
◼ Class M
◼
◼
2.B: Powered Micromobility
◼
◼
◼ Type TBD
◼
◼
Tier 3
41+ MPH
3.A: Motorcycle
◼
◼
◼ Class M
◼
◼
3.B: Powered Micromobility
◼
◼
◼ Type TBD
◼
◼
‡ Bicycle Helmet Law applies to riders ages 16 and younger
^ Currently called Motorized Bicycle in MGL
Helmets
The Bicycle Helmet Law in Massachusetts stipulates
that bicycle riders, both operators and passengers,
ages 16 and under must wear a bicycle helmet while
riding a bike.[108] The Commission recommends that this
law be extended to powered bicycles and
micromobility devices. In the event of a crash, a
helmet offers the best protection against concussions
and traumatic brain injuries. According to the
Cleveland Clinic, bicycle helmets reduce serious head
injuries by 60%, reduce traumatic brain injury by 53%,
and reduce the number of cyclists killed or seriously
injured by 34%.[109] The Commission therefore
recommends extending the 16 and under bicycle
helmet requirement to Class 1 and 2 e-bikes and similar
powered Tier 0 devices.
Additionally, the Commission recommends a helmet
requirement for all users of Tier 1 (20-30 MPH) devices,
including Class 3 e-bikes (Tier 1.A), and strongly
encourages Class 3 e-bike riders to use Class 3 e-bike
helmets or motorcycle helmets but recognizes this
requirement would be very difficult to enforce. An
operator of a Tier 1.A or Tier 1.B device should not be
stopped by police solely for not wearing a helmet, and it
should not be considered contributory negligence in a
crash.
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Core Framework Recommendations | Special Commission on Micromobility
Already, MGL has a “Universal Helmet Law” that requires
moped and motorcycle operators and passengers to
wear a motorcycle helmet, regardless of age, in
accordance with federal safety standards.[110] The
Commission recommends extending this requirement
to other micromobility devices that can achieve
speeds between 21-30 MPH or more.
Age Minimums
The Commission recommends imposing minimum
operating age requirements (e.g. 16 years old) on
devices that can travel over 20 MPH. Children are more
likely to be involved in incidents involving micromobility
devices; according to the Consumer Product Safety
Commission, “Children 14 years and younger accounted
for about 36% of micromobility injuries from 2017 to
2022, double their 18% proportion of the U.S.
population.”[111] The Commission recommends setting a
minimum operating age on micromobility devices that
can go faster than a child could reasonably be
expected to achieve by their own power. This
requirement aims to protect both children and the
people travelling around them. If the legislature adopts
age limits, it should additionally investigate advertising
practices aimed at children.
Licensing & Education Requirements
While broad education programs are needed to
address safe operation practices for all micromobility
devices, which is discussed further in Recommendation
#7, the Commission felt that additional requirements
should exist for Tier 2 (31-40 MPH) and Tier 3 (41+ MPH)
devices. Class M licenses are already required by the
RMV for motorcycles and limited use motorcycles, while
Class D licenses are required to operate a moped. The
Commission recommends a potentially new license
category for powered micromobility devices that travel
above 30 MPH (e.g., Tier 2 and Tier 3), which would be
developed by the RMV. Additionally, the RMV should
develop material for a light-weight education
requirement, potentially issued at the point of sale, for
Tier 1.A and Tier 1.B devices. This is to help riders better
understand the basic rules of the road and where the
device can travel. These educational materials should
also be incorporated into the driver’s manual.
Insurance Requirements
For faster devices, insurance coverage is crucial
because of the potential for physical harm caused by
the device in the event of a crash involving a vulnerable
user. Just as with car insurance, the Commission
recommends that some higher-speed micromobility
users have liability insurance to ease the financial
burden of treating serious or potentially life-
threatening injuries in the event of a crash. The most
notable change to current requirements here in
Massachusetts is for an insurance requirement to be
added for mopeds (Tier 1.C). This is because they weigh
more than other Tier 1 (21-30 MPH) devices. Examples of
liability insurance requirements for these types of
devices exist in several states, including California,
Florida, and New York.[112] The Commission is
recommending this be part of the discussion in any
future legislation.
RMV Vehicle Registration
The RMV already requires gas-powered mopeds and
motorcycles to register with the RMV.[113] The
Commission recommends extending this requirement
to similar electric mopeds (Tier 1.C) and electric
motorcycles (Tier 2.A and Tier 3.A).
Micro ID will be covered in-depth in Recommendation #3
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Core Framework Recommendations | Special Commission on Micromobility
Travel Allowances
Where can these devices be used?
Travel allowances were discussed at length by the Commission. To maintain consistency across the Commonwealth,
the legislature should adopt the following requirements.
Sidewalks
Bike Lanes
Shared Use Paths
Roadways
Limited Access
Highways (>40 MPH)
Tier 0
0-20 MPH
0.A: Human Powered
◼ ¶
◼ ¶
◼ ¶
◼ ¶
0.B: Powered Micromobility
◼ ¶
◼ ¶
◼ ¶
0.C: Mobility Aid Device
◼
◼
◼
◼
Tier 1
21–30 MPH
1.A: Class 3 E-bike
◼ ¶
◼
1.B: Powered Micromobility
◼ ¶
◼
1.C: Moped^
◼
Tier 2
31–40 MPH
2.A: Limited Use Motorcycle
◼
2.B: Powered Micromobility
◼
Tier 3
41+ MPH
3.A: Motorcycle
◼
◼
3.B: Powered Micromobility
◼
¶ Follow local bicycling rules
^ Currently called Motorized Bicycle in MGL
Allowances
These travel allowances should stand as a default
guide. Municipalities will retain the discretion to set
their own rules about sidewalks and shared use paths
in their communities. Already in MGL, bicyclists are
given these standards for operation.[114] Once a
universal and adaptable categorization framework is
established, MassDOT, in consultation with EOPSS and
local law enforcement agencies, should promulgate
these regulations on micromobility road use and road
safety requirements.
The Commission agreed that sidewalks are
predominantly the domain of pedestrians, and
powered devices should largely stick to the road and
dedicated bikeways. Understanding, though, that
Massachusetts does not have a complete network of
bikeways, there are instances when, in the interest of
safety (unless otherwise directed by local ordinance), a
micromobility operator needs to ride on the sidewalk. A
person operating a micromobility device on the
sidewalk shall yield the right of way to pedestrians and
give an audible signal before overtaking and passing
any pedestrian.[115] Current law does not allow for Class 1
and Class 2 e-bikes on sidewalks.[116] Individual
municipalities have additional rules for sidewalk use
restrictions. The Commission also noted that some e-
bikes can toggle between e-bike classes using
manufacturer supplied apps and this should be
considered in travel allowances. The Commission, in
Recommendation 12, recommends funding for bicycle
facility infrastructure and upgrades, which could be
used by municipalities to remediate these kinds of gaps
in the infrastructure. Until then, no punitive action
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Core Framework Recommendations | Special Commission on Micromobility
should be taken on operators to slowly operate Tier 0
(0-20 MPH) devices when connecting between existing
infrastructure, provided that they yield the right of way
to pedestrians and give an audible signal before
overtaking and passing any pedestrian. The
Commission also recognizes that vehicles of all Tiers
may need to access sidewalks for parking or unloading.
In Massachusetts law, shared use paths are not defined,
but these kinds of paths require different travel
restrictions than currently defined bikeways because of
the nature of mixed pedestrian and micromobility
traffic these paths carry. Representatives from MassDOT
and DCR agreed that Tier 0 (0-20 MPH) devices should
be allowed on these kinds of paths with the opportunity
for path-operating entities and municipalities to set
additional speed restrictions. All Tier 0 (0-20 MPH)
micromobility devices should follow the same rules for
maximum speed; and giving space for pedestrians,
people using Mobility Aid Devices, equestrians, etc. This
is discussed more in Recommendation 10.
Currently, mopeds are allowed in bike lanes as defined
in Massachusetts law. The Commission decided that
this was a misallocation and recommends restricting
mopeds (Tier 1.C) to roadways. Given their usual
operating speed and heavier weight, mopeds raise
overall speeds and kinetic energy, and thus the
potential for more serious injuries in a crash. Bicyclists
and other micromobility users can feel unsafe sharing
those facilities. It can also feel unsafe to moped
operators themselves, based on the engineering design
factors (e.g., sight distance, signal clearance) of those
narrower lanes that were originally designed for lower-
speed devices. Traffic from mopeds operating
unpredictably in bike lanes is also heavily perceived as
dangerous among community members who do not
bike but walk, drive, or take transit.
Street Legal Devices
Some off-road devices are marketed with “street legal”
packages. It is important to remember that registration
is needed for many higher speed vehicles, which
requires a Manufacturer Certificate of Origin (MCO) or
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). Marketing practices
can be obfuscatory around these requirements and
many vehicles do not qualify for on-street use.
Wide Micromobility Devices
Special travel restrictions should be placed on any
micromobility device, regardless of classification, that
is wider than 36”, such as an e-quadricycle. Wider
devices can block bicycle paths, clog bike lanes, and be
a general nuisance to the flow of micromobility traffic.
For this group of devices, the Commission recommends
constraining their operations to just roadways, while
allowing for short stops off the road. The impact of
these devices, specifically as they are used
commercially in delivering meals and packages, are
still poorly understood and should be studied further, as
this report discusses in Recommendation 15.
Why This Matters:
A speed-based tiered system works because any future device that may need to be evaluated necessarily has some
maximum speed it is designed to go, so applying safety restrictions and regulations to any future device is as
straightforward as possible. It is well-documented that faster speeds lead to worse outcomes in a crash, so higher
(faster) tiers can have stricter safety standards whereas lower (slower) tiers have more protections as vulnerable road
users. Every Commission member has heard how confusing the current system is and how unsafe people feel right now,
and every decision made behind this recommendation was made with safety and comfort in mind.
Where To Start:
•
The legislature should begin drafting a bill that establishes this tier-based speed classification framework to
facilitate a public hearing and review process.
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Core Framework Recommendations | Special Commission on Micromobility
The legislature should establish a time-limited working group with funding to
design a statewide Micro ID Decal pilot. This should enable MassDOT, acting
through the RMV, to convene a multi-agency working group to develop a
light-touch micromobility identification framework using a tamper-evident
decal with QR/NFC that links to a record confirming device tier, basic safety
compliance, and limited, opt-in personally identifiable information for
authorized parties.
Law enforcement needs to be able to identify devices that
go faster than 20 MPH for the purposes of safety and
crash reporting. The Commission recommends the
legislature convene a working group to develop a unique
identifier that is tamper-evident, durable, easy to apply,
and can provide law enforcement with pertinent
information about the device.
The Commission proposes the legislature establish a
working group to develop a Micro ID for this purpose. A
Micro ID is a light-touch identifier, not a license plate or
VIN, and comes in the form of a sticker. Designed correctly,
it is an easy way to verify the characteristics of the
device and confirm if the device complies with rules
associated with its tier and category, as laid out in
Recommendation 2. They can be used for quick roadside
verification by law enforcement for crash reporting,
product defect identification, and returning a stolen
device to its original owner. The stickers should be
tamper-evident to reduce the possibility for counterfeits
and mismatched tiers. The Micro ID can be issued at
point-of-sale (POS), in a self-service e-registration
process, or in bulk to a fleet.
To further develop this concept, the Commission
recommends convening a working group that
should deliver within 12 months:
1.
draft legislation,
2.
a regulatory outline,
3.
a pilot plan, and
4.
a fiscal note.
The working group should address the following
outstanding tasks:
•
Design e-registration and process
•
Define renewal & compliance cycle
•
Develop privacy and data security policies
•
Clarify the roles of dealers, manufacturers, and the
RMV
•
Evaluate tech standards such as QR/NFC, UL docs, and
tamper features
•
Design roadside enforcement process
•
Determine enforceable penalties
The Legislature should also provide an appropriation to
MassDOT for staffing, facilitation, stakeholder
engagement, accessibility/translation, technical research,
and drafting.
Concept art for the Micro ID
Micro ID
3
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Core Framework Recommendations | Special Commission on Micromobility
Why This Matters:
The Micro ID system makes enforcement of safety standards possible. In the field, law enforcement officers will not
easily be able to tell what a device is capable of and if it is compliant with the corresponding safety standards
according to its speed tier without such a decal. This also allows for better crash data collection so MassDOT can get a
better understanding of the impact micromobility devices have on public health. Finally, a Micro ID system helps
residents know which device type they have and what regulations apply.
Where To Start:
•
The legislature should identify the appropriate members for the working group.
•
The legislature should task the working group to begin developing this concept further.
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Core Framework Recommendations | Special Commission on Micromobility
Recommendations
4
Police Training
59
5
Crash Report and Vulnerable User Data
61
6
Default Maximum Speed on Paths
63
7
Education Campaign
65
8
Automated Enforcement
67
9
Model Municipal Traffic Control Ordinance
68
Enforcement and safety
Infrastructure Recommendations | Special Commission on Micromobility 59
The Massachusetts State Police Academy and the Massachusetts
Police Training Committee should develop and deliver training for
law enforcement officers, consistent with new and current micromobility
laws, regulations and guidelines.
Current training largely focuses on motor vehicles or
bicycles, but not the wide variety of e-devices officers are
encountering in their communities. It is important to
update older trainings and create new ones to ensure
uniform understanding and enforcement across the
Commonwealth. The Commission was very clear that
there is confusion among the public on what laws exist.
Local law enforcement has shared how difficult it is to
enforce current laws that have large gray areas due to
the pace of innovation in the micromobility industry.
Future training for law enforcement should include clear
instruction on the legal classifications and operating rules
for all micromobility devices; consistent enforcement
practices that reflect these distinctions; and standardized
procedures for documenting micromobility-involved
crashes to improve data quality.
Training should also integrate Safe System[117] principles,
emphasizing speed management and road design
considerations that influence rider safety and behaviors.
Additionally, law enforcement officers should receive
guidance on equitable enforcement and effective
community engagement, particularly in areas where
micromobility supports affordable transportation for
residents and workers. As a best practice, scenario-based
and hands-on components, such as on-electric-bike or
on-electric-scooter exercises and mock traffic
interactions, should be incorporated to improve officers’
understanding of the behavior, risks, and vulnerabilities of
micromobility users. This training should be developed
and implemented with the involvement of community
transportation advocacy organizations. The Executive
Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS) indicated in a
Commission meeting that should the laws change, this
work to update the trainings would already have
dedicated funding. Funding for local law enforcement to
deliver updated trainings is likely needed.
This recommendation may require updating MGL c. 6 §
116E to include e-bike and other micromobility device
education in its mandated establishment of a bicycle
safety enforcement course.
Why This Matters:
Training law enforcement officers on bicycles and micromobility laws and regulation is essential not only for officer
readiness but for the safety and trust of everyone who shares the road. When officers better understand how bicycles,
e-bikes, scooters, electric unicycles, and other devices operate, they can apply laws fairly and model safe behavior in
traffic, especially if they are operating micromobility devices themselves. It’s important for law enforcement officers to
learn about new laws and new technologies, modalities, or devices that they are tasked with enforcing. This improves
consistency in enforcement across jurisdictions, ensures riders are treated appropriately under current or new
regulations, and helps prevent crashes through informed education and engagement rather than just penalties.
Officers who are trained to interact safely and respectfully with riders also build stronger community relationships,
making roads safer and more predictable for all users.
Police Training
4
Infrastructure Recommendations | Special Commission on Micromobility 60
For drivers, pedestrians, and riders alike, law enforcement
training supports a more balanced and coordinated
transportation system. When police apply the Safe System
Approach, emphasizing shared responsibility and harm
reduction, everyone benefits from roads designed and
policed with vulnerability in mind. Accurate crash reporting
and data collection from well-trained officers lead to
better infrastructure and policy decisions that protect all
road users. In short, micromobility training for law
enforcement strengthens the connection between
enforcement, education, and design that creates safer,
fairer streets across the Commonwealth.
Where To Start
•
The Massachusetts Police Training Committee, EOPSS,
and relevant local law enforcement leadership should
convene with active transportation advocacy organizations to
outline an effective training curriculum.
•
MassDOT should coordinate with an academic partner to conduct a best practice scan from other states and
countries for training related to micromobility use.
Source: US Department of Transportation
Infrastructure Recommendations | Special Commission on Micromobility 61
The legislature should amend state law to enable the inclusion within
MassDOT’s crash data system of micromobility-involved crashes that don't
also involve an operated motor vehicle.
Following this statutory update and with specific funds appropriated by the
legislature, MassDOT should implement the expanded data collection system
within 15 months of enactment, with functionality to distinguish between
crash types and updates to the Vulnerable User section of the
Massachusetts Crash Report to improve reporting accuracy. All law
enforcement agencies should adopt the updated crash reporting forms
within three years of system implementation.
MassDOT should continue to study methods to improve the accuracy and
reliability of micromobility crash data once incorporated into the state crash
system.
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) defines a
Vulnerable Road User (VRU) as an individual who uses
streets, roads, and highways without the protection of a
motor vehicle.[118] In Massachusetts, we refer to these
individuals as “Vulnerable Users”. This term is defined in
state law and includes 22 different categories of
vulnerable users, such as pedestrians, bicyclists, and
skateboarders. When the Act to Reduce Traffic Fatalities
was signed into law in January 2023, it required updates
to the Massachusetts Crash Report form to include
information about Vulnerable Users.[119]
The Massachusetts crash report form is used by law
enforcement agencies (LEAs) to provide information
about a crash. A Motor Vehicle Crash Police Report must
be completed when a motor vehicle is involved in a crash
in which a person was killed or injured, or in which there
was more than $1,000 damage to any one vehicle or other
property. The crash report form includes fields about the
crash, the vehicle, the driver, and any vulnerable users
involved. There is also a crash narrative section where the
crash is described in a more open-ended way. This
information is then shared with the Registry of Motor
Vehicles (RMV) and shows up in IMPACT, MassDOT’s crash
data portal.
Currently, crash reports are not required to be completed
for crashes that don’t involve an operated motor vehicle.
This means that if an e-scooter operator hit a bicyclist,
that crash would not be captured via a crash report and
therefore would not show up in the Registry’s crash
system, nor in IMPACT. (It may, however, show up in local
EMS data or in hospital emergency department report-
outs like those via the National Electronic Injury
Surveillance database from the Consumer Product Safety
Commission.) As a result, MassDOT can’t know the
volume of crashes that occur between micromobility
device users or between micromobility device users and
pedestrians. This recommendation is intended to correct
that data gap, while acknowledging sensitivity with
5
Crash Report & Vulnerable User Data
Infrastructure Recommendations | Special Commission on Micromobility 62
respect to personally identifiable information in small
datasets.
Changes to the Crash Report Form must be shared with
all of the Record Management System (RMS) vendors that
are used by law enforcement agencies in Massachusetts.
There are over a dozen different RMS platforms used by
Law Enforcement Agencies across the Commonwealth,
which significantly complicates the implementation of this
effort. Sometimes, that update requires each car with the
software to return to a specific location and physically
receive the update. Because of the fractured RMS vendor
marketplace, these changes take time and significant
resources to implement.
Details need to be worked out as to where this information
fits best on the Crash Report Form, but it would be
additional to what is already there. These data would be
held at the Commonwealth level, as they are not
technically “FARS” (Fatality Analysis Reporting System)
crashes from the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration’s perspective.
Why This Matters:
Collecting crash data helps inform crash prevention programming in the future. Without robust information about
micromobility-only crashes, we have an incomplete fact base from which to make decisions to increase safety. We
can’t identify hotspots of micromobility-only crashes because the data don’t exist. These data could also enable
various analyses, such as correlating crashes with infrastructure types; studying vehicle types that cause the most (or
most severe) injuries; and environmental factors.
Where To Start:
•
MassDOT should launch a working group to figure out process questions like whether to include injury and fatal
micromobility crashes only; whether to include micromobility crashes not on public ways; and what the minimum
fields to be included should be. Learning can be gleaned from places already collecting their own micromobility
only-involved crashes, such as the City of Cambridge.
•
Using insights from the working group, MassDOT should prototype an update to the Crash Form for micromobility-
only crashes and do usability testing with LEAs.
•
MassDOT should work with an academic partner to research best practices in other states and countries for
collecting data and reporting on micromobility-only crashes.
Boston, MA
Infrastructure Recommendations | Special Commission on Micromobility 63
The legislature should establish a default maximum speed of 20 MPH on
shared use paths, applicable statewide, unless otherwise posted. Path-
operating entities retain the authority to lower the limit based on context-
specific factors such as user volume, path width, crossings, geometry, and
adjacent land uses.
Municipalities already have the authority to set speed
limits for shared use paths, but there is no default
maximum speed for them to fall back on. For example,
Malden and Northampton have set speed limits under 20
MPH for their paths, but that is not necessarily the rule in
the surrounding communities. The Commission
recommends the legislature
a.
Define “shared use path” in MGL
b.
Set the default shared use path maximum speed
statewide to 20 MPH
“Shared use path” is a common phrase found in federal
and state documentation to refer to a path that sees
traffic from pedestrians, bicyclists, and micromobility
devices but is not accessible to motor vehicle traffic. As
MGL is written now, this kind of “way” has no definition and
does not fall under the umbrella term “bikeway”. Defining
this term allows the legislature to better delineate where
certain devices should and should not go and enables
entities like MassDOT and DCR to create rules of use and
signage.
For “Shared use path”, the Commission recommends
using the following definition, which was developed as a
combination of the existing MassDOT definition from the
Project Development and Design Guide (PDDG), model
language from other states, and the definition used by
AASHTO.
Default Maximum Speeds on Paths
6 6
Source: MassDOT
Infrastructure Recommendations | Special Commission on Micromobility 64
“Shared use path”, a path intended for transportation
or recreation use that is designed for people of all
ages and abilities on foot or using motorized or non-
motorized micromobility devices and is physically
separated from motorized vehicle traffic within a
highway right-of-way or an independent right-of-
way with few crossflows with motor vehicles.
For more discussion on the definition of shared use path,
see Recommendation 1.
Once “shared use path” is defined in MGL, the legislature
should set a statewide default maximum speed on these
paths at 20 MPH. This default would not change any of the
powers or responsibilities municipalities have over setting
their own speed limits on their paths, nor any currently
existing speed limits under 20 MPH. Rather, it would be a
general expectation for path users to abide by unless
otherwise instructed. In locations with significant
pedestrian activity, sight line challenges, and other
environmental factors, the speeds should be lowered.
Why This Matters:
Adding the shared use path definition as it is already used by planners and path designers makes laws and regulations
easier to apply. It also makes existing design documentation clearer in its application.
Setting the maximum speed of paths at the state level sets a clear, uniform expectation for riders, especially those
unfamiliar with a given path, and gives law enforcement a clearer standard to apply. Aligning the maximum with the
proposed speed tiers enables legibility by the public.
Where To Start:
•
As part of legislation based on this report, the draft bill should include the term and definition for shared use path.
•
The Commission recommends including in that legislation an authorization to MassDOT, in conjunction with DCR, to
allow further use of "shared use paths" to be regulated to enable streamlined updates that match evolving
micromobility usage in the future.
•
The Legislature should hold a hearing as part of the legislative process to discuss the 20 MPH maximum speed on
shared use paths recommendation.
Infrastructure Recommendations | Special Commission on Micromobility 65
Law enforcement and state and local stakeholders, such as Safe Routes to
School, should collaborate with relevant community partners, such as local
bike shops, to develop and deliver an educational campaign to
inform micromobility users about state laws, regulations, local ordinances,
and safety practices.
The Commission heard multiple groups express
frustration at the lack of knowledge and etiquette among
bicyclists and micromobility users, especially in
communities seeing a growth in e-device use. With the
rise of micromobility usage, more people are using these
shared spaces on new devices, often at higher speeds.
This has led to increased concerns and general unease
for pedestrians, exasperation for seasoned micromobility
users, fear from drivers not wanting to cause harm, and
hesitation for potential new micromobility users.
Three populations especially stood out as key audiences
for targeted education campaigns: people without an
RMV-issued license (including those too young to receive
one), older adults, and people who speak or read
languages other than English.
The Commission heard from Safe Routes to School (SRTS),
the MassDOT program that puts on bike education
programming, that there is a high demand from parents,
kids, school administrators, and law enforcement for
micromobility education content. At the beginning of the
2025-26 school year, there was a surge of new
micromobility users at schools, among both students and
parents alike. Class 1, 2, and 3 e-bikes are an increasingly
common sight in bike racks outside schools. The
importance of wearing the right helmet and following
the rules of the road were specifically called out as
under-communicated.
People without a license, particularly those under the age
of 16, likely have not had formal instruction on the rules of
the road. Interactions with vehicle traffic and mixed
pedestrian traffic can become dangerous quickly, a fact
which has been the impetus behind traditional bicycle
safety education for decades. The danger only grows as
the device goes faster, and kids specifically are ill-
equipped to navigate these complex interactions. Content
on social media showing e-bike modifications and risky
tricks encourages dangerous behavior to proliferate in a
proactive education void.
Kids and young adults aren’t the only populations that this
messaging should be aimed at. Micromobility is popular
with people who don’t have or can’t get a license for
whatever reason. Disability and non-English speaking
communities are especially important to reach as
micromobility creates opportunities for travelling within
their communities that they may not have had access to
before.
While older adults are not a monolithic population, the
Commission heard that many older adults either don’t
know what micromobility devices are (nor how and where
they can operate), or they are very aware of them
because they make older adults nervous as they are
Education Campaign
7 7
Boston, MA
Infrastructure Recommendations | Special Commission on Micromobility 66
moving about on sidewalks and paths. Micromobility
education among older adults is important. Certain
micromobility devices can be a viable alternative to
driving for those who rarely leave their immediate
community. They can be a powerful tool for keeping older
adults moving, active, and connected, while giving
freedom to those for whom other methods of travel may
have become more challenging. One of the biggest
hurdles, though, is knowing that these options exist and
gaining comfort with their operation.
Both local and online micromobility device retailers can
be points of contact for reaching audiences as they are
considering buying micromobility devices, and they
should be empowered to instruct new micromobility
owners about the rules of the road. Advocacy groups
should be given the tools to hold educational events for
their communities, and law enforcement should offer safe
riding courses. Additionally, the Commission recommends
developing and delivering resources to the general
public for drivers who may not be used to navigating
around micromobility users and new infrastructure not
meant for cars.
Why This Matters:
Education is a key component in the Safe System Approach. We have precedent in Massachusetts for offering
education (either via the driver’s manual or via SRTS programming) to potential users of various vehicles and devices.
Building on that is logical and beneficial. It makes micromobility more accessible to people who might not consider it as
an option for themselves, while making clear for those who already use it what laws, regulations, and expectations exist
for them as users.
Where To Start:
•
Safe Routes to School (SRTS) should further develop education material specific to micromobility to present to
parents and students. If feasible, SRTS should leverage DESE to bring this curriculum to schools that are not currently
SRTS partners. These two entities, working with the partners named in the recommendation, should make a plan to
visit all school districts within one year to propagate this material.
•
MassDOT should develop micromobility education materials and a Massachusetts family-friendly micromobility
guide, not recommending specific devices, but creating a framework for thinking about what device (type) might fit
a family’s needs.
•
MassDOT (potentially via the RMV and/or SRTS) should consider
stepped up education and awareness across the
Commonwealth during a specific week or month to focus the
safety message about micromobility. Education campaigns
and signage should also be conducted and installed on paths
and trails to meet micromobility users in their immediate
environment.
•
Local police departments should offer pop-up micromobility
education sessions for adults and kids as part of their ongoing
safety education efforts. Law enforcement should consider
using the Community Traffic Safety Grant program to fund this
initiative.
•
MassDOT should create social media micromobility safety
content that can be shared with local stakeholders for
distribution.
Boston, MA
Infrastructure Recommendations | Special Commission on Micromobility 67
The legislature should authorize automated enforcement on infractions that
impact vulnerable users, such as speeding, the improper use of bus and bike
lanes, and red light running.
Automated enforcement, which is sometimes called
“camera-based enforcement”, is the process by which a
technology system captures an infraction and issues a
ticket to an individual. This is in lieu of a police officer or
other human witnessing the infraction and issuing a ticket
to the individual. The Federal Highway Administration
(FHWA) has determined that “speed safety cameras” are
a proven safety countermeasure that can reduce crashes
up to 54% in certain contexts.[120] Additionally, drivers can
more easily yield to people in crosswalks when driving
slower.
When a driver parks in a bike lane, a cyclist often has to
swerve into the adjacent travel lane to avoid the parked
car. This can create an unsafe situation if a driver in the
adjacent travel lane is not expecting the bicyclist to make
that maneuver. It can also throw the rider off-balance as
they look back to make this maneuver. While the act of
“double parking” in a bike lane for a few minutes may
seem like it doesn't harm anyone, the reality is that it can
create dangerous conditions for other users of the road.
As of the release of this report, automated enforcement in
Massachusetts is only allowed by law in limited use-
cases: for enforcing the law to not park in a bus lane or
bus stop[121] and for enforcing the law to not pass a
stopped school bus that has its stop arm extended.
Therefore, Massachusetts does not reap the potentially
large safety benefits of automated enforcement for
infractions such as speeding and red light running.
Why This Matters:
To encourage increased adoption of micromobility devices, Massachusetts should have access to all available tools for
making the roads saver for these vulnerable users, including camera-based enforcement. Encouraging a culture and
behavior shift toward following posted speeds and respecting
marked bicycle lanes can help Massachusetts meet its goal to
eliminate roadway fatalities and serious injuries by increasing overall
safety on our roads.
Where To Start:
•
MassDOT should create a time-limited, no-fine, no-fee test of
speed safety camera enforcement (as outlined in MassDOT’s
2023 Strategic Highway Safety Plan Action 4.2) or automated bike
lane enforcement. These tests could help inform future legislation.
•
The legislature should pass S.2344 and H.3754 to allow
municipalities to opt-in to road safety cameras.
•
MassDOT should consult with the MBTA to understand the
effectiveness of the initial MBTA bus lane enforcement testing.
Automated Enforcement
at the MBTA
In October 2025, the MBTA introduced 703 CMR
6.00 which gives the MBTA and the
Massachusetts RTAs the authority to use
cameras attached to buses to issue fines to
vehicles that obstruct bus stops and bus lanes.
This Automated Enforcement program
received overwhelming support from hearing
participants in August that year and will be
rolling out beginning with the SL4 and SL5
routes in Spring 2026.
Automated Enforcement
8
Infrastructure Recommendations | Special Commission on Micromobility 68
MassDOT should include model micromobility traffic control regulations
and prohibitions on obstructing bicycle lanes in its Sample Regulation
for a Standard Municipal Traffic Code.
The Sample Regulation serves as a template that cities
and towns can adopt or adapt to establish local traffic
rules consistent with state law. By updating this
framework, MassDOT can provide municipalities with
clear, consistent language to regulate micromobility
devices and explicitly prohibit stopping, standing, or
parking in designated bicycle lanes. Asking people to use
a bike lane that is regularly blocked by pick-up/drop-off
activity, delivery vehicles, and parked vehicles builds
frustration among all roadway users and creates unsafe
conditions. See more discussion in Recommendation 8.
The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD)
establishes national standards for signs, signals, and
pavement markings. It ensures that roadway users
encounter consistent, recognizable signs and symbols
across all communities, improving predictability and
safety. While the MUTCD governs how bike lanes and other
facilities are marked, the Sample Regulation guides how
those markings are enforced locally. This regulation
defines violations, penalties, and procedures for
enforcement. Together, they provide the visual and legal
foundation for managing traffic safely and consistently
across the Commonwealth.
Including micromobility and bike lane obstruction
provisions in the Sample Regulation will make it easier for
municipalities to adopt and enforce rules that keep
vehicles out of bike lanes, reduce conflicts between
modes, and support safe, reliable travel for all users.
Municipally determined standardized fines and clear
enforcement authority will help deter illegal parking and
stopping behaviors that force cyclists into mixed traffic or
discourage micromobility use altogether.
Why This Matters:
To provide predictable experiences for micromobility users (and other road users) across the state, the Commission
recommends updating the Sample Regulation to reflect current realities on our streets. Ensuring that it is updated with
new terminology and expected travel behaviors is key. For example, blocked bike lanes force cyclists and scooter riders
into traffic, increasing crash risks and discouraging active travel by some riders. Clear, enforceable rules and
consistent fines help keep lanes clear, making streets safer, more predictable, and more inviting for people using bikes
and other micromobility devices.
Where To Start:
•
MassDOT should provide guidance fines tied to these regulations based upon a survey of cities and towns that
have already adopted these into their rules and regulations.
•
Sample Regulation Articles I and V should be adapted to include explicit micromobility rules and prohibitions on
obstructing bike lanes, providing model language municipalities can adopt directly, followed by an educational
campaign.
Model Municipal Traffic Control Ordinance
9 9
Infrastructure Recommendations | Special Commission on Micromobility 69
Recommendations
10
Design Guidance
70
11
Micromobility Integration
72
12
Funding for Upgrades
74
Infrastructure
Infrastructure Recommendations | Special Commission on Micromobility 70
MassDOT and DCR should develop context-sensitive design guidance for
state and municipal trails and shared use paths that establishes
recommended design parameters. The guidance should address the
separation of pedestrian and wheeled modes, design speed, signage, and
emerging micromobility, incorporating variations appropriate to urban,
suburban, and rural contexts.
The Commission recommends creating one unified
definitive guide for designing trails and paths with
micromobility accommodations. MassDOT’s Project
Development and Design Guide (PDDG) is a solid
foundation; Commission members wanted to ensure
that non-MassDOT projects (e.g., DCR trails) also
align with this context-sensitive guidance. Further,
the Commission recommends ensuring the PDDG is
updated with micromobility-related content.
Many guides exist for building bike lanes in various
contexts. The Commonwealth has published the
Separated Bike Lane Planning & Design Guide which
gives extensive guidance for building bicycle
facilities. NACTO publishes an Urban Bikeway Design
Guide that similarly has thorough guidance for
building this infrastructure, as does the federal
Department of Transportation. Several municipalities,
including the City of Boston, have their own bike lane
guide as well.
The Commission recommends developing guidance
targeting micromobility integration on paths and
trails that are separate from roadways.
Paths and trails have seen an influx of micromobility
use. Currently, path users and operators have no
guidance on how to build paths to accommodate
pedestrians, bicyclists, and micromobility users in a
way that makes everyone feel safe. Design signage
is not always clear or effective in conveying proper
use. MassDOT should work with DCR to develop a
non-binding design guide for path operators and
municipalities.
Source: DCR
Design Guidance
10
10
Infrastructure Recommendations | Special Commission on Micromobility 71
Why This Matters:
The Commission heard reports of pedestrians feeling unsafe on paths where e-bikes and other forms of powered
micromobility are present and that e-bicyclists lack guidance on how to safely use a path. Setting an easy-to-
reference standard for administrators can help abate these issues in both design and operation.
Where To Start:
•
DCR should document the design guidance they use on their trails and paths for micromobility traffic in case it is
useful for other path-operating entities. This should take into account the expected and encouraged growth of
micromobility on shared use paths, especially as these networks connect and more residents are therefore able to
safely access trails for their daily travel.
•
MassDOT should survey suburban and rural municipalities on their current needs as they relate to micromobility,
including elements such as infrastructure, regulations, and user types. MassDOT should publish their findings.
Infrastructure Recommendations | Special Commission on Micromobility 72
The MBTA and other RTAs should adopt and implement a micromobility
integration plan that includes:
• Providing secure micromobility parking at park-and-ride lots, subway and
commuter rail stations, intermodal hubs, and bus centers;
• Designating micromobility-friendly rail cars, subway cars, and buses
where feasible, taking into account space, safety, and accessibility
constraints;
• Exploring opportunities for fare integration and/or discounts with
micromobility providers (e.g., Bluebikes and ValleyBike), while recognizing
the complexity and long timeline of current fare system upgrades;
• Evaluating the potential for charging infrastructure at select locations, in
alignment with safety protocols and emerging best practices regarding
battery fire risk.
Micromobility needs to fit in with other forms of public
transit to create better rider experiences and increase
accessibility to public transit resources. The Commission
heard how micromobility has been a popular solution to
the “last-mile problem”, where public transit can get you
close to your destination, but can’t reach the end
destination of every traveler it carries.
People are already using private or publicly owned
micromobility to close that final gap from transit hub to
destination. To support this population of riders that have
their own micromobility device, secure micromobility-
friendly parking is essential; users need to feel confident
that their device will not be stolen or vandalized while they
are gone. Larger parking facilities at locations like Park
and Ride, subway and commuter rail stops, intermodal
hubs, and bus centers can offer more amenities like
device charging or separated covered parking to further
encourage riders to reach these transit hubs via
micromobility rather than driving. For those who want to
Micromobility Integration
11 11
Haverhill, MA
Infrastructure Recommendations | Special Commission on Micromobility 73
take their devices with them on public transit, bike-friendly
vehicles will help keep passenger cars decluttered and
priority seating open for people using wheelchairs.
Bluebikes has reported that it sees higher than average
ridership to and from its docks at public transit stations.
Maintaining those facilities and potentially offering fare
integration and discounts at transit hubs extends the
benefits of using micromobility as a last-mile solution to
riders who don’t have their own device.
The MBTA has already published a plan for integrating
their system with many forms of mobility, including
micromobility. The Commission endorses executing on
their plan for adding micromobility accommodations and
encourages the RTAs to develop similar plans.
Why This Matters:
Physical and digital integration makes it easier for people to choose public transit and leave their cars at home. The
MBTA and RTAs can make it easier for riders to stitch together multimodal trips by integrating micromobility into their
systems.
Where To Start:
•
The MBTA should start executing on their mobility integration plan, specifically, recommendation 3.1, update and
develop policies that guide partnership with existing and emerging mobility providers to improve seamless access
to transit.
•
All RTAs should evaluate their existing networks for potential points of micromobility integration and make a plan
to build the right infrastructure to accommodate higher micromobility use. MassDOT Rail and Transit Division can
facilitate a workshop on this topic.
Somerville, MA
Infrastructure Recommendations | Special Commission on Micromobility 74
The legislature should increase appropriations for existing state programs,
particularly the Complete Streets Funding Program and the Shared Streets
& Spaces Program, to further assist municipalities in expanding their
networks and transitioning from interim infrastructure treatments, such as
paint and flex-post delineation, to designs that provide durable, physical
separation for vulnerable users and/or overall traffic calming.
In parallel, MassDOT should enhance its training, technical assistance, and
outreach efforts through the Complete Streets Program to support
municipalities in planning, designing, delivering, and maintaining this
infrastructure.
One of the three mandates of the Commission was to
make recommendations to support the expansion of
micromobility device use and innovation in the industry.
One way to encourage more people to use micromobility
for more trips is to make the infrastructure they use on
those journeys safer and more comfortable.
The MassDOT Complete Streets Funding Program[122]
provides Massachusetts municipalities with tools and
financial support to address gaps in their local
transportation networks. A Complete Street is one that
provides safe and accessible options for all travel modes
- walking, biking, transit and vehicles – for people of all
ages and abilities. Eligible activities include many things
that are relevant for users of micromobility devices,
including Street Reconfigurations & Traffic Calming;
Pedestrian & Bike Network Connections; Transit
Investments; Environment & Streetscape Investments.
Technical Assistance funding can be awarded to
communities to help them develop a Complete Streets
Prioritization plan if they have not done so already.
Another funding source, the Shared Streets & Spaces
Grant Program,[123] provides funding to municipalities and
public transit authorities to quickly implement
improvements to plazas, sidewalks, curbs, streets, bus
stops, parking areas, and other public spaces in support
of public health, safe mobility, and strengthened
commerce. Communities can apply for both design and
construction funding. This is a “quick-build” grant
program focused on projects that are easily
implementable. Eligible activities include many things that
are relevant for users of micromobility devices, including
bikeshare equipment, bicycle & pedestrian infrastructure,
and reimagining public spaces. The Commission
recommends that the legislature increase funding to
both Complete Streets and Shared Streets & Spaces
grant programs to support municipalities in providing
more micromobility-specific infrastructure.
In the past, these type of “quick-build” projects have led to
paint-demarcated or flexpost-separated lanes. While
quick-build facilities for bicyclists and other micromobility
users are often preferable to no facilities at all, the
Commission encourages municipalities to build more
permanent, high-comfort infrastructure that provides
higher levels of separation and greater safety. For
communities that have not yet undertaken a quick-build
infrastructure project, the Commission encourages them
to start with something temporary with the intention to
ultimately move to something more permanent. For
Funding for Upgrades and Expansion
12
12
Infrastructure Recommendations | Special Commission on Micromobility 75
municipalities that already have quick-build projects on
their streets, the Commission encourages them to make
plans to turn those into more permanent infrastructure.
Finally, the Commission encourages MassDOT to increase
its training, technical assistance, and outreach efforts
through the Complete Streets Program to support
municipalities in planning, designing, delivering, and
maintaining this infrastructure. This recommendation
acknowledges that, even with MassDOT’s existing efforts,
communities can still benefit from additional assistance,
education, and supporting evidence.
Why This Matters:
From household travel analysis done for MassDOT’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan from 2021, 57% of all trips, including all
modes of transportation, were less than three miles long.124 The opportunity for Massachusetts to shift some of those
short trips to modes other than a car is significant and can help us meet climate goals and reduce car traffic
congestion. Even in less urban environments, there are context-specific types of accommodations for people using
micromobility devices that can also support this shift. E-bikes and other e-devices can extend the comfortable range of
travel for many users. This requires continual public investment in permanent, separated, high-comfort infrastructure
that enables residents to choose to walk, bicycle, roll, or use a micromobility device for their daily needs. The National
Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) highlights the need for, and benefits of, designing bicycling
infrastructure for All Ages & Abilities. Building a more extensive “low-stress” micromobility network encourages use from
more cautious users and builds confidence in beginners.125
Source: NACTO, Designing Bikeways for All Ages & Abilities
Infrastructure Recommendations | Special Commission on Micromobility 76
Where To Start:
•
MassDOT should incorporate the findings and
recommendations from this report into its upcoming
meetings with MPOs, RPAs, and the Massachusetts
Municipal Association. This will help to ensure those
organizations can champion the work and support the
proposed increase in funding to these grant programs.
They can also highlight to their municipalities the
importance of shifting from quick-build, or temporary, to
more permanent infrastructure over time.
•
The legislature should consider the findings from the
Transportation Funding Task Force report when discussing
increasing funding to the Complete Streets Grant
Program and/or the Shared Streets and Spaces Program
and the staff that support those programs.
•
Grant Central, the centralized online location for MassDOT
Highway’s grant programs, should have a call-out that
mentions the Commission’s recommendation to encourage municipalities to shift from quick-build to more
permanent infrastructure.
Growth Recommendations | Special Commission on Micromobility 77
Recommendations
13
Expand Bikeshare
78
14
Fund More E-Bike Subsidies
80
15
Commercial Use Micromobility Study
81
16
Presumed Liability Study
83
Growth
Growth Recommendations | Special Commission on Micromobility 78
The legislature should establish a reliable and sustainable funding
mechanism to support publicly owned, docked micromobility share systems
by expanding the Last Mile Grant program to explicitly include bikeshare, or
through a new dedicated program. A combination of formula-based
operating support and competitive grants for system expansion should be
explored.
Municipally owned and managed micromobility share
systems are a form of public transportation: they provide
shared mobility open to the general public, integrate into
broader transit networks, and enable low-emission, short-
trip travel that complements bus and rail. Public
ownership ensures that these systems can be planned
and operated in the public interest with transparent
governance, equitable access that includes income-
based discounted memberships, and strategic station
placement in communities underserved by other transit
options. These shared forms of micromobility public
transit are not niche recreation options, but integral to the
present and future of how people move in the
Commonwealth.
The Bluebikes system logged more than 4.7 million trips in
2024, more than doubling since 2020. Similarly, the
ValleyBike system in the Pioneer Valley rose from just
under 80,000 trips in 2019 to over 116,000 trips in 2022 in its
regional membership area. In both those systems, e-bikes
have been integral to adopting new ridership and
sustained growth. The most popular stations in the
Bluebikes system are MBTA transit nodes connected to the
Red Line. These numbers demonstrate that bikeshare is
not a marginal service but one with sizeable and
growing ridership. It merits public-transportation‐level
investment rather than ad-hoc sponsorship so that
systems outside of the Boston core, where it may be less
profitable to operate, can also make this form of public
transit available to residents.
The Last Mile Grant Program aligns well with bikeshare
because the mode directly serves “last-mile” and “first-
mile” objectives: short trips between transit hubs and final
destinations, or between homes and transit stops. The
program was designed to help municipalities and transit
authorities close gaps between transit stops and final
destinations and offers a strong foundation for this
purpose. It was first funded by the Education and
Transportation Fund in FY25. By expanding the program’s
eligibility to include municipally owned bikeshare systems,
or better yet, creating a dedicated companion program
for publicly owned shared micromobility, the
Commonwealth can build on an existing structure,
leverage its statewide reach, and deliver continuity rather
than reinvent the wheel.
Expanding Bikeshare
13
13
Northampton, MA
Growth Recommendations | Special Commission on Micromobility 79
This could take the shape of a two-part funding structure:
first, include formula-based operating support to provide
predictable annual funding to existing municipal and
regional bikeshare systems. This ensures continuity of
service and avoids reliance on short-term sponsorship or
uncertain local budgets. Second, include competitive
capital grants for system expansion that would allow
systems to add stations, increase service areas, and
strengthen connections to transit hubs. By layering both
predictable operating funding and strategic expansion
investment, the Commonwealth can ensure that publicly
owned bikeshare becomes a stable and growing
component of the overall transportation network.
Why This Matters:
Reliable funding for publicly owned bikeshare is essential because these
systems advance the Commonwealth’s transportation, climate, and equity
goals by providing affordable, low-emission mobility options. While large-city
systems often rely on tourism and corporate sponsorship, expanding
bikeshare to smaller and underserved transit communities will require stable
public investment to ensure equitable access. Each trip taken by bike instead
of a car reduces congestion and emissions, making bikeshare a key
investment in a cleaner, more connected, and more resilient Massachusetts
transportation network.
Given the investment Massachusetts has made in expanding the trail and
shared use path networks, it’s important to ensure residents have access to
that infrastructure. Making an investment in the expansion and increased
visibility of bikeshare can help more people access these resources. A
dedicated funding mechanism gives residents and visitors more confidence in
the reliability and sustainability of this mode and increases the return on
investment of the infrastructure dollars for trails and paths.
Where To Start:
•
The legislature should explore budget language to expand eligibility
within the Last Mile Grant Program to explicitly include publicly owned
bikeshare systems and pilot formula-based operating support for existing municipal systems.
•
A coalition of business groups, Metropolitan Planning Organizations, and transit authorities should lead the
development of a statewide bikeshare fund and coordination to guide equitable expansion, shared standards, and
long-term sustainability.
Cambridge, MA
Growth Recommendations | Special Commission on Micromobility 80
The legislature should fund, and MassCEC should expand, the statewide e-
bike rebate program that was launched in 2025.
In 2025, MassCEC ran an e-bike subsidy program to
increase e-bike affordability in low- and moderate-
income households, reduce emissions, and increase
safety literacy. The program received $5 million in funding:
77% went to bikes and 3% went to holding education
events. Program eligibility was based on income, with the
average participant making less than $28,000. Every
voucher had to be redeemed at a local brick-and-mortar
bike shop in Massachusetts, and most vouchers were
redeemed at small businesses. Additionally, MassCEC
partnered with MassBike to hold events focusing on bike
safety education, maintenance, group rides, and
commuting.
Halfway through the program, MassCEC issued a survey to
500 participants about their experiences with their new e-
bike. People reported feeling more social and
independent. The most common use was for recreation,
followed by errands, and about a quarter of respondents
used their e-bike to attend doctor’s visits. Eighty-five
percent of respondents reported that they use their e-bike
for trips they would have previously made by car, and a
majority reported feeling healthier and spending less
money on transportation. The group going to the doctor’s
visits reported no longer needing to rely on rideshare.
If the program is given additional funding, MassCEC wants
to prioritize reaching people with disabilities, however
there is no scheduled second round of funding. The
commission recommends providing sustained funding to
MassCEC to administer this program.
Why This Matters:
This program saw 3-4x the expected demand. It received strong interest from the target audiences, low- and
moderate-income residents, or those with a disability, who have the greatest need for more transportation options.
Feedback from participants was positive, as noted in survey feedback. Eighty-five percent of respondents report that
they used their e-bike for trips they would have previously made by car; 78% of respondents believe they are now saving
money on transportation; and 73% of respondents reported improved physical health. The funds all went straight into
the bottom line of local business owners and the local Massachusetts economy.
Where To Start:
•
The legislature should work with MassCEC to determine budget, needs, timing, and evaluation metrics.
•
MassCEC should take the findings from this 2025 program and fine-tune the program for a second round of
funding.
Learn more about the MassCEC e-bike voucher program in Appendix II: Case Studies
Fund More E-bike Subsidies
14
14
Growth Recommendations | Special Commission on Micromobility 81
The legislature should allocate funds for MassDOT to commission a study
from an academic partner to understand how micromobility is used in
commercial settings, particularly in the package delivery and food delivery
industries to learn what, if any, additional regulations are appropriate to
apply to commercial use vehicles.
Ever since the explosive growth in demand for home
deliveries during the pandemic, it is not uncommon to see
delivery drivers on mopeds and other micromobility
devices mixed in with regular traffic. What is also not
uncommon is seeing delivery drivers on sidewalks, in bike
lanes, and on shared use paths.[126] As discussed in
Recommendation 2, the Commission recommends that
mopeds be prohibited from bike lanes. (They are already
not allowed on paths.) In April 2025, the City of Boston
recognized this pattern was becoming a problem and
passed an ordinance requiring delivery platforms to hold
a permit to operate within the city limits.[127] In this
ordinance, the city explicitly called out the lack of data
around delivery behavior, making policy decisions more
difficult to make.
Cities and towns in Massachusetts are also seeing
changes in parcel delivery. For example, quadricycles are
four-wheeled pedal assist bikes that can haul trailers with
cargo behind them. In major cities across the country,
parcel delivery by quadricycle has started to appear. The
City of Boston ran a pilot program for introducing these
devices for parcel delivery in 2023 called “Boston
Delivers”.[128][129] At the time of this report, there isn’t enough
volume to warrant immediate legislation, but this is one of
several mobility innovations that the Commission
recommends investigating.
Commercial Use Micromobility Study
15
15
Boston, MA
Growth Recommendations | Special Commission on Micromobility 82
The Commission recognizes that using micromobility for a
delivery service carries unique externalities, incentives,
and risks that differ from recreational or commuter use.
However, at present there is not enough data to act
meaningfully in this area. On the other hand, the
Commission also acknowledges the potential upside of
an increase in deliveries by micromobility devices,
including that they are often more space-efficient than
trucks or vans and they can have lower emissions and
thus less negative impact on air quality.
The Commission recommends the legislature commission
an academic institution to study who uses micromobility
for deliveries, why micromobility is the vehicle of choice,
what incentivizes delivery drivers to act the way they do
on the roads, and the benefits and tradeoffs of the
increase in micromobility deliveries.
Why This Matters:
A thorough, intentional study will provide to the legislature vital data that is not currently available to help inform
regulation of delivery drivers and delivery companies. Commercial vehicles operate differently from personal-use
devices, with higher trip volumes, longer hours of use, and greater demands on infrastructure. A study led by an
academic partner would provide data on how these vehicles are being used, where conflicts or safety concerns arise,
education and communication strategies that would work with this industry, and what regulatory or infrastructure
changes might be needed. Given the lack of data-sharing currently in both food and parcel delivery, a study could
surface potential models of data-sharing between businesses and local government entities.
Where To Start:
•
The legislature should allocate funds for MassDOT to commission an academic partner to undertake this study in
collaboration with delivery companies.
Growth Recommendations | Special Commission on Micromobility 83
MassDOT should work with an academic partner to study the hierarchy of
responsibility in a crash and the potential effects of introducing a “Presumed
Liability” law.
The Commission recommends studying strategies to
make drivers more aware of the danger they pose to non-
motorists using the shared road space. A car entering an
area introduces more risk to others in that area than a
bicyclist does by virtue of its potential speed and overall
mass. In the event of a collision with a moped, an e-
scooter is more vulnerable to adverse outcomes; but a
moped is more vulnerable if colliding with a pickup truck;
and the pickup truck is more vulnerable than a trash truck,
all other things being equal. The Commission
recommends consideration of this hierarchy of potential
harm when considering possible presumed liability
changes.
One way several European countries have built this
principle into their legal code is through introducing
“Presumed Liability” to crashes, where the more
dangerous party is presumed at fault for a collision and
must prove that the less dangerous party contributed to
the incident during the phase of the investigation that
determines liability. Therefore, the most potentially
dangerous vehicle bears the most responsibility for being
a safe road user. If the defendant cannot establish that it
is more likely than not that the plaintiff bears some fault in
causing the crash, then the defendant bears responsibility
as the party that introduced the most potential for harm.
Massachusetts would not be the only state to explore this
risk hierarchy concept; Washington State[130] has already
introduced a bill to adopt this type of policy. There are a
lot of unknowns on how this would work in the
Commonwealth.
Why This Matters:
Studying the tools other government entities have used to encourage a more hazard-conscious culture is the first step
the Commonwealth can take to adopting similar approaches. This culture change can help the state meet its Vision
Zero goals by incentivizing drivers to behave more cautiously, give people more confidence to shift away from car
dependency, and encourage consumers to choose less dangerous vehicles.
Where To Start:
•
MassDOT should identify an interested academic partner to review policy reports and conduct interviews with
officials or practitioners in countries that have implemented this approach, to understand how it functions in
practice and what lessons might apply in Massachusetts.
Presumed Liability Study
16
16
Appendix | Special Commission on Micromobility 84
I.
Glossary
85
II.
Case Studies
90
III.
MGL and CMR Text
94
IV.
Discussion Topics
105
V.
Works Cited
108
05 Appendix
Appendix I: Glossary | Special Commission on Micromobility 85
Appendix I: Glossary
ADA: The Americans with Disabilities Act is a federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against
people with disabilities in everyday activities.
Automated enforcement: The use of technology, such as cameras and sensors, to automatically detect
and issue citations for traffic violations like speeding or running red lights.
Bike lane: a lane on a street restricted to bicycles and designated by means of painted lines,
pavement coloring or other appropriate markings.
Bike path: A designated route for bicycles that is physically separated from motor vehicle traffic.
BTS: The Bureau of Transportation Statistics collects and publishes comprehensive transportation statistics.
Cargo bike: a bicycle with a large integrated container or platform specifically designed for transporting
heavy loads, multiple passengers, or both.
CFR: The Code of Federal Regulations is the codification of the general and permanent rules published in
the Federal Register by the executive departments and agencies of the Federal Government.
CMR: The Code of Massachusetts Regulations is the complete set of regulations enacted by state agencies,
under the Administrative Procedures Act.
CPSC: The Consumer Product Safety Commission protects the public from unreasonable risks of serious
injury or death from thousands of types of consumer products under its jurisdiction.
Class 1 e-bike: An electric bicycle that provides assistance only when pedaled and stops assisting once the
bike reaches 20 mph.
Class 2 e-bike: An electric bicycle with a motor that can propel it with or without pedaling, via a throttle, and
has a maximum assisted speed of 20 mph.
Class 3 e-bike: An electric bicycle equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is
pedaling, and that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 28 miles per hour.
Comparative negligence: When fault for a crash is divided between parties, and a complainant’s damages
are reduced based on their percentage of fault. It allows an injured party to still recover some damages
even if they were partially to blame for the incident.
Complete Streets Funding Program: A grant program that provides financial assistance to municipalities
for projects that improve street design to make them safer and more accessible for all users, including
pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists of all ages and abilities.
Appendix I: Glossary | Special Commission on Micromobility 86
Cycle: A device with functioning pedals, or a device without pedals where the rider must be seated during
typical operation.
DCR: The Department of Conservation & Recreation manages state parks and oversees more than 450,000
acres of land throughout Massachusetts.
Docked system: a shared bicycle or other micromobility device that is returned to a specific physical
station.
Dockless system: transportation model, like a bike-share or e-scooter program, where users can locate,
unlock, and park vehicles via a smartphone app without needing to return them to a specific docking
station.
E-bike: A bicycle with an electric motor that assists with pedaling or provides propulsion.
E-scooter: A two-wheeled, electric-motorized scooter with a stand-up deck that is powered by a battery.
ED: Emergency Department
EJ: Environmental Justice is the principle that all people have the right to equal protection from
environmental hazards and to live in a healthful environment, regardless of race, color, national origin, or
income. REJ+ stands for Regional Environmental Justice Plus and is a tool used in transportation planning,
primarily in Massachusetts, to identify communities that may be disproportionately burdened by
transportation systems.
Electric skateboard: a self-propelled skateboard that uses an electric motor powered by a rechargeable
battery to move the rider.
EPR: The Extended Producer Responsibility Commission is charged with making policy recommendations on
specific extended producer responsibility approaches and other strategies for products and packaging
categories including paint, mattresses, electronics, lithium-ion batteries, plastics and other packaging.
EUC: Electric Unicycle: A self-balancing, one-wheeled personal transporter that uses a gyroscopic system to
stay upright.
FPL: The Federal Poverty Level is a measure of income used to determine eligibility for certain
government assistance programs.
EOPSS: The Executive Office of Public Safety and Security is responsible for the policy development and
budgetary oversight of its secretariat agencies, independent programs, and several boards which aid in
crime prevention, homeland security preparedness, and ensuring the safety of residents and visitors in the
Commonwealth.
Appendix I: Glossary | Special Commission on Micromobility 87
EPAMD: Electric Personal Assistive Mobility Device, a self-balancing device with two wheels not in tandem,
designed to transport only one person by an electric propulsion system having a maximum speed on a
paved level surface of less than 20 mph.
FARS: Fatality Analysis Reporting System, a nationwide census providing NHTSA, Congress and the American
public yearly data regarding fatal injuries suffered in motor vehicle traffic crashes.
First mile, last mile: (i) The initial and final stages of a journey or delivery, which are often the most
challenging to solve. In public transit, they are the segments connecting a person's home or destination to a
main transit stop. (ii) Solutions that bridge the gap between a rider's home and transit, or their destination
(such as their workplace) and transit.
FHWA: The Federal Highway Administration is a division of the United States Department of Transportation
that specializes in highway transportation.
FMVSS: The Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards are U.S. federal vehicle regulations specifying design,
construction, performance, and durability requirements for motor vehicles and regulated automobile
safety-related components, systems, and design features.
Glider: A seated, electric, pedal-free micromobility vehicle, designed to be a cross between a stand-up
scooter and an e-bike.
Hoverboard: A motorized personal vehicle consisting of a platform for the feet mounted on two wheels and
controlled by the way the rider distributes their weight.
IMPACT: The Interactive Mapping Portal for Analysis and Crash Tracking, a tool for researching crash-
related data in Massachusetts compiled by the Registry of Motor Vehicles.
LEAs: Law enforcement agencies are government organizations that enforce criminal laws and have a wide
range of responsibilities, such as investigating crimes, preventing illegal activity, enforcing traffic laws, and
providing public safety.
MassCEC: The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center is an economic development agency dedicated to
accelerating the growth of the Massachusetts clean energy sector.
MBTA: The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority is the public agency responsible for operating most
public transportation services in Greater Boston, Massachusetts.
MGL: Massachusetts General Laws is the official body of laws for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Micromobility: Small, low-speed vehicles intended for personal use, including bicycles, electric scooters (or
e-scooters), and similar vehicles, whether powered or unpowered and both personally owned and
deployed in shared fleets.
Mobility aid device: A device, other than one used for general transportation, used by a pedestrian with a
mobility disability to assist with indoor and outdoor locomotion. Will encompass existing EPAMD mentioned
in VU and group wheelchairs, mobility carts etc.
Appendix I: Glossary | Special Commission on Micromobility 88
Motor vehicle: A vehicle which is self-propelled and capable of transporting a person or persons.
Moped (Motorized Bicycle): a pedal bicycle which has a helper motor, or a non-pedal bicycle which has a
motor, with either a cylinder capacity not exceeding fifty cubic centimeters or the hybrid or electric powered
equivalent, an automatic transmission, and which is capable of a maximum speed of no more than 30
mph.
Motorized scooters: A stand-up scooter powered by either a small internal combustion engine or electric
hub motor in its front and/or rear wheel.
Motorized: To describe a vehicle powered by either a small internal combustion engine or electric hub
motor.
MPO: The Metropolitan Planning Organization is the policy board of an organization created
and designated to carry out the metropolitan transportation planning process.
MUTCD: The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices is a document published by the Federal Highway
Administration (FHWA) that establishes the national standards for all traffic control devices, including signs,
signals, and road markings.
NACTO: The National Association of City Transportation Officials is a coalition of the Departments of
Transportation in North American cities.
NHTSA: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is responsible for keeping people safe on
America’s roadways.
Powered micromobility device: A micromobility device (scooters, skateboards, hoverboards, unicycles,
etc.) designed to transport a single person that has an onboard motor capable of delivering tractive power
to device either as power assist or as sole propulsion. Excludes class 1-3 e-bikes.
Protected bike lane: a dedicated bicycle lane with temporary or permanent physical barriers separating it
from motor vehicle traffic.
Presumed liability: The less vulnerable road user is 'presumed liable' following a traffic crash. For instance, a
truck driver would be presumed liable for a crash involving a cyclist because the truck driver is less
vulnerable than the cyclist.
E-Quadricycle: A four-wheeled electric-assist land vehicle with pedals that is mostly utilized to deliver
cargo and parcels.
RPAs: Regional Planning Agencies serves the local governments and citizens in the region by dealing with
issues and needs that cross city, town, county and even state boundaries through communication,
planning, policymaking, coordination, advocacy and technical assistance.
RTAs: Regional Transit Authorities are public transportation agencies. In Massachusetts there are fifteen
RTAs that operate in areas outside of the primary MBTA service zone.
Appendix I: Glossary | Special Commission on Micromobility 89
Safe System Approach: a system to address and mitigate the risks inherent in our transportation system. It
works by building and reinforcing multiple layers of protection to both prevent crashes from happening and
minimize the harm caused to those involved when crashes do occur.
Scooter: A device without pedals where the rider can sit and/or stand on a footboard for typical operation.
Shared Fleet: A system where multiple users share a common pool of vehicles, rather than each user
having their own.
Shared Streets and Spaces Grant Program: A grant program that provides money to
local Massachusetts governments, to implement quick-build projects that improve public spaces such as
streets, sidewalks, and plazas.
Shared Use Path: A pathway physically separated from motorized traffic that accommodates both
pedestrians and micromobility users.
Solely Human-Powered micromobility device: A micromobility device (non-electric bicycles, push
scooters, skateboards, longboards, unicycles, roller skates, inline skates etc.) designed to transport a single
person that is propelled exclusively by human muscular effort and has no onboard motor capable of
delivering tractive power to the device.
SRTS: The Safe Routes to School program work to increase safe walking, biking, and rolling among
elementary, middle, and high school students by using a collaborative, community-focused approach that
bridges the gap between health and transportation.
Thermal runaway: When a battery cell short-circuits and starts to heat up uncontrollably.
Unicycle: A one-wheeled vehicle, propelled by pedals and balanced by the rider.
VU/VRU: Vulnerable User/Vulnerable Road User are individuals who are less able to protect themselves from
harm due to a lack of physical protection, a physical or mental impairment, or other factors like age or
circumstance.
Vision Zero: A strategy to eliminate all traffic fatalities and severe injuries by designing safer roadways and
transportation systems.
Appendix II: Case Studies | Special Commission on Micromobility 90
Appendix II: Case Studies
Bluebikes
Bluebikes is a publicly owned station-based
bikeshare system that has grown into one of the
most significant micromobility systems in the
United States. In the Metro Boston-area, Bluebikes
is public transit. What began as a four-
municipality collaboration called Hubway, first
launching in Boston in 2011 and then Cambridge,
Somerville, and Brookline in 2012, has expanded to
13 municipalities as of 2024, reflecting both the
region’s commitment to shared transportation
and the increasing demand for high-quality,
reliable micromobility options.[131] To help
understand the impact of bikeshare in the
Commonwealth a story of statistics was shared
with the Commission through a presentation by
the Bluebikes operator, Lyft.
The system’s physical footprint and usage have
grown steadily since launch: the number of active
stations rose from 61 to 520, and the bicycle fleet
expanded from 610 to roughly 5,500 bicycles.
Annual ridership grew even more dramatically,
increasing from under a million trips in 2011 to
more than 4.7 million trips in 2024. Membership
has also continued to expand, with peak active
memberships reaching nearly 32,000 members.
In more recent years, the introduction of electric bicycles has been a major contributor to this growth. Although e-bikes
represent only about 13 percent of the fleet, they already account for a quarter of all system trips. The integration of new
e-bike models has increased how frequently members use the system overall; average annual rides per active member
increased from 87 to 110 after their deployment, representing a 26 percent jump. In October 2025, there were over
510,000 trips on the Bluebikes system.[132] The system is funded by a mix of municipal budgets, state grants, sponsorship,
and farebox revenue, but other funding models were shared with the Commission for systems in Washington, D.C. and
New York City that have pros and cons for system design.
Because it is owned by the municipalities, Bluebikes continues to demonstrate progress in equity-focused
programming as well. The income-eligible membership program experienced a 300 percent increase in participation in
2024, driven by targeted community outreach efforts and the introduction of lower-cost pass options. These gains
Bluebike locations, ArcGIS
Appendix II: Case Studies | Special Commission on Micromobility 91
indicate a growing role for bikeshare in meeting the mobility needs of residents who have historically had fewer
transportation choices.
The system’s operational model supports this expansion through the consistent use of station-based technology, not
free-floating devices. Increasingly, this will include in-dock charging for e-bikes, which reduces the labor and vehicle
miles associated with battery swapping. As more stations adopt charging capabilities, the system benefits from higher
e-bike availability and lower operational burdens, enabling municipalities to support a larger and more reliable fleet.
By 2024, Bluebikes had sold more than one million casual passes and facilitated approximately 12,000 rides per day on
average. Its growth pattern shows how sustained public ownership, regional coordination, supportive infrastructure, and
strategic integration of e-bikes can expand a bikeshare system’s reach and effectiveness. The system now represents a
mature and scalable model for shared micromobility in Massachusetts, illustrating both the potential and the
operational requirements needed to support continued statewide expansion.
Appendix II: Case Studies | Special Commission on Micromobility 92
MassCEC E-bike Subsidy Program
The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) ran a statewide e-bike voucher program in 2025. The program
received $5M from the Governor’s 2024 budget. Its goals were to increase affordability and access to clean
transportation among low- and moderate-income residents; reduce vehicle miles traveled (VMT) for aging vehicles;
and reduce emissions for predominantly environmental justice (EJ) communities. The program was designed to
provide 2,500-3,000 point-of-sale e-bike vouchers to low- and moderate-income residents. MassCEC received 10,248
applications for the 2,500-3,000 vouchers, indicating a 3-4x greater interest than the program was able to support.
In addition to the vouchers, funding was provided to educate riders on safe riding practices and to increase ridership.
This educational element was included based on learnings from a MassCEC ACT4All pilot by MassBike.
The program design included two different e-bike vouchers:
•
A “Standard” voucher of $800 for an applicant at or below 400% of the federal poverty line (FPL) (or for an applicant
that is participating in an eligible income-certified program)
•
An “Enhanced” voucher of $1,200 for an applicant at or below 225% of the federal poverty line (or for an applicant
that is participating in an eligible income-certified program; or if an applicant submits a signed doctor’s note that
specifies a need for an adaptive e-bike).
Additionally, all participants could access a $150 equipment voucher to assist with the purchase of a helmet, lock, floor
pump, bell, mirrors, phone mount, and/or lights.
Notable program design elements included:
•
Vouchers had to be redeemed at brick-and-mortar shops in Massachusetts, meaning the dollars invested in the
program benefitted local economies
•
80 bike shops participated at program launch, all of which provided maintenance and battery recycling
•
Vouchers were distributed in proportion to the population in each region of the Commonwealth (organized by
Executive Office of Health and Human Safety geographic regions)
•
Vouchers could only be used to purchase a Class 1 or Class 2 e-bike, both of which are speed-capped at 20MPH
•
Vouchers could only be used to purchase devices that meet UL2849 and/or EN15194 certifications, for consumer
safety purposes
The program effectively addressed its affordability and access to clean transportation goals:
•
47% of selected applicants had an annual income less than $28,000
•
78% of selected applicants had an annual income less than $55,000
In the middle of the program, a survey was sent to 500 participants. Two hundred eighty-five (285) responses were
received. Recreation was reported as the most common use for the e-bike, though errands, work/school commuting,
and healthcare appointments were also commonly reported.
Respondents also reported:
•
They use their e-bike for trips they previously would have made by car (85%)
•
They believe they are saving money on transportation costs (78%)
•
They have improved their physical health (73%)
Appendix II: Case Studies | Special Commission on Micromobility 93
Bike shops shared feedback that the voucher amount of the Enhanced voucher should be increased if there are future
funding rounds, as subsidized purchase costs were still high even with the Enhanced voucher. Additional stakeholder
feedback included an emphasis on further prioritizing applicants with disabilities if there are future funding rounds.
Other secondary considerations that would impact the effectiveness of a future funding round include the need for
more bike infrastructure; additional efforts to expand e-bike culture, education, and safe riding practices; continuing the
shift of deliveries to bikes and e-bikes; and increasing accessibility of e-bike maintenance.
Appendix II: Case Studies | Special Commission on Micromobility 94
Bike Shop Interviews
In the summer of 2025, 14 people from varying backgrounds across the Commonwealth were interviewed by
Commission representatives and gave their feedback on workforce needs and maintenance for micromobility devices.
Bike and scooter shop mechanics, rental shop owners, non-profit organization leaders, and program managers were
interviewed. Interviews were conducted over the phone and in person, and interviewees were asked a series of
questions including those about fleets, servicing requests, and their hopes for the future of micromobility.
E-bike Repair Challenges
Only two interviewees stated that they offered repairs on all e-bikes, or at least that they would consider servicing them.
Some only serviced e-bikes that they sold to the customer, while others only serviced UL-certified e-bikes. One
Commission member likened repairing an unfamiliar e-bike to servicing an unfamiliar car, given their complicated
electricals.
Generally, the more advanced and/or market-established an e-bike is, the easier the repair becomes. Many of these e-
bike repairs are “rip-and-replace,” or in other words, the mechanic has to remove some broken, outdated, or
underperforming component and replace it with a new one.
A critical component of an e-bike repair business is sourcing the replacement parts. For bike shops that have
relationships with manufacturers, this process is straightforward. The process becomes complicated when residents
request servicing for less established e-bikes, especially cheaper bikes bought online, because these shops then need
to track down the manufacturers for specific parts and/or manuals. Most shops will turn away these requests because it
would ultimately be unprofitable for the time and money spent on these repairs.
Workforce
When prompted about the demand for mechanics, most interviewees stated that their current number of employees
was meeting the demand for repairs and supporting customers in purchasing bicycles. As for the specificities of e-bike
repairs, the bike shops that took all types of e-bikes expressed the need for more electrical knowledge for their
mechanics. The battery and electrical wires pose more dangers, which requires more expertise in battery technology.
However, this expertise is less necessary for servicing advanced/established e-bikes. Most of the mechanics learned on
the job from training by other mechanics.
The two workforce/career program interviewees expressed a lack of a career “pathway” for e-bike mechanics. A fully
fledged electric micromobility mechanic internship or career readiness program does not have enough demand from
bike shops, and because the bike shop industry has on/off seasons, this makes job security tougher.
Suggested Actions
Interviewees had several suggestions for lawmakers and regulators. These suggestions are not necessarily those of the
Commission.
•
Require companies to UL-certify their devices and batteries and ban the usage of non-UL (or CE certified) batteries.
•
Require that repair manuals include specs and wiring diagrams or mandate a place online to find said information.
•
Subsidize programs that support both those purchasing e-bikes and those servicing e-bikes
•
Establish regulations to reduce the amount of e-waste that e-bikes produce
Appendix III: MGL and CMR Text | Special Commission on Micromobility 95
Appendix III: CMR and MGL Text
Text of the Cited MGL Laws
Chapter 85
§ 11B Bicycles; operation and equipment; regulations; federal product safety standards, effect; races;
violations; penalties
Every person operating a bicycle upon a way, as defined in section one of chapter ninety, shall have the right
to use all public ways in the commonwealth except limited access or express state highways where signs
specifically prohibiting bicycles have been posted, and shall be subject to the traffic laws and regulations of the
commonwealth and the special regulations contained in this section, except that: (1) the bicycle operator may
keep to the right when passing a motor vehicle which is moving in the travel lane of the way, (2) the bicycle
operator shall signal by either hand his intention to stop or turn; provided, however, that signals need not be
made continuously and shall not be made when the use of both hands is necessary for the safe operation of the
bicycle, and (3) bicycles may be ridden on sidewalks outside business districts when necessary in the interest
of safety, unless otherwise directed by local ordinance. A person operating a bicycle on the sidewalk shall yield
the right of way to pedestrians and give an audible signal before overtaking and passing any pedestrian.
Operators of bicycles shall be subject to the following regulations:
(1) Bicyclists riding together shall not ride more than 2 abreast but, on a roadway with more than 1 lane in
the direction of travel, bicyclists shall ride within a single lane. Nothing in this clause shall relieve a bicyclist of
the duty to facilitate overtaking as required by section 2 of chapter 89.
(2)(i) The operator shall ride only upon or astride a permanent and regular seat attached to the bicycle; a
passenger shall ride only upon or astride a permanent and regular seat attached to the bicycle or to a trailer
towed by the bicycle.
(ii) The operator shall not transport another person between the ages of one to four years, or weighing forty
pounds or less, on a bicycle, except in a ''baby seat'', so-called, attached to the bicycle, in which such other
person shall be able to sit upright; provided, however, that such seat is equipped with a harness to hold such
other person securely in the seat and that protection is provided against the feet or hands of such person
hitting the spokes of the wheel of the bicycle; or upon or astride a seat of a tandem bicycle equipped so that the
other person can comfortably reach the handlebars and pedals. The operator shall not transport any person
under the age of one year on said bicycle.
(iii) Any person 16 years of age or younger operating a bicycle or being carried as a passenger on a bicycle
on a public way, bicycle path or on any other public right-of-way shall wear a helmet. Said helmet shall fit the
person's head, shall be secured to the person's head by straps while the bicycle is being operated, and shall
meet the standards for helmets established by the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission. These
requirements shall not apply to a passenger if the passenger is in an enclosed trailer or other device which
adequately holds the passenger in place and protects the passenger's head from impact in an accident.
(iv) A violation of clause (ii) or (iii) shall not be used as evidence of contributory negligence in any civil action.
(3) The operator shall give an audible warning whenever necessary to insure safe operation of the bicycle;
provided, however, the use of a siren or whistle is prohibited.
(4) The operator shall park his bicycle upon a way or a sidewalk in such a manner as not to obstruct vehicular
or pedestrian traffic.
(5) The operator shall not permit the bicycle to be drawn by any other moving vehicle. The operator shall not
tow any other vehicle or person, except that bicycle trailers properly attached to the bicycle which allow for
firm control and braking may be used.
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(6) The operator shall not carry any package, bundle or article except in or on a basket, rack, trailer or other
device designed for such purposes. The operator shall keep at least one hand upon the handlebars at all times.
(7) Every bicycle operated upon a way shall be equipped with a braking system to enable the operator to
bring the bicycle traveling at a speed of fifteen miles per hour to a smooth, safe stop within thirty feet on a dry,
clean, hard, level surface.
(8) During the period from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise, the operator shall
display to the front of his bicycle a lamp emitting a white light visible from a distance of at least five hundred
feet, and to the rear of said bicycle a lamp emitting a red light and a red reflector visible for not less than six
hundred feet when directly in front of lawful lower beams of headlamps on a motor vehicle. A generator
powered lamp which emits light only when the bicycle is moving shall meet the requirements of this clause. The
provisions of this clause related to front and rear lighting shall be enforced by law enforcement agencies only
when an operator of a bicycle has been stopped for some other offense. A violation of this clause related to rear
lighting shall not be used as conclusive evidence of contributory negligence in any civil action.
(9) During the period from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise, the operator shall
display on each pedal of his bicycle a reflector, or around each of his ankles reflective material visible from the
front and rear for a distance of six hundred feet, and reflectors or reflective material, either on said bicycle or
on the person of the operator, visible on each side for a distance of six hundred feet, when directly in front of
lawful lower beams of headlamps of a motor vehicle. This clause shall not prohibit a bicycle or its operator to
be equipped with lights or reflectors in addition to those required by clauses (8) and (9).
(10) No bicycle shall be operated upon a way with handlebars so raised that the operator's hands are above
his shoulders while gripping them. Any alteration to extend the fork of a bicycle from the original design and
construction of the bicycle manufacturer is prohibited.
(11) The operator of a bicycle shall report any accident involving either personal injury or property damage
in excess of one hundred dollars, or both, to the police department in the city or town in which the accident
occurred.
Any federal product safety standards relating to bicycles which are more stringent than the requirements of
clauses (7) through (10), inclusive, shall supersede said requirements.
Competitive bicycle races may be held on public ways, provided that such races are sponsored by or in
cooperation with recognized bicycle organizations and, provided further, that the sponsoring organization
shall have obtained the approval of the appropriate police department or departments. Special regulations
regarding the movement of bicycles during such races, or in training for races, including, but not limited to,
permission to ride abreast, may be established by agreement between the police department and the
sponsoring organization.
Violations of any provision of this section except violations of subclause (iii) of clause (2) shall be punished by a
fine of not more than twenty dollars. The parent or guardian of any person under age eighteen shall not
authorize or knowingly permit any such person to violate any of the provisions of this section. A bicycle
operated by a person under the age of eighteen in violation of this section may be impounded by the police
department, or in a town which has no police department, by the selectmen, for a period not to exceed fifteen
days. A violation of any provision of this section by a minor under the age of eighteen shall not affect any civil
right or liability nor shall such violation be considered a criminal offense
§ 11B ½ Mandatory helmet use for persons 16 years of age or younger
Any person 16 years of age or younger operating in line skates, a skate board, a scooter or other manually-
propelled wheeled vehicle or riding as a passenger on any such manually-propelled vehicle on a public way,
bicycle path or on any other public right-of-way shall wear a helmet. Such helmet shall fit the person's head
and be secured by straps at all times while operating in line skates, scooters, skate board or other manually-
propelled wheeled vehicle and shall meet the standards for helmets established by the American National
Standards Institute (ANSI Z 90.4) or subsequent standards or the Snell Memorial Foundation's 1984 standard
for use in bicycling or subsequent standards. A violation of this section shall not be used as evidence of
contributory negligence in a civil action.
A city or town shall not adopt any by-laws or ordinances to change the standards required by this section.
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§ 11B ¾ Electric bicycles; rights, privileges, duties; regulations
(a) For the purposes of this section, the term ''electric bicycle'' shall have the same meaning as in section 1 of
chapter 90 and the terms ''bike path'' and ''bikeway'' shall have the same meanings as in section 1 of chapter
90E.
(b) Except as otherwise provided in this section, an electric bicycle or an operator of an electric bicycle shall be
afforded all of the rights and privileges, and shall be subject to all of the duties, of the operator of a bicycle or
duties related to a bicycle set forth in sections 11B and 11B1/2, any general or special law, regulation or local
ordinance; provided, however, that electric bicycles shall not be ridden or operated on sidewalks.
(c) A municipality, local authority or state agency with jurisdiction over a bike path or bikeway after public
notice and a public hearing may adopt ordinances or regulations prohibiting or otherwise regulating the
operation of electric bicycles on such paths, including, but not limited to, the imposition of speed limits.
(d) An electric bicycle shall not be operated on a trail designated for nonmotorized traffic, that a municipality,
local authority or state agency has jurisdiction over, if such trail has a natural surface tread made by clearing
and grading the soil and no surfacing materials have been added; provided, however, that a municipality,
local authority or state agency after public notice and a public hearing may adopt ordinances or regulations
permitting or otherwise regulating the use of electric bicycles on such a trail within its jurisdiction, including,
but not limited to, the imposition of speed limits.
(e) Electric bicycles shall comply with the equipment and manufacturing requirements for bicycles adopted by
the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission.
(f) Manufacturers and distributors of electric bicycles shall apply a label that shall be permanently affixed, in a
prominent location, to each electric bicycle containing the classification number, top assisted speed and motor
wattage of the electric bicycle.
(g) No person shall tamper with or modify an electric bicycle so as to change the motor-powered speed
capability or engagement of an electric bicycle, unless the person appropriately replaces the label required by
subsection (f).
(h) The secretary of transportation may promulgate regulations for electric bicycles in the commonwealth,
including, but not limited, to their safe operation and proper labeling. The secretary shall submit any such
proposed regulations to the clerks of the house of representatives and senate and the joint committee on
transportation not later than 30 days prior to their effective date.
§ 11D Bicycle helmets; display of sign requiring use
Every person engaged in the retail business of selling or renting bicycles, in line skates, scooters, skate boards
or other manually-propelled wheeled vehicles shall display in an area conspicuous to customers of the
business a sign containing the following statement: Massachusetts law requires that a bicycle helmet be worn
by a person 16 years of age or under who is riding as an operator or passenger on a bicycle, in line skates, a
scooter, or a skate board.
By posting such a sign, such retail business shall be deemed to be in full compliance with this act, and no
liability shall be incurred in the event that said helmet is not worn. A person, firm or corporation engaged in
the business of renting bicycles shall make available a bicycle helmet conforming to the specifications for
bicycle helmets of the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission to each person renting a bicycle.
§ 11E Traffic law violations by bicyclist
A police officer who observes a traffic law violation committed by a bicyclist may request the offender to state
his true name and address. Whoever, upon such request, refuses to state his name and address or whoever
states a false name and address or a name and address which is not his name and address in ordinary use,
shall be punished by a fine of not less than $20 nor more than $50. An offender who refuses to state his true
name and address may be arrested without a warrant for such refusal but no person shall be arrested without
a warrant for any other traffic law violation committed while operating a bicycle. A police officer shall use the
ticketing procedure described in chapter 90C to cite a bicyclist for a traffic law violation but the violation shall
not affect the status of the bicyclist's license to operate a motor vehicle nor shall it affect the bicyclist's status in
the safe driver insurance plan. When a citation is issued to a bicyclist, it shall be clearly indicated on the ticket
that the violator is a bicyclist, and failure to do so shall be a defense to the violation.
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The parent or guardian of a person under 18 years of age shall not authorize or knowingly permit that person
to violate this section. A violation of this section by a person under 18 years of age shall not affect any civil
right or liability nor shall the violation be a criminal offense. If the offender is under 16 years of age, the officer
may give the notice to the parent or guardian of the offender.
All fines collected by a city or town pursuant to this section shall be used by the city or town for the
development and implementation of bicycle safety programs.
Chapter 90
§ 1 Definitions
''Class 1 electric bicycle'', an electric bicycle or tricycle equipped with a motor that provides assistance only
when the rider is pedaling and that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 20 miles
per hour.
''Class 2 electric bicycle'', an electric bicycle or tricycle equipped with a motor that may be used exclusively to
propel the bicycle and that is not capable of providing assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 20
miles per hour.
''Electric bicycle'', a bicycle or tricycle equipped with fully operable pedals and an electric motor of 750 watts
or less that meets the requirements of a class 1 electric bicycle or a class 2 electric bicycle.
''Motorcycle'', any motor vehicle having a seat or saddle for the use of the rider and designed to travel on not
more than three wheels in contact with the ground, including any bicycle with a motor or driving wheel
attached, except a tractor or a motor vehicle designed for the carrying of golf clubs and not more than four
persons, an industrial three-wheel truck, a motor vehicle on which the operator and passenger ride within an
enclosed cab, or a motorized bicycle.
''Motorized bicycle'', a pedal bicycle which has a helper motor, or a non-pedal bicycle which has a motor, with
a cylinder capacity not exceeding fifty cubic centimeters, an automatic transmission, and which is capable of a
maximum speed of no more than thirty miles per hour; provided, that the definition of ''motorized bicycle''
shall not include an electric bicycle.
''Motorized scooter'', any 2 wheeled tandem or 3 wheeled device, that has handlebars, designed to be stood or
sat upon by the operator, powered by an electric or gas powered motor that is capable of propelling the device
with or without human propulsion. The definition of ''motorized scooter'' shall not include a motorcycle, electric
bicycle or motorized bicycle or a 3 wheeled motorized wheelchair.
''Vulnerable user'', (i) a pedestrian, including a person engaged in work upon a way or upon utility facilities
along a way or engaged in the provision of emergency services within the way; (ii) a person operating a
bicycle, handcycle, tricycle, skateboard, roller skates, in-line skates, non-motorized scooter, wheelchair,
electric personal assistive mobility device, horse, horse-drawn carriage, motorized bicycle, motorized scooter,
or other micromobility device, or a farm tractor or similar vehicle designed primarily for farm use; or (iii)
other such categories that the registrar may designate by regulation.
§ 1B Motorized bicycles; operation regulations
A motorized bicycle shall not be operated upon any way, as defined in section one within the commonwealth
by any person under sixteen years of age, nor at a speed in excess of twenty-five miles per hour. A motorized
bicycle shall not be operated on any way by any person not possessing a valid driver's license or learner's
permit. Every person operating a motorized bicycle upon a way shall have the right to use all public ways in
the commonwealth except limited access or express state highways where signs specifically prohibiting
bicycles have been posted, and shall be subject to the traffic laws and regulations of the commonwealth and the
regulations contained in this section, except that: (1) the motorized bicycle operator may keep to the right
when passing a motor vehicle which is moving in the travel lane of the way, and (2) the motorized bicycle
operator shall signal by either hand his intention to stop or turn. Motorized bicycles may be operated on
bicycle lanes adjacent to the various ways, but shall be excluded from off-street recreational bicycle paths.
Every person operating a motorized bicycle or riding as a passenger on a motorized bicycle shall wear
protective headgear conforming with such minimum standards of construction and performance as the
registrar may prescribe, and no person operating a motorized bicycle shall permit any other person to ride a
passenger on such motorized bicycle unless such passenger is wearing such protective headgear.
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A person convicted of a violation of this section shall be punished by a fine of not more than twenty-five dollars
for the first offense, not less than twenty-five nor more than fifty dollars for a second offense, and not less than
fifty nor more than one hundred dollars for subsequent offenses committed.
§ 1C Motorized bicycles and scooters; compliance with federal standards
Motorized bicycles and motorized scooters shall comply with all applicable federal motor vehicle safety
standards.
§ 1D Motorized bicycles; sales; number sticker or plate
Any person who is engaged in the business of buying or selling bicycles or motorized bicycles shall, upon the
sale of such motorized bicycle, affix a sticker or plate which shall bear a distinctive number, as prescribed by
the registrar, to said bicycle upon a fee to be determined annually by the commissioner of administration
under the provision of section three B of chapter seven. Said fee shall be forwarded to the registry of motor
vehicles by such person. Said sticker shall be renewed biannually in the manner prescribed by the registrar.
§ 1E Motorized scooters; operation regulations
A motorized scooter shall not be operated on any way by a person not possessing a valid driver's license or
learner's permit, nor at a speed in excess of 20 miles per hour. A person operating a motorized scooter upon a
way shall have the right to use all public ways in the commonwealth except limited access or express state
highways where signs specifically prohibiting scooters or bicycles have been posted, and shall be subject to all
traffic laws and regulations of the commonwealth and the regulations contained in this section, except that: (1)
a scooter operator shall keep to the right side of the road at all times, including when passing a motor vehicle
which is moving in the travel lane of the way; and (2) the scooter shall be equipped with operational stop and
turn signals so that the operator can keep both hands on the handlebars at all times. No person shall operate a
motor scooter upon any way at any time after sunset or before sunrise.
A person operating a motorized scooter shall wear protective headgear conforming with such minimum
standards of construction and performance as the registrar may prescribe. No person operating a motorized
scooter shall permit any other person to ride as a passenger on the scooter.
A person convicted of a violation of this section shall be punished by a fine of not more than $25 for the first
violation, not less than $25 nor more than $50 for a second violation and not less than $50 nor more than
$100 for a third or subsequent violation.
§ 1H Registration of motor vehicles designed for operation on public ways but not capable of exceeding 40
miles per hour
In addition to the types of vehicles that may be registered under chapter 90, the registrar of motor vehicles
may issue a registration for a motor vehicle meeting Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards for that
particular class of vehicle, other than a low-speed motor vehicle, if the vehicle is designed by its manufacturer
to be operated on public ways and its speed on a paved level surface can exceed 30 miles per hour but is not
capable of exceeding 40 miles per hour, as may be determined by the registrar. The registrar may adopt
reasonable rules and regulations concerning requirements for registration, equipment, inspections and
insurance for such vehicles. Every person authorized and registered to operate such a vehicle upon a way
shall not operate the vehicle in excess of 40 miles per hour and shall have the right to use all public ways in the
commonwealth except limited access or express state highways where signs specifically prohibit bicycles,
mopeds or low-speed vehicles have been posted and shall not operate the vehicle on a portion of a way where
the speed limit increases beyond 40 miles per hour. This shall not prohibit a vehicle described in this section
from crossing a public way at an intersection where the public way to be crossed has a posted speed limit
between 40 and 55 miles per hour, provided the public way the vehicle is traveling on and the public way the
vehicle is crossing the intersection to, both have a speed limit no higher than 40 miles per hour and the
intersection is controlled by traffic signals or stop signs. Such limitations as to the vehicle's limited use of public
ways may be conspicuously printed on the registration certificate of the vehicle by the registrar. The registrar
may issue a distinctive registration plate for such vehicle indicating its speed restrictions.
§ 1I 3-wheeled motor vehicle registered as a motorcycle
Notwithstanding the definition of ''Motorcycle'' in section 1, the registrar of motor vehicles may register a 3–
wheeled motor vehicle as a motorcycle on which the operator and passenger ride within an enclosed cab, if the
vehicle's manufacturer has issued a certificate of origin indicating the vehicle meets Federal Motor Vehicle
Safety Standards for a motorcycle and if the vehicle is designed by the manufacturer to be operated on public
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ways. If the registrar determines that the vehicle can attain a speed of at least 30 miles per hour but cannot
exceed 40 miles per hour, he may restrict its use on public ways. If the vehicle was previously registered, the
registrar may register the vehicle as a motorcycle if the owner provides documentation, satisfactory to the
registrar, that the vehicle was previously registered in this or another state as a motorcycle. The registrar
may adopt reasonable rules and regulations concerning requirements for registration, equipment, inspections
and insurance. Every person authorized and registered to operate such a vehicle upon a way shall not operate
the vehicle in excess of 40 miles per hour and shall have the right to use all public ways except limited access or
express state highways where signs specifically prohibiting bicycles, mopeds or low-speed vehicles have been
posted and shall not operate the vehicle on a portion of a way where the speed limit increases beyond 40 miles
per hour. This shall not prohibit a vehicle described in this section from crossing a public way at an
intersection where the public way to be crossed has a posted speed limit between 40 and 55 miles per hour,
provided the public way the low-speed vehicle is traveling on and the public way the low-speed vehicle is
crossing the intersection to, both have a speed limit no higher than 40 miles per hour and the intersection is
controlled by traffic signals or stop signs. Such limitations as to the use of public ways may be conspicuously
printed on the registration certificate of the vehicle by the registrar. The registrar may issue a distinctive
registration plate for such vehicle indicating its speed restrictions.
Chapter 90E
§ 1 Definitions
''Bicycle'', a two-wheel nonmotor-powered vehicle.
''Bike path'', a route for the exclusive use of bicycles separated by grade or other physical barrier from motor
traffic.
''Bike lane'', a lane on a street restricted to bicycles and so designated by means of painted lines, pavement
coloring or other appropriate markings.
''Bike route'', a roadway shared by both bicycles and other forms of transportation designated by the means of
signs or pavement markings.
''Bikeway'', bike paths, bike lanes and bike routes.
''Bicycle parking facility'', any facility for the temporary storage of bicycles which allows the frame and both
wheels of the bicycle to be locked so as to minimize the risk of theft and vandalism.
§ 2 Rules, regulations and plans; bikeways program; participation
The commissioner shall promulgate such rules, regulations, plans, proposals, and procedures as are
necessary and appropriate to the construction and maintenance of bikeways and bicycle parking facilities.
Such rules, regulations, plans, proposals and procedures shall take into consideration potential users in high
density employment areas, bicycle accident locations, connections to other modes of transportation, special
signs, markings necessary for the benefit of cyclists and motorists, bicycle parking facilities at points of public
interest and provisions to insure safe, smooth, direct continuous bikeways.
The commissioner shall designate the bureau of transportation planning and development in the department
as the principal source for the planning of bikeways in the commonwealth.
The commissioner shall establish, with the advice and assistance of the bicycle advisory board, established by
section eleven A of chapter twenty-one A, a bikeways program which shall include, but not be limited to:
surveys, safety measures, demonstration projects, research, education, utilization of existing streets and
walkways, provisions of bikeways to and from schools affording a minimum of hazard from automobiles,
provision of comfort stations and weather shelters, provision of facilities in connection with commuter
railroads to facilitate the use of bicycles by commuters in traveling to and from the railroad stations, the use of
abandoned rights of way for bicycle paths; the development of commuter and recreational trails; provision of
bicycle transportation facilities roadways, bridges and airports; the development of a coordinated program
for bicycles and motor vehicles; the development of bicycle amenities such as assigned parking facilities;
bicycle routes, paths and trails; bicycle sensitive traffic light actuation; and bicycle transportation as a
commuter activity and promulgation of standards, security measures and regulations for the registration and
use of bicycles.
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The commissioner shall promulgate such rules, regulations and procedures, including public hearings, as are
necessary and appropriate to provide the following parties the timely opportunity to participate in the
development of bikeway proposals, plans, programs and projects of the department, as defined by the
commissioner, and to review and comment thereon:
(a) state, regional and local agencies and authorities, including without limitation, regional planning agencies,
affected by said proposals, plans, programs and projects;
(b) elected officials from cities and towns affected by said proposals, plans, programs and projects;
(c) other public and private organizations, groups and persons who are affected by, and who have provided
the commissioner with reasonable notice in writing of their desire to participate in the development of said
proposals, plans, programs and projects.
In this section, the words ''timely opportunity'' shall mean sufficiently early in the planning process to permit
comments to be considered prior to the final development of or commitment to any such proposal, plan,
program or project, at each stage of development.
§ 2A Rules, regulations and plans; bikeways program; participation
The commissioner shall make all reasonable provisions for the accommodation of bicycle and pedestrian
traffic in the planning, design, and construction, reconstruction or maintenance of any project undertaken by
the department. Such provisions that are unreasonable shall include, but not be limited to, those which the
commissioner, after appropriate review by the bicycle program coordinator, determines would be contrary to
acceptable standards of public safety, degrade environmental quality or conflict with existing rights of way.
§ 3 Rules, regulations and plans; bikeways program; participation
The commissioner shall expend for the purpose of assisting counties, cities and towns to construct bikeways
for commuter or recreational use, and for the construction of unique regional bikeways and bicycle parking
facilities, such funds as are appropriated or authorized by the general court for such purpose, and payment
shall be made to the county or city or town upon application to the commissioner on the basis of criteria
established by him.
Funds made available for the construction of bikeways shall be expended as follows:
(a) Seventy-five per cent of the costs for bikeways, the balance of the costs to be borne by the city or town in
which said bikeways are located.
(b) Fifty per cent for the cost of constructing a bicycle parking facility at or adjacent to a mass transit facility,
the balance of the costs to be borne by the city or town where said bicycle parking facility is to be constructed.
(c) One hundred per cent for the cost of unique regional bikeways and bicycle parking facilities, as determined
by the commissioner.
The department is hereby authorized and directed to take all steps necessary to obtain federal funds that may
be available for the construction of bikeways and said funds shall be credited to the Federal Highway
Construction Program Fund.
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Text of the Cited CMR Regulations
From 302 CMR, Department of Conservation and Recreations (DCR)
302 CMR 12.02 Definitions
Electric Bicycle. A two- or three-wheeled vehicle that: (i) is equipped with fully operable pedals, a seat or
saddle for the rider and an electric motor of no more than 750 watts; and (ii) is a Class 1, Class 2 or Class 3
electric bicycle:
(1) Class 1 electric bicycle. An electric bicycle equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when the
rider is pedaling, and that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches or exceeds 20 miles per
hour.
(2) Class 2 electric bicycle. An electric bicycle equipped with a motor that may be used exclusively to propel the
bicycle, and that is not capable of providing assistance when the bicycle reaches or exceeds 20 miles per hour.
(3) Class 3 electric bicycle. An electric bicycle, other than a Class 1 electric bicycle, equipped with a motor that
provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling, and that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle
reaches or exceeds 28 miles per hour.
302 CMR 12.05 Rules of Conduct on DCR Properties – Appalachian Trail
(2) No person shall operate any snow vehicle, recreation vehicle, or other vehicle, or ride a bicycle, electric
bicycle, motorized conveyance, horse, or other animal upon any portion of the Appalachian Trail except at
designated crossings.
302 CMR 12.12 Rules of Conduct on DCR Properties –Trails
(1) All non-motorized trail uses shall be permitted on any DCR trail, including a forest trail, forest way, trail or
rail trail unless posted closed with appropriate signage, or otherwise prohibited by regulation or law.
(2) The use of bicycles, electric bicycles, and other means of transportation, including inline skates, scooters,
skateboards and similar equipment, may be prohibited in specific areas and at specific times at particular
DCR properties, and may be communicated through postings, signs, or markings.
(3) Motorized conveyances are prohibited on improved or natural surface DCR trails unless such trails are
designated for such conveyances by the Department or allowed by a duly authorized DCR permit.
(4) The use of electric bicycles is prohibited on sidewalks and on improved or natural surface trails, regardless
of trail width or other conditions, except that Class 1 electric bicycles are permitted as follows: (a) on
improved DCR trails of 8 feet in width or greater; (b) in places where vehicular traffic is permitted and
bicycles are not otherwise prohibited; and (c) in bicycle lanes on DCR roadways.
(5) The use of Class 2 and Class 3 electric bicycles is permitted as follows: (a) where vehicular traffic is
permitted and bicycles are not otherwise prohibited; and (b) in bicycle lanes on DCR roadways.
(6) When passing others on a trail, trail users shall alert others with audible signals such as by voice, bell or
horn.
(7) Trail users shall stop at all intersections and obey all regulatory signs and pavement markings on DCR
property.
(8) A cyclist lawfully using DCR property after dark must equip his or her bicycle or other wheeled vehicle with
a white light on the front of the vehicle and a red light to the rear of the vehicle that project illumination visible
from 500 feet or more from the vehicle.
(9) Children younger than 17 years old must wear a helmet when riding or operating a bicycle or other
wheeled vehicle on DCR property as prescribed by M.G.L. c.85, § 11B½ .
(10) No person shall operate any bicycle, electric bicycle, in-line skates, scooters, skateboards or similar
equipment in a reckless manner, or at a speed which may be considered unreasonable or improper for
existing conditions.
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302 CMR 12.14 Rules of Conduct on DCR Properties – Recreational Vehicles
No person shall operate any moped, scooter or other motorized conveyance, other than a wheelchair or an
electric bicycle, on DCR property unless the operator: holds a valid motor vehicle license; and the vehicle is
equipped for legal operation on Massachusetts public ways, or is otherwise permitted.
From 540 CMR, Registry of Motor Vehicles
540 CMR 2.05 Vehicle Registrations Requirements
(3)
Low-speed Electric Bicycle. A two- or three-wheeled vehicle with fully operable pedals and an electric motor of
less than 750 watts (one h.p.), whose maximum speed on a paved level surface, when powered solely by such a
motor while ridden by an operator who weighs 170 lbs., is less than 20 mph. These bicycles are not “motor
vehicles” and are regulated by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. They are neither required nor
authorized to be registered as “motorized bicycles” in the Commonwealth and the operator is not required to
have a license or learner’s permit but is subject to the traffic laws of the Commonwealth.
Motorized Bicycle (commonly called a moped). As defined in M.G.L. c. 90, § 1, may have two or three wheels.
A motorized bicycle, however powered, cannot be converted and registered as a motorcycle. If the Registrar
has information that he or she believes to be reliable that a particular make and model of motorized bicycle or
a particular motorized bicycle itself can exceed 30 miles per hour, he or she may refuse to recognize it as a
motorized bicycle and may reject registration for the specific vehicle or the make and model produced by the
manufacturer.
Motorized Scooter. As defined in M.G.L. c. 90, § 1, is neither required nor authorized to be registered in the
Commonwealth.
Motorized Vehicle Designed for Off-road Use. A motorized vehicle originally designed and manufactured for
off-road use, for example, a snow mobile or ski mobile, an all-terrain (ATV) vehicle, a utility vehicle, etc., that
could be registered under M.G.L. c. 90B cannot be registered for on-road use, either in its original
manufactured configuration or as modified for on-road use. Only a “motorcycle” properly converted from off-
road use may be registered for on-road use.
Motorcycle. As defined in M.G.L. c. 90, § 1, includes any such vehicle if it can achieve a top speed, as designed
and manufactured, in excess of 40 miles per hour (MPH). If such vehicle can achieve a top speed, as designed
and manufactured, of between 30 and 40 miles per hour (MPH) it may be registered as a “Limited Use
Motorcycle” subject to restrictions as to operation on certain ways or portions of ways. Any two- or three-
wheeled vehicle which has been certified by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) as a
“motorcycle” can only be registered as a “Motorcycle” or “Limited Use Motorcycle”. It cannot be registered as
a “private passenger motor vehicle”.
Motorcycle Conversions. A two- or three-wheeled motorcycle originally designed and manufactured for off-
road use cannot be registered for on-road use, unless and until it has been physically converted in accord with
the required motorcycle equipment/components list as contained in the Registrar’s “Motorcycle Conversion
Preliminary Examination Report” and the vehicle passes such preliminary examination prior to registration.
540 CMR 2.06 Requirements for Driver (Operator) Licenses, Learner Permits and Identification Cards
(2)
Driver’s (Operator) License. An original, renewal or duplicate license to operate a motor vehicle as issued by
the Registrar under M.G.L. c. 90 or c. 90F in Class A, B, C, (Commercial licenses); D (Passenger vehicle
license); or M (Motorcycle license). It includes a temporary license in any Class. A Class D license may be used
to operate a motorized bicycle or a motorized scooter.
Learner’s Permit. A restricted permit, issued under M.G.L. c. 90, § 8B, that allows a learning driver to operate
a passenger motor vehicle (Class D) and also allows a person to operate a motorized bicycle or a motorized
scooter; a restricted permit, also issued under M.G.L. c. 90, § 8B, that allows a learning rider to operate a
motorcycle (Class M).
Appendix III: MGL and CMR Text | Special Commission on Micromobility
104
From 700 CMR, Massachusetts Department of Transportation
700 CMR 9.01 Definitions
Bicycle. Any wheeled vehicle propelled by pedals and operated by one or more persons. Bicycles shall include
electric bicycles and motorized bicycles as defined in M.G.L. c. 90, § 1.
Bicycle Signal. A traffic signal indication at a Traffic Control Signal that is identified by a bicycle symbol in
each signal face. Bicycle signals shall control right of way for bicyclists only. Where Bicycle Signals are present
on an approach to an intersection, they shall control the right of way for bicyclists regardless of the presence
of other traffic signals, unless otherwise signed.
Sidewalk. That portion of a highway set aside for pedestrian travel and, where designated, for bicycle travel.
700 CMR 9.06 Operation of Vehicles
(10)
(m) Steady Green Bicycle. Bicyclists approaching a steady green bicycle may proceed through the intersection
but shall yield the right of way to pedestrians and vehicles lawfully within a crosswalk and vehicles within the
intersection at the time such a signal was exhibited.
(n) Steady Yellow Bicycle. Bicyclists approaching the intersection or a marked stop line facing a steady yellow
bicycle shall stop at such point unless so close to the intersection that a stop cannot be made in safety.
(o) Steady Red Bicycle. Bicyclists facing a steady red bicycle shall not enter the intersection and, if
approaching, shall stop outside of the intersection or at such point as may be clearly marked by a sign or line.
Except when a sign is in place prohibiting such a turn, stopped bicyclists facing a steady red bicycle may turn
right, or turn left from a one-way street onto another one-way street, as subject to M.G.L. c. 89, § 8.
(p) Flashing Yellow Bicycle. Bicyclists approaching a flashing circular yellow may proceed through the
intersection with caution per the provisions of M.G.L. c. 89 § 8 and shall yield the right of way to pedestrians.
(q) Flashing Red Bicycle. Bicyclists approaching a flashing circular red shall stop at the stop line or, if not
marked, before entering the nearest crosswalk at an intersection, and the right to proceed shall be subject to
provisions of M.G.L. c. 89, § 8.
700 CMR 9.08 Limited Access and Express State Highways
(2)
(b) No person shall operate or ride a bicycle within the limits of or on any portion of any highway where
official signs have been erected at the approaches of said highway prohibiting such traffic.
Appendix IV: Discussion Topics | Special Commission on Micromobility
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Appendix IV: Discussion Topics
During the development of the recommendations, commissioners initially submitted 116 items to potentially include.
Support staff combined similar items and removed extraneous ones to come to these 54 topics which were presented
back to the commission in the October 14, 2025 meeting for discussion. The commissioners selected topics and ideas to
include in the final recommendations and refined some of the ideas presented. The recommendations went through
several rounds of refinement before the sixteen recommendations in this report were finalized.
Incentives and Subsidies
•
The relevant administering group should add UL certified e-bikes and scooters to every state policy and program
that provides incentives for Electric Vehicles, including charging infrastructure, by June 30, 2026.
•
The Legislature should introduce manufacturing tax credits and/or incentives to promote local micromobility device
manufacturing by January 1, 2027.
•
The legislature should fund and MassCEC should expand the statewide e-bike rebate program that was piloted in
2024 by December 31, 2026.
•
The Massachusetts federal delegation to Congress should support Bicycle Tariff Legislation by January 1, 2027.
•
MassCEC, and/or the Department of Energy Resources (DOER) should incentivize e-bike maintenance training and
professional technical certifications for MA residents, and explore introducing vocational / technical pathways for
high school students.
Enforcement
•
MassDOT, in consultation with EOPSS and local law enforcement agencies, promulgate regulations on micromobility
vehicle road use and road safety requirements once a universal and adaptable framework for categorization is
established.
•
The Massachusetts State Police Academy and the Massachusetts Police Training Committee should develop and
deliver training for new and in-service police officers, troopers and sheriffs performing police duties and functions,
consistent with current micromobility laws, regulations and guidelines, and any new laws regulations and guidelines
adopted as a result of this Report within 18 months for current statutes, regulations and guidelines, and 12 months
after for any changes.
•
The legislature should authorize automated enforcement on infractions that impact vulnerable users, such as the
improper use of bus and bike lanes, red light running, and speeding by December 31, 2026.
•
The legislature should pass a bill by December 2026 that assigns fault by default to a motorist who strikes a
vulnerable road user as defined in MGL.
•
MassDOT should reintroduce a digital version of the “driver complaint form” for people to submit claims of bad
driving.
Paths and Trails
•
MassDOT and DCR should issue design guidance for trails and shared-use paths that includes recommended
advisory speed limits, widths and curvature of paths to accommodate cargo bikes, and separation of pedestrians
and other wheeled devices within 6 months of the publication of this report.
Appendix IV: Discussion Topics | Special Commission on Micromobility
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•
MassDOT, Department of Conservation and Recreation, and municipalities, should deploy technology to remind
users of recommended speed limits for specific facilities and provide feedback on their own travel speed by
December 31, 2026.
Batteries
•
The legislature should fund a battery swap program for all non-UL certified battery bikes, removable batteries, and
chargers. Mass DEP should hand out safe charging information by 2026.
•
The legislature should apply the Extended Producer Responsibility Commission’s recommendation about removable
batteries, and work with DEP to implement such a recycling program at points of sale for micromobility devices.
Data
•
MassDOT should include all micromobility-involved crashes to its crash data dashboards by July 2026 and study
how to improve the reliability of micromobility crash data after 12 months of inclusion in dashboards.
•
The Legislature should identify resources for the Department of Public Health to collect, organize, and surface data
to MassDOT and municipalities on micromobility crashes that do not involve a motor vehicle by December 31, 2026.
•
The legislature should enable MassDOT to revise the Vulnerable User section of the Massachusetts Crash Report
form by September 1, 2026, using a multi-layer process for ease of use by law enforcement: Those two layers should
be:
o
Layer 1 to classify users as Pedestrian, Bicyclist, Other Cyclist, Scooter Rider, Skater/Skateboarder, Mobility Aid
Device User, Roadway Worker, Emergency Responder, Other, or Unknown; and
o
Layer 2 to ask if powered for Bicyclist, Other Cyclist, Scooter Rider, Skater/Skateboarder, and Mobility Aid Device
User.
The MassDOT Manager of Highway Safety Programs should approve the updates to the crash reporting form by
January 1, 2027.
Multimodality and infrastructure improvements
•
The legislature should add the following definition to MGL Chapter 90E Section 1 by December 31, 2026.
o
Separated bike lane - “an exclusive space along or within a roadway that is physically separated from
motor vehicles and pedestrians by vertical and/or horizontal elements”. This definition would be in line with
MassDOT planning and design guidelines.
•
The legislature should allocate additional Chapter 90 funds to support municipalities in shifting from paint/flex-
posts to physical separation designs (raised, curb-protected, hard physical barriers, or behind parked cars) and
those municipalities should publish retrofit schedules by June 2027.
•
MassDOT and the state legislature should support municipalities in redesigning the top 10% of high-injury
intersections each year by January 2026.
•
MassDOT should support municipalities in building a continuous protected network so all residents are within ¼ mile
(urban) or ½ mile (suburban) of a protected route to key destinations by December 2030.
•
MassDOT should distribute the bike parking best practices literature developed by the City of Boston to other
municipalities statewide.
•
MassDOT should implement a system for bulk purchasing and distributing approved bike racks to municipalities.
•
The legislature should make funding available for municipalities to invest in safe, abundant bike parking and
charging stations for electric bikes and cargo bikes.
Appendix IV: Discussion Topics | Special Commission on Micromobility
107
•
The legislature should require municipalities to adopt Complete Streets policies to increase safety and comfort for
people outside of cars.
•
The MBTA and other RTAs should adopt a multimodality integration plan to
1.
provide secure micromobility parking and charging at park-and-ride, subway, and commuter rail stations, and
bus centers
2.
designate bike-friendly rail and subway cars and buses
3.
explore fare integration and/or discounts
by June 2027.
•
The legislature should identify reliable and sustainable operating funds for the publicly owned docked bikeshare
networks, including potentially opening regional transportation innovation grant criteria to bike share as a viable
transit option in any potential future funding rounds by December 31, 2026.
•
Municipalities should adopt “15-minute community” zoning and replacing select curbside parking with active
mobility corrals/parking and mobility-share parking.
•
MassDOT, MAPC, and/or the MPO should expand the current bikeshare system in MBTA communities by creating and
administering bike share grants by the end of 2026.
•
MassDOT, MAPC, and/or the MPO should fund a pilot program to test a lock-to-rack/docked bike share model in
MBTA communities outside of the Bluebikes system.
•
Municipalities and/or DCR should develop a pilot program to test the feasibility and effectiveness of 'slow zones' that
are geo-fenced areas where vehicle speeds are automatically capped.
Standards
•
The Massachusetts Legislature should set a statewide 20 mph default speed limit on all local urban streets for all
vehicles by July 2026.
•
The governor’s office should submit supportive comments to any potential future draft rules from NHTSA in support
of the adoption of Bicyclist Automated Emergency Braking (AEB).
•
Municipalities should amend building codes to require secure, covered, easy to access micromobility parking with
e-charging in all new or renovated developments by July 2027.
•
The legislature should define what is a personal use micromobility device and what is a commercial use
micromobility device and determine if and how regulations should differ for personal use vehicles versus
commercial use vehicles.
Outreach, Education, and Community Engagement
•
MassBike should develop a program to educate bike shop owners on new state laws and encourage them to be
micromobility safety ambassadors for customers.
•
Law enforcement and state and local stakeholders should develop an educational campaign to inform
micromobility users about state laws, regulations, local ordinances, and safety practices before December 2026.
This should include special outreach to teens and those without a driver license.
•
MassDOT should support an education campaign for drivers to raise awareness of new bike infrastructure.
•
MassDOT should partner with the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism and VisitMA to ensure visitors
understand how micromobility is to be used and rules of the road.
•
The Safe Routes to School program should include micromobility education by September 2026.
Appendix IV: Discussion Topics | Special Commission on Micromobility
108
Traffic
•
Municipalities should pilot at least five Low-Traffic Neighborhoods per year statewide starting in January 2027 and
convert pilots that meet agreed performance thresholds to permanent installations within 12 months of evaluation.
•
The RMV should require a permit focused on safety (direct vision ratings, side guards, proximity sensors) for large
trucks in metropolitan areas by January 2027.
•
The Massachusetts federal delegation should support federal legislation to adopt the Massachusetts state legal
mandate requiring side guards and updated underride protection standards for large trucks.
•
The legislature should amend the current laws designed to prevent more than two bikes or motorcycles from riding
abreast on roadways to include all micromobility devices.
•
MassDOT should include micromobility regulations in its Sample Regulation for a Standard Municipal Traffic Code
when the recommendations are issued.
•
The legislature should introduce a bill or amend the current laws to penalize micromobility users interfering with
roadway traffic.
•
The legislature should enact specific laws that penalize discharging passengers in a travel lane or intersection, and
double parking in a travel lane.
Further Studies
•
MassDOT and the MBTA should commission a study to understand how micromobility affects car use by December
2026.
•
The Department of Public Health should investigate a partnership with health insurers to offer premium discounts
for verified micromobility miles traveled by September 2026.
•
A local academic partner should study how micromobility vehicles are being used as first/last mile solution to be
published by December 31, 2026.
•
A local academic partner should conduct a study to understand barriers to micromobility adoption by December 31,
2026.
•
MassDOT should work with autonomous vehicle manufacturers to ensure autonomous vehicles can detect, identify,
and respond to people biking, walking, and using mobility devices by December 31, 2026.
•
Municipalities should study ways to optimize their off-street parking options and make safe spaces for pedestrian
corridors, drop offs and active mobility.
•
The legislature should commission a study to examine aspects of the food delivery business like working conditions,
vehicular violations, safety impacts, and other externalities. The legislature should then develop a bill to reduce
externalities and improve working conditions.
Appendix V: Works Cited | Special Commission on Micromobility
109
Appendix V: Works Cited
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2 “2024 Massachusetts Climate Report Card - Transportation Decarbonization.” Mass.gov, Commonwealth of
Massachusetts, 2024, www.mass.gov/info-details/2024-massachusetts-climate-report-card-transportation-
decarbonization. Accessed Dec. 2025.
3 “Bicycle Plan.” Mass.gov, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 2021, www.mass.gov/info-details/bicycle-plan. Accessed
Dec. 2025.
4 Cho, Nam Yong, et al. “National Trends and Clinical Outcomes after Scooter Injury in the US: 2016 to 2020.” Journal of
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5 McQueen, Michael, et al. “The E-Bike Potential: Estimating Regional E-Bike Impacts on Greenhouse Gas Emissions.”
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6 Vosper, Rick. “Vosper: E-Bikes Step up in a down Market.” Bicycleretailer.com, Bicycle Retailer and Industry News, 11 Mar.
2024, www.bicycleretailer.com/opinion-analysis/2024/03/11/vosper-e-bikes-step-down-market. Accessed Nov. 2025.
7 “ECycleElectric.” ECycleElectric, 12 Feb. 2025, www.ecycleelectric.com/blog/2025/2/12/how-big-is-the-usa-e-bike-
market-in-2024-25. Accessed Nov. 2025.
8 Pioneer Valley Planning Commission. “E-bikes for environmental justice: ACT4All in the Pioneer Valley final report.”
Massachusetts Clean Energy Center. 2025.
9 Kachadoorian, Carol. Cycling Past 50: A Closer Look into the World of Older Cyclists, Year 4 Survey. San Jose State
University, Mineta Transportation Institute, Dec. 2023, transweb.sjsu.edu/sites/default/files/2157.1-Kachadoorian-Older-
Adults-Cycling-Active-Mobility.pdf. Accessed Nov. 2025.
10 Umansky-Castro, Rachel. “A New (Very) Affordable Bike Share: Rent a Bike for a Buck - the Boston Globe.”
BostonGlobe.com, 24 Oct. 2024, www.bostonglobe.com/2024/10/24/metro/new-very-affordable-bike-share-rent-bike-
buck/. Accessed Dec. 2025.
11 Consumer Product Safety Commission. “E-Scooter and E-Bike Injuries Soar: 2022 Injuries Increased Nearly 21%.”
Cspc.gov, 17 Oct. 2023, www.cpsc.gov/Newsroom/News-Releases/2024/E-Scooter-and-E-Bike-Injuries-Soar-2022-
Injuries-Increased-Nearly-21. Accessed Nov. 2025.
12 Avanesian, Michael. “Micromobility Accident Report 2025: E-Scooter and E-Bike Injuries, Risks, and Legal Trends.”
Avianlawgroup.com, Avian Law Group, 9 Sept. 2025, www.avianlawgroup.com/reports/micromobility-accident-report-
2025. Accessed Nov. 2025.
13 Roman, Jesse. “Lithium-Ion Battery Fire Learnings from FDNY.” Nfpa.org, National Fire Protection Association, 7 Aug.
2025, www.nfpa.org/news-blogs-and-articles/nfpa-journal/2025/08/08/lithium-ion-battery-fires-fdny. Accessed Dec.
2025.
Appendix V: Works Cited | Special Commission on Micromobility 110
14 Smith, David R. “Teen, Intubated after E-Bike Crash with Car, Has 24 Broken Bones. How You Can Help.” The Patriot
Ledger, 24 June 2025, www.patriotledger.com/story/news/accident/2025/06/24/george-lavoie-plymouth-ma-bike-
car-crash-gofundme/84332160007/. Accessed Dec. 2025.
15 MilNeil, Christian. “E-Bike Rider Inflicts Serious Injuries to Pedestrian in Chaotic Copley Square Intersection - Streetsblog
Massachusetts.” Streetsblog.org, 7 Aug. 2025, mass.streetsblog.org/2025/08/07/e-bike-rider-inflicts-serious-injuries-to-
pedestrian-in-chaotic-copley-square-intersection. Accessed Nov. 2025.
16 “A Tragedy in Stoneham Should Spark a Push to Update Mass. Rules for Micromobility Devices - the Boston Globe.”
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Accessed Dec. 2025.
17 Centers for Disease Control. “Risk Factors for Teen Drivers.” Cdc.gov, 2024, www.cdc.gov/teen-drivers/risk-
factors/index.html. Accessed Nov. 2025.
18 Consumer Product Safety Commission. “E-Scooter and E-Bike Injuries Soar: 2022 Injuries Increased Nearly 21%.”
Cspc.gov, 17 Oct. 2023, www.cpsc.gov/Newsroom/News-Releases/2024/E-Scooter-and-E-Bike-Injuries-Soar-2022-
Injuries-Increased-Nearly-21. Accessed Nov. 2025.
19 Irfan, Umair. “Electric Scooters: Why Bird, Lime, Skip, and Spin Are Taking over Cities.” Vox, Vox, 27 Aug. 2018,
www.vox.com/2018/8/27/17676670/electric-scooter-rental-bird-lime-skip-spin-cities. Accessed Nov. 2025.
20 “Shared Micromobility Report: 2023 - NACTO.” NACTO.org, National Association of City Transportation Officials , 11 Dec.
2024, nacto.org/publication/shared-micromobility-report-2023/. Accessed Nov. 2025.
21 “About the Shared Micromobility Industry.” Nabsa.net, North American Bikeshare & Scootershare Association, 7 Aug.
2025, nabsa.net/about/industry/. Accessed Nov. 2025.
22 “E-Scooter Share Pilot Program.” Www.chicago.gov, City of Chicago, IL,
www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/cdot/supp_info/escooter-share-pilot-project.html. Accessed Nov. 2025.
23 Populus.ai “POPULUS MOBILITY EVALUATION SURVEY Brookline, MA - Scooter Pilot Program April 1st - November 15th 2019.”
Brooklinema.gov, Town of Brookline, MA, 2020, www.brooklinema.gov/DocumentCenter/View/35201/Populus---
Brookline-E-Scooter-Pilot-Results. Accessed Dec. 2025.
24 Risher, Dan. “A Note on the Future of Lyft Bikes and Scooters.” Lyft.com, Lyft Blog, 4 Sept. 2024,
www.lyft.com/blog/posts/future-of-lyft-bikes-and-scooters. Accessed Dec. 2025.
25 Ibid.
26 Metropolitan Area Planning Council. “First Miles: Examining 18 Months of Dockless Bikeshare in Metro Boston.” ArcGIS
StoryMaps, Esri, 4 Sept. 2019, storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/f9c8e9cddc444dd7a47a678158fd3580. Accessed Dec. 2025.
27 Heineke, Kersten, et al. “Spotlight on Micromobility Trends.” McKinsey & Company, 12 Mar. 2024,
www.mckinsey.com/industries/automotive-and-assembly/our-insights/spotlight-on-mobility-trends. Accessed Nov.
2025.
28 “What Is Micromobility?” McKinsey Insights, McKinsey & Company, 29 Apr. 2025, www.mckinsey.com/featured-
insights/mckinsey-explainers/what-is-micromobility. Accessed Nov. 2025.
29 “Growing Demand for Comprehensive E-Bike Services and Employer Leasing Options.” NIQ, Nielsen IQ, 26 Feb. 2025,
nielseniq.com/global/en/news-center/2025/growing-demand-for-comprehensive-e-bike-services-and-employer-
leasing-options/. Accessed Nov. 2025.
30 Vosper, Rick. “Vosper: E-Bikes Step up in a down Market.” Bicycleretailer.com, Bicycle Retailer and Industry News, 11 Mar.
2024, www.bicycleretailer.com/opinion-analysis/2024/03/11/vosper-e-bikes-step-down-market. Accessed Nov. 2025.
Appendix V: Works Cited | Special Commission on Micromobility 111
31 Vehicle Technologies Office. “FOTW #1321, December 18, 2023: E-Bike Sales in the United States Exceeded One Million in
2022.” Energy.gov, US Department of Energy, 18 Dec. 2023, www.energy.gov/eere/vehicles/articles/fotw-1321-december-
18-2023-e-bike-sales-united-states-exceeded-one-million. Accessed Dec. 2025.
32 “Growing Demand for Comprehensive E-Bike Services and Employer Leasing Options.” NIQ, Nielsen IQ, 26 Feb. 2025,
nielseniq.com/global/en/news-center/2025/growing-demand-for-comprehensive-e-bike-services-and-employer-
leasing-options/. Accessed Nov. 2025.
33 Vosper, Rick. “Vosper: E-Bikes Step up in a down Market.” Bicycleretailer.com, Bicycle Retailer and Industry News, 11 Mar.
2024, www.bicycleretailer.com/opinion-analysis/2024/03/11/vosper-e-bikes-step-down-market. Accessed Nov. 2025.
34 Heineke, Kersten, and Darius Scrutu. “Micromobility’s Emerging Road to Profitability.” McKinsey & Company, McKinsey
Center for Future Mobility, 27 Aug. 2025, www.mckinsey.com/features/mckinsey-center-for-future-mobility/mckinsey-
on-urban-mobility/micromobilitys-emerging-road-to-profitability. Accessed Nov. 2028.
35 “What Is Micromobility?” McKinsey Insights, McKinsey & Company, 29 Apr. 2025, www.mckinsey.com/featured-
insights/mckinsey-explainers/what-is-micromobility. Accessed Nov. 2025.
36 Mitra, Raktim, and Paul M. Hess. “Who Are the Potential Users of Shared E-Scooters? An Examination of Socio-
Demographic, Attitudinal and Environmental Factors.” Travel Behaviour and Society, vol. 23, Apr. 2021, pp. 100–7,
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37 Jena, Aurojeet, et al. “Identifying E-Scooter Rider Profiles in the United States: A Latent Class Cluster Analysis.” Journal
of Cycling and Micromobility Research, vol. 6, Elsevier, Sept. 2025, p. 100088, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcmr.2025.100088.
Accessed Dec. 2025.
38 Zhang, Yuerong, and Maria Kamargianni. “A Review on the Factors Influencing the Adoption of New Mobility
Technologies and Services: Autonomous Vehicle, Drone, Micromobility and Mobility as a Service.” Transport Reviews, vol.
43, no. 3, Sept. 2022, pp. 1–23, https://doi.org/10.1080/01441647.2022.2119297. Accessed Dec. 2025.
39 “Average Cost of Owning and Operating an Automobile | Bureau of Transportation Statistics.” Www.bts.gov, Bureau of
Transportation Statistics, 2025, www.bts.gov/content/average-cost-owning-and-operating-automobilea-assuming-
15000-vehicle-miles-year. Accessed Dec. 2025.
40 “FOTW #1230, March 21, 2022: More than Half of All Daily Trips Were Less than Three Miles in 2021.” Energy.gov, US
Department of Energy; Vehicle Technologies Office, 21 Mar. 2022, www.energy.gov/eere/vehicles/articles/fotw-1230-
march-21-2022-more-half-all-daily-trips-were-less-three-miles-2021. Accessed Nov. 2025.
41 Yin, Ailing, et al. “How Electric Bikes Reduce Car Use: A Dual-Mode Ownership Perspective.” Transportation Research
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43 Felix, Alison, et al. Considerations for Retail Delivery Assessments. Metropolitan Area Planning Council, Aug. 2024,
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45 Felix, Alison, et al. Considerations for Retail Delivery Assessments. Metropolitan Area Planning Council, Aug. 2024,
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Appendix V: Works Cited | Special Commission on Micromobility 112
46 Meyer, David. “Study: Microhubs and Last-Mile Cargo Bikes Can Save City $240M a Year - Streetsblog New York City.”
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47 World Economic Forum. Transforming Urban Logistics: Sustainable and Efficient Last-Mile Delivery in Cities. World
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48 Belles, Amanda. “E-Cargo Bikes: Strategies for Municipal Delivery Transition – MAPC.” Metropolitan Area Planning
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49 Rula, K., Rosenblatt, B., Mills, H., Chu, Y, Dalla Chiara, G., Warfield, M., Goodchild, A. (2025). Boston Delivers Cargo Bike Pilot
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50 “Road Safety and Accountability for Delivery Providers Ordinance.” Boston.gov, City of Boston, 12 Dec. 2025,
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Accessed Dec. 2025.
51 Bancroft, Ethan. “Seattle’s Commercial E-Cargo Bike Program Has Officially Launched, Supporting Sustainable &
Dependable Deliveries throughout the City - SDOT Blog.” SDOT Blog, Seattle Department of Transportation, 20 Nov. 2025,
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52 M, Ashutosh. “The New Last Mile: How Micromobility Is Reshaping Urban Delivery.” Micromobility.io, 2025,
micromobility.io/news/the-new-last-mile-how-micromobility-is-reshaping-urban-delivery. Accessed Nov. 2025.
53 Meyer, David. “Study: Microhubs and Last-Mile Cargo Bikes Can Save City $240M a Year - Streetsblog New York City.”
Streetsblog.org, Apr. 2024, nyc.streetsblog.org/2024/04/01/study-microhubs-and-last-mile-cargo-bikes-can-save-
city-240m-a-year. Accessed Nov. 2025.
54 “State Electric Bicycle Laws | a Legislative Primer.” Www.ncsl.org, National Conference of State Legislatures, 21 Feb. 2021,
www.ncsl.org/transportation/state-electric-bicycle-laws-a-legislative-primer. Accessed Nov. 2025.
55 “Electric Bike Regulations per State.” Fly Rides USA , 2024, flyridesusa.com/pages/electric-bike-regulations-per-
state?srsltid=AfmBOoqQ9bU2VpDUZWz6Np8V9inGdyytsqbBi92cGc6k-J9QLyoxUVc_. Accessed Dec. 2025.
56 Delaware, Division of Motor Vehicles. “Vehicle Services Special Vehicles.” Division of Motor Vehicles, State of Delaware,
2025, dmv.de.gov/VehicleServices/specialvehicles/index.shtml?dc=ve_reg_gopeds. Accessed Dec. 2025.
57 Upper Allen Police Department. Electric Scooters. Upper Allen Township, 23 Apr. 2024,
upperallenpolice.com/wp/faqs/electric-scooters-and-pennsylvania-law/. Accessed Dec. 2025.
58 “A Detailed Guide to U.S. State EBike Laws.” Birch Hunters, 2025, birchhunters.com/pages/a-detailed-guide-to-u-s-
state-ebike-laws?srsltid=AfmBOoqUmh_bM3QfFq8HPrcZN3ZLiA_kIxymqU4Jbmja17I4HGstec6v. Accessed Nov. 2025.
59 “California’s New E-Bike Law: Guidance for Manufacturers.” PeopleForBikes.org, PeopleForBikes, 2016, s3-us-west-
2.amazonaws.com/static.peopleforbikes.org/docs/ebikes-manufacturers.pdf. Accessed Nov. 2025.
60 “Bill Text - AB-2234 Vehicles: Electric Bicycles.” Ca.gov, State of California, 30 Sept. 2024,
leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240AB2234. Accessed Dec. 2025.
61 “States Roll out Electric Scooter Laws.” Ncsl.org, National Conference of State Legislatures, 2024,
www.ncsl.org/transportation/states-roll-out-electric-scooter-laws. Accessed Nov. 2025.
62 Darlington, David. “The Shocking Crash That Led Marin County to Reckon with the Dangers of E-Bikes.” The New York
Times, 30 Nov. 2025, www.nytimes.com/2025/11/30/magazine/e-bikes-accidents-safety-legislation-california.html.
Accessed Dec. 2025.
Appendix V: Works Cited | Special Commission on Micromobility 113
63 “Sec. 325F.661 SALE OF ELECTRIC-ASSISTED BICYCLES AND OTHER ELECTRIC CYCLES MN Statutes.” Mn.gov, State of
Minnesota, 2025, www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/325F.661. Accessed Dec. 2025.
64 “AN ACT CONCERNING ELECTRIC SCOOTERS, ELECTRIC BICYCLES and MOTOR-DRIVEN CYCLES.” Cga.ct.gov, Connecticut
General Assembly, 7 Apr. 2025, www.cga.ct.gov/2025/ba/pdf/2025HB-06862-R000553-BA.pdf. Accessed Dec. 2025.
65 “Utah Code Section 1115.5 Electric Assisted Bicycles -- Restrictions -- Penalties. (Effective 5/1/2024).” Utah.gov, State of
Utah, 1 May 2024, le.utah.gov/xcode/Title41/Chapter6A/41-6a-S1115.5.html. Accessed Dec. 2025.
66 “California Bill Text - SB-1271 Electric Bicycles, Powered Mobility Devices, and Storage Batteries.” Ca.gov, State of
California, 30 Sept. 2024, leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240SB1271. Accessed Dec.
2025.
67 Massachusetts, Commonwealth of. “Part I Title XIV.” Malegislature.gov, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 2025,
malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXIV. Accessed Nov. 2025.
68 “302 CMR: DCR Agency Regulations.” Mass.gov, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 2020, www.mass.gov/info-
details/dcr-agency-regulations. Accessed Nov. 2025.
69 “540 CMR: Registry of Motor Vehicles.” Mass.gov, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 2018, www.mass.gov/law-
library/540-cmr. Accessed Nov. 2025.
70 “700 CMR: Department of Transportation.” Mass.gov, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 2018, www.mass.gov/law-
library/700-cmr. Accessed Nov. 2025.
71 “Town of Nantucket, MA: Operation of Bicycles.” Town and County of Nantucket, MA, 2024,
ecode360.com/11470625#11470626. Accessed Nov. 2025.
72 Ibid.
73 “Scooter & Moped Law | Malden, MA.” Cityofmalden.org, Police Department of Malden, MA, 2025,
www.cityofmalden.org/905/Scooter-Moped-Law. Accessed Nov. 2025.
74 Ibid.
75 “Information about E-Bikes - CDD - City of Cambridge, Massachusetts.” Cambridgema.gov, City of Cambridge, MA,
2025, www.cambridgema.gov/CDD/Transportation/gettingaroundcambridge/bikesincambridge/ebikes. Accessed Nov.
2025.
76 “City of Northampton, MA: Operation of Vehicles.” City of Northampton, MA, 2025, ecode360.com/11956644#11956644.
Accessed Nov. 2025.
77 Ibid.
78 Ibid.
79 “City of Malden : Municipal Code.” Municipalcodeonline.com, City of Malden, MA, 2025,
malden.municipalcodeonline.com/book?type=ordinances#name=11.12.010_REGULATION_OF_MULTI-USE_TRAILS.
Accessed Nov. 2025.
80 “Information about E-Bikes - CDD - City of Cambridge, Massachusetts.” Cambridgema.gov, City of Cambridge, MA,
2025, www.cambridgema.gov/CDD/Transportation/gettingaroundcambridge/bikesincambridge/ebikes. Accessed Nov.
2025.
81 Ibid.
82 “Forms & Applications | Nantucket, MA - Official Website.” Nantucket-Ma.gov, Town and County of Nantucket, MA, 2022,
www.nantucket-ma.gov/265/Forms-Applications. Accessed Nov. 2025.
Appendix V: Works Cited | Special Commission on Micromobility 114
83 “Town of Nantucket, MA: Operation of Bicycles.” Town and County of Nantucket, MA, 2024,
ecode360.com/11470625#11470626. Accessed Nov. 2025.
84 “E-Bike Stickers | Nantucket, MA - Official Website.” Nantucket-Ma.gov, Town and County of Nantucket, MA, 2022,
www.nantucket-ma.gov/3127/E-Bike-Stickers. Accessed Nov. 2025.
85 “Town of Foxborough, MA: Peace and Good Order.” Town of Foxborough, MA, 2024,
ecode360.com/26808269#26808279. Accessed Nov. 2025.
86 Creed, David. “As E-Bike Usage Surges on Nantucket, Police Chief Urges Caution.” Nantucket Current, 14 July 2024,
nantucketcurrent.com/news/police-chief-urges-caution-while-riding-e-bikes. Accessed Nov. 2025.
87 “City of Malden, MA: Rules & Ordinance Committee Meeting” Cityofmalden.org, City of Malden, MA, 7 March, 2023
cityofmalden.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_03072023-2663. Accessed Nov. 2025.
88 Lisowski, Madison, et al. “City Council Unanimously Passes E-Scooter Regulation Ordinance.” Western Massachusetts
News, 18 Nov. 2025, www.westernmassnews.com/2025/11/19/city-council-unanimously-passes-e-scooter-regulation-
ordinance/. Accessed Nov. 2025.
89 “City of Northampton, MA: Operation of Vehicles.” City of Northampton, MA, 2025, ecode360.com/11956644#11956644.
Accessed Nov. 2025.
90 “Scooter & Moped Law | Malden, MA.” Cityofmalden.org, Police Department of Malden, MA, 2025,
www.cityofmalden.org/905/Scooter-Moped-Law. Accessed Nov. 2025.
91 “City of Fall River, MA: In General.” City of Fall River, MA, 2024, ecode360.com/29928914#29928967. Accessed Nov. 2025.
92 “Town of Nantucket, MA: Moped Rental Agencies.” Town and County of Nantucket, MA, 2024,
ecode360.com/11470638#11470645. Accessed Nov. 2025.
93 Kane, Timothy. “Hanover Police Department E-Bike Public Service Announcement.” Hanover-Ma.gov, 2 July 2025,
www.hanover-ma.gov/home/news/hanover-police-department-e-bike-public-service-announcement-7225.
Accessed Nov. 2025.
94 “City of Marlborough, MA: Scooters, Motorized.” City of Marlborough, MA, 2025, ecode360.com/9211525#9211530.
Accessed Nov. 2025.
95 “Police Department Crash Data - Updated.” Cambridgema.gov, City of Cambridge, MA, 25 Oct. 2016,
data.cambridgema.gov/Public-Safety/Police-Department-Crash-Data-Updated/gb5w-yva3/about_data. Accessed
Nov. 2025.
96 “Bicycling in Cambridge Data Report 2023.” Cambridgema.gov, City of Cambridge, MA, Environmental &
Transportation Planning Division Community Development Department, Oct. 2023, www.cambridgema.gov/-
/media/Files/CDD/Transportation/Bike/bikereports/20231023bicyclingincambridgedatareport_final.pdf.
97 Publication forthcoming.
98 “California Code, VEH 24016.” Ca.gov, State of California, 2024,
leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=VEH§ionNum=24016. Accessed Dec. 2025.
99 “The 2025 Florida Statutes :: Title XXIII, Chapter 316, 316.20655 Electric Bicycle Regulations.” State.fl.us, State of Florida,
2025, www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=0300-
0399/0316/Sections/0316.20655.html. Accessed Dec. 2025.
100 “State by State Electric Bike Laws.” PeopleForBikes, www.peopleforbikes.org/electric-bikes/state-laws. Accessed Nov.
2025.
Appendix V: Works Cited | Special Commission on Micromobility 115
101 “43 CFR 420.5 -- Definitions.” Ecfr.gov, National Archives, 24 Nov. 2025, www.ecfr.gov/current/title-43/subtitle-
B/chapter-I/part-420/section-420.5. Accessed 2025.
102 Tefft, Brian C. “Impact Speed and a Pedestrian’s Risk of Severe Injury or Death.” AAA Foundation, 22 Sept. 2011,
aaafoundation.org/impact-speed-pedestrians-risk-severe-injury-death/.
103 Roman, Jesse. “Lithium-Ion Battery Fire Learnings from FDNY.” Nfpa.org, National Fire Protection Association, 7 Aug.
2025, www.nfpa.org/news-blogs-and-articles/nfpa-journal/2025/08/08/lithium-ion-battery-fires-fdny. Accessed Dec.
2025.
104 Thornton, Claire. “NYC Journalist’s Death Is City’s Latest Lithium-Ion Battery Fire Fatality, Officials Say.” USA TODAY, 26
Feb. 2024, www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/02/26/lithium-ion-battery-fires-kill-new-
yorkers/72743889007/. Accessed Dec. 2025.
105 “E-Bike & E-Scooter Safety Action Center | UL Standards & Engagement.” ULSE E-Mobility, UL Standards and
Engagement, 13 Aug. 2024, ebikesafety.ulse.org/#take-action. Accessed Nov. 2025.
106 Extended Producer Responsibility Commission. “Background Document for Policy Recommendations on BATTERIES.”
Mass.gov, MassDEP, 18 Aug. 2025,
www.mass.gov/doc/drafteprcommissionbatteriesbackgroundrecommendationdocaug2025/download. Accessed Nov.
2025.
107 National Archives. “16 CFR Part 1512 -- Requirements for Bicycles.” Ecfr.gov, 1 Oct. 2025, www.ecfr.gov/current/title-
16/chapter-II/subchapter-C/part-1512?toc=1. Accessed Nov. 2025.
108 “General Law - Part I, Title XIV, Chapter 85, Section 11B.” Malegislature.gov, The 194th General Court of the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXIV/Chapter85/Section11B. Accessed
Nov. 2025.
109 Cleveland Clinic. “The Importance of Wearing a Bicycle Helmet.” Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, 24 Jan. 2023,
health.clevelandclinic.org/bicycle-helmet-safety. Accessed Nov. 2025.
110 “General Law - Part I, Title XIV, Chapter 90, Section 7.” Malegislature.gov, The 194th General Court of the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXIV/Chapter90/Section7. Accessed
Nov. 2025.
111 Consumer Product Safety Commission. “E-Scooter and E-Bike Injuries Soar: 2022 Injuries Increased Nearly 21%.”
Cspc.gov, 17 Oct. 2023, www.cpsc.gov/Newsroom/News-Releases/2024/E-Scooter-and-E-Bike-Injuries-Soar-2022-
Injuries-Increased-Nearly-21. Accessed Nov. 2025.
112 “Scooter Insurance.” Geico.com, GEICO, 2025, www.geico.com/scooter-insurance/. Accessed 2025.
113 Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles. “Apply for a Moped Registration.” Mass.gov, Commonwealth of
Massachusetts, 2025, www.mass.gov/how-to/apply-for-a-moped-registration. Accessed 2025.
114 “General Law - Part I, Title XIV, Chapter 85, Section 11B.” Malegislature.gov, The 194th General Court of the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXIV/Chapter85/Section11B. Accessed
Nov. 2025.
115 Ibid.
116 “General Law - Part I, Title XIV, Chapter 85, Section 11B 3/4.” Malegislature.gov, The 194th General Court of the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXIV/Chapter85/Section11B%203~4.
Accessed Nov. 2025.
117 “What Is a Safe System Approach?” Transportation.gov, US Department of Transportation, 2025,
www.transportation.gov/safe-system-approach. Accessed Nov. 2025.
Appendix V: Works Cited | Special Commission on Micromobility 116
118 “Data Tools and Resources for the Vulnerable Road User Safety Assessment | FHWA.” Dot.gov, Federal Highway
Administration, 2024, highways.dot.gov/safety/pedestrian-bicyclist/data-tools-and-resources-vulnerable-road-user-
safety-assessment. Accessed Dec. 2025.
119 Slavin, Jes. “An Act to Reduce Traffic Fatalities Is Signed into Law!” Massachusetts Bicycle Coalition, 2023,
www.massbike.org/aatrtf_signedintolaw. Accessed Dec. 2025.
120Federal Highway Administration. MAKING OUR ROADS SAFER 28 Proven Safety Countermeasures That Offer SignifIcant
and Measurable Impacts to Improving Safety One Countermeasure at a Time. US Department of Transportation, Oct.
2021, highways.dot.gov/sites/fhwa.dot.gov/files/Proven%20Safety%20Countermeasures%20Booklet.pdf.
121 “703 CMR 6.00: Issuance and Enforcement of Automated Bus Lane and Bus Stop Violations.” Mass.gov, Commonwealth
of Massachusetts, 2025, www.mass.gov/regulations/703-CMR-600-issuance-and-enforcement-of-automated-bus-
lane-and-bus-stop-violations. Accessed Dec. 2025.
122 “Massachusetts Complete Streets Funding Program Portal.” Masscompletestreets.com, MassDOT, 2016,
masscompletestreets.com/. Accessed Nov. 2025.
123 “Shared Streets and Spaces Grant Program.” Mass.gov, MassDOT, 2025, www.mass.gov/shared-streets-and-spaces-
grant-program. Accessed Dec. 2025.
124 Massachusetts Department of Transportation. “Bicycle and Pedestrian Update - 2021.” ArcGIS StoryMaps, Esri, 14 May
2021, storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/446e35bc40614e5aaced4a62ff7343b2. Accessed Dec. 2025.
125 NACTO. “DESIGNING for ALL AGES & ABILITIES Contextual Guidance for High-Comfort Bicycle Facilities.” Nacto.org, Dec.
2017, nacto.org/wp-content/uploads/NACTO_Designing-for-All-Ages-Abilities.pdf. Accessed Nov. 2025.
126 Casey, Michael. “Demand for Food Delivery Has Skyrocketed. So Have Complaints about Some Drivers.” Boston.com, 8
June 2024, www.boston.com/news/business/2024/06/08/demand-for-food-delivery-has-skyrocketed-so-have-
complaints-about-some-drivers/. Accessed Nov. 2025.
127 “Road Safety and Accountability for Delivery Providers Ordinance.” Boston.gov, City of Boston, 3 Feb. 2025,
www.boston.gov/departments/transportation/road-safety-and-accountability-delivery-providers-ordinance.
Accessed Nov. 2025.
128 “Mayor Wu Announces ‘Boston Delivers’, an E-Cargo Bike Delivery Pilot Program.” Boston.gov, City of Boston, 15 Aug.
2023, www.boston.gov/news/mayor-wu-announces-boston-delivers-e-cargo-bike-delivery-pilot-program. Accessed
Nov. 2025.
129 Rula, Kelly, et al. “Boston Delivers: Cargo Bike Pilot Evaluation.” Washington.edu, University of Washington, 30 May 2025,
digital.lib.washington.edu/researchworks/items/d886c051-7d92-44f6-9070-ade8ca82f196. Accessed Dec. 2025.
130 “HB 1518 Washington State Legislature.” Wa.gov, State of Washington, 2025,
app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=1518&Year=2025&Initiative=false. Accessed 11 Dec. 2025.
131 Boston Open Data. “Blue Bike Stations.” Arcgis.com, Boston Open Data Portal, 2019, bostonopendata-
boston.opendata.arcgis.com/datasets/boston::blue-bike-stations/explore?location=42.405850%2C-71.053491%2C11.
Accessed Dec. 2025.
132 “Docked Bikeshare Trips – October 2025 | Bureau of Transportation Statistics.” Bts.gov, Bureau of Transportation
Statistics, 2025, www.bts.gov/newsroom/docked-bikeshare-trips-october-2025. Accessed Dec. 2025.