[BCM] Motor Scooters and Electric Bikes

Tue Aug 10 22:46:14 EDT 2010

 Interesting point that I cannot disagree with, but small engine scooters and mopeds are allowed in bike lanes by state law--can't go over 20 MPH and can't use the bike lane as a passing lane (which they do).....

-----Original Message-----
From: bgoodchild at comcast.net
To: Boston Critical Mass <list at bostoncriticalmass.org>
Sent: Tue, Aug 10, 2010 10:41 pm
Subject: Re: [*BCM*] Motor Scooters and Electric Bikes

Bottom line;  vehicles with engines do not belong where bicycles are allowed.....

----- Original Message -----
From: "Peter" <gh3451 at yahoo.com>
To: "Boston Critical Mass" <list at bostoncriticalmass.org>
Sent: Tuesday, August 10, 2010 7:37:35 PM
Subject: [*BCM*] Motor Scooters and Electric Bikes

The subject is germane because of the fact that scooters are increasingly showing up in bicycle territory.  This summer I have been encountering highway legal scooters on the bike path in JP, although I am generally on this path at night.  I would expect this problem to grow along with scooter purchases. 

General laws aside there are many of these vehicles that are not registered when they should be.  It creates an opportunity for the perfect crime because if the authorities can't ticket it for revenue purposes they don't seem to be interested in it at all.

I also can't imagine that cops have the time to bother with this stuff given the general mayhem of the summer.

--- On Tue, 8/10/10, thom3 at aol.com <thom3 at aol.com> wrote:

From: thom3 at aol.com <thom3 at aol.com>
Subject: Re: [*BCM*] Electro Bike....Re: Battered Biker Syndrome
To: list at bostoncriticalmass.org
Date: Tuesday, August 10, 2010, 6:08 PM

 When I did this article, the Phoenix compiled a list of contact info concerning most of the things you seek to address

http://thephoenix.com/boston/life/102061-pedal-promise/?page=2#TOPCONTENT

It's the "see something, say something" sidebar... racks and routes are mentioned.

also get involved with Mass Bike, voice your opinions by attending DCR and Mass Highway planning meetings (they are redoing the bridges and parts of the Esplanade). Livable Streets is another fine advocacy group to get involved with and there are many more.

-----Original Message-----
From: Steven Bercu <bercu at limelaw.com>
To: 'Boston Critical Mass' <list at bostoncriticalmass.org>
Sent: Tue, Aug 10, 2010 5:16 pm
Subject: Re: [*BCM*] Electro Bike....Re: Battered Biker Syndrome

Any thoughts on what is the most effective way to lobby/advocatefor the following?

1.      Better bicycle parking facilities in Boston.
2.      Safer bicycle lanes/tracks along major transit corridors in thegreater Boston area.
3.      Clearer definitions in the Mass. General Laws and reg’sregarding what is a bicycle.

From: bostoncriticalmass-bounces at bostoncriticalmass.org[mailto:bostoncriticalmass-bounces at bostoncriticalmass.org] On Behalf Of Silivrenion
Sent: Tuesday, August 10, 2010 5:06 PM
To: Boston Critical Mass
Subject: Re: [*BCM*] Electro Bike....Re: Battered Biker Syndrome

Well then, that's their loss. We're all bombarded withirrelevant information everyday, and the Delete button isn't too far away fromthis email if you're not interested.

The laws are really unclear as to the definitions of certainvehicles on the road. It appears that this is what we have:

Mopeds, "motorized bicycles," contain aconventional engine of less than 50cc, an automatic transmission, max speed of30MPH (25 operating), and must comply with all road rules, and must pass on theright. Mopeds may use bicycle lanes, excluding limited-use recreational paths.Requires a registration sticker from the RMV, and a drivers license or permit.From MGL 90: "Motorized bicycle'', a pedal bicycle which has a helpermotor, or a non-pedal bicycle which has a motor, with a cylinder capacity notexceeding fifty cubic centimeters, an automatic transmission, and which iscapable of a maximum speed of no more than thirty miles per hour.

Motorized scooters are intended to be those things kids ziparound on, however the law is extremely vague on defining one. You need adrivers license or permit, can ride in bike lanes except limited-userecreational paths, and must pass on the right. 20MPH limit. They can't beoperated during night hours. -- MGL 90: "Motorized scooter'', any 2wheeled tandem or 3 wheeled device, that has handlebars, designed to be stoodor sat upon by the operator, powered by an electric or gas powered motor thatis capable of propelling the device with or without human propulsion. Thedefinition of "motorized scooter'' shall not include a motorcycle ormotorized bicycle or a 3 wheeled motorized wheelchair. 

A  "Motorcycle'' is any motor vehicle havinga seat or saddle for the use of the rider and designed to travel on not morethan three wheels in contact with the ground, including any bicycle with amotor or driving wheel attached, except a tractor or a motor vehicle designedfor the carrying of golf clubs and not more than four persons, an industrialthree-wheel truck, a motor vehicle on which the operator and passenger ridewithin an enclosed cab, or a motorized bicycle.

Regular bicycles are not defined in the general laws, butthere are laws about them, including that all bicycles must follow the regularrules of the road -- with the exception of passing both left and right.

So, this leaves us with a problem with the electric bicyclegiven before. Technically, it could be a motorcycle? But motorized bicyclesmust have real engines? So what is it, and what laws are required of it? Theseclassifications, and what it is have a lot to do with where it is allowed to beparked, and what ways it can be on. Technically, if a nice greenery path allowsbicycles, it is excluding anything that's not a bicycle -- except bicycle isn'tdefined.

Honestly, I think Massachusetts should just rewrite all theclassifications to contain more specific information.

--------------------

Angela Morley

Founder & CEO, ionFyre Technologies

Computer Specialist, Salem State University InformationTechnology Services

General Manager, WMWM Salem

On Tue, Aug 10, 2010 at 4:39 PM, Timothy Gorin <tgorin at gmail.com> wrote:

it was just a suggestion, do what you will.  it justseems counterproductive if people to unsubscribe because they find asomewhat tangential conversation a little annoying.

On Tue, Aug 10, 2010 at 4:21 PM, Mars <martian at mit.edu> wrote:

Compared to other BCM list threads?

On 8/10/2010 4:18 PM, Timothy Gorin wrote: 

seems like this convo isbetween a small group of individuals...maybe you all could start your own emailthread for the purposes of this discussion? 

On Tue, Aug 10, 2010 at 4:15 PM, Jym Dyer <jym at econet.org> wrote:

> The bottom line is thattrue mopeds (motorized bicycles with
> pedals) blur the lines of legality, and fall into the same
> kind of issues as motor scooters.

=v= The bottom line is that this is increasingly off-topic
for a Critical Mass list, given that Critical Mass is, at
bare minimum, about bicycles on streets.
   <_Jym_>

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