Officials from Arlington joined those from Bedford, Boston, Cambridge, Chelsea, Everett, Lexington, Medford, Melrose, Natick, Newton, Salem, Somerville, Stoneham, Wakefield and Winchester in signing the letter supporting the bill, which is in the Joint Committee on Transportation.
The act would create a statutory definition for three classes of e-bikes and clarify operating regulations for these vehicles, according to a March 29 news release from Elise Harmon-Freeman, communications manager, Metropolitan Area Planning Council. This change would align Massachusetts laws more closely with federal standards, as well as standards in 42 other states and the District of Columbia.
The bill’s passage would allow cities and towns to regulate the use of electric bicycles, proactively include them in local transportation plans and integrate them into the region’s transportation network.
Municipal leaders note that “a state-level approach will ensure consistency across municipal boundaries and strengthen opportunities to promote regional cycling connectivity.”
E-bike adoption would expand mobility options for people looking to travel long distances, offer accessibility benefits for people with certain disabilities or the inability to cycle up hills and encourage alternatives to traveling by automobile — reducing road congestion and transportation-related emissions.
The bill faces a Friday, April 1, deadline to move out of committee, and Boston Globe’s Taylor Dolven reports Rep. William Straus, cochair of the Transportation Committee, said he’s confident the legislation will move forward.
The Senate is also preparing to consider an energy bill in April that Senate President Karen Spilka has said will have an electric vehicle component — but she didn’t say how many wheels.
Read the full letter here >>
July 26, 2020: Friedman vote helps pass $2.5M for town transportation
This news announcement was published Wednesday, March 30, 2022, and updated March 31, to add House and Senate efforts.
