Massachusetts lawmakers are considering a new statewide framework for micromobility that could finally bring clearer rules to everything from e-bikes and e-scooters to higher-speed electric motorbikes capable of reaching 30 mph, 40 mph, and beyond.
Rather than regulating vehicles based on what they’re called or how they look, the proposed legislation classifies them according to how fast they’re capable of traveling. It’s an approach that many are hoping could future-proof the law as new types of electric personal vehicles continue to appear.
Under the proposal, traditional bicycles and other human-powered devices like kick scooters without a motor would fall into “Speed Tier 0” and would continue to be allowed on sidewalks.
Electric vehicles similar to e-bikes and e-scooters (but encompassing edge case vehicles like electric unicycles, e-skateboards, etc.) capable of speeds between 21 mph and 30 mph (34-48 km/h) would be classified as Speed Tier 1, allowing them to use bike lanes but prohibiting them from riding on sidewalks and shared-use paths.
The biggest change comes with Speed Tier 2 and Tier 3, covering micromobility vehicles capable of traveling up to 40 mph and above 40 mph (64 km/h), respectively. Those faster machines would no longer be permitted in bike lanes, on sidewalks, or on shared-use trails, instead operating alongside other roadway traffic.
The legislation mirrors much of Gov. Maura Healey’s proposed Ride Safe Act and recommendations from the state’s Special Committee on Micromobility. Supporters say the speed-based approach avoids the endless cycle of writing new laws every time a new vehicle category emerges.
That’s a major shift from the way many states regulate micromobility today. Instead of trying to determine whether a vehicle is an e-bike, scooter, seated scooter, electric skateboard, or some entirely new creation, Massachusetts would simply regulate where it can operate based on its performance.
The bill would also establish statewide safety requirements, including a minimum operating age of 16 for powered devices. Helmets would be mandatory for riders on vehicles capable of exceeding 20 mph (32 km/h), while younger riders would also be required to wear helmets on traditional bicycles.
If approved, the law would replace the current patchwork of local ordinances that has left riders navigating different rules from one municipality to the next.
Electrek’s Take
As someone who’s argued for years (including up through yesterday) that micromobility laws should focus on behavior and capability instead of arbitrary vehicle categories, this proposal is particularly interesting.
There are obvious details that still need to be worked out, but regulating based on speed rather than whether a vehicle has pedals, a seat, or handlebars feels like a much more logical approach. As electric mobility continues evolving faster than legislatures can invent new definitions, a performance-based framework could prove far more durable than trying to create a separate law for every new vehicle that comes along.
I’m not thrilled with the names of the categories, which sound too close to “Class 1/2/3” yet have different dileneations and thus could create confusion, but the overall goal of grouping like-performance vehicles together makes a lot of sense.
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