In Boston, electric bicycles, scooters, mopeds, and other micromobility devices have become  an increasingly common part of daily life. For many residents, they are an essential part of how  they get around the commonwealth.

But Massachusetts laws were previously not designed to address today’s rapidly changing  transportation landscape. Communities, law enforcement agencies, manufacturers, and riders  have all been left without clear guidance about where these devices belong, how they should be  regulated, and what safety standards should apply.

That is why I was proud to be a part of the Commonwealth’s first comprehensive statewide  framework for micromobility, included in the House’s recently passed economic development  bill H.5562. Building on Governor Healey’s original bill, The Ride Safe Act (S.3077), the House  strengthened the legislation by incorporating recommendations from the Special Commission on  Micromobility to provide clearer statewide standards and additional safety protections.

Last session, the Legislature established the Special Commission on Micromobility to study  these issues and recommend a path forward. As House Chair of the Joint Committee on  Transportation, I had the privilege of serving on that commission alongside my senate co-chair,  State Senator Brendan Crighton, MassDOT leadership, transportation officials, public safety  leaders, municipal representatives, industry stakeholders, and advocates.

Over the course of the commission’s work, we examined data, heard from advocates and  community leaders about the opportunities and challenges these devices present. That led to  Governor Healey’s legislation that establishes a common-sense statewide framework by  classifying micromobility devices according to their maximum manufactured speed. These  classifications determine where devices may operate and what safety requirements apply.

We included compelling testimony from pediatric trauma physicians, parents, municipal leaders,  and public safety officials about the increasing number of preventable injuries associated with  these devices, particularly among children. Findings from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety  Commission found that between 2017 and 2022, children ages 14 and younger accounted for  approximately 36 percent of micromobility-related injuries, despite representing just 18 percent  of the U.S. population.

With safety of children in mind, the House strengthened the Governor’s bill by establishing a  minimum operating age of 16 for powered micromobility devices and requiring helmet use for  operators and passengers riding higher-speed devices.

The legislation also recognizes that micromobility technology will continue to evolve. It  establishes a statewide working group that will propose registration, licensing, insurance,  education, crash data collection, and future safety standards. This ensures Massachusetts can still  adapt as transportation evolves.

Our Commonwealth deserves a transportation system where pedestrians, bicyclists, drivers,  transit riders, and micromobility users can safely share our roads, bike lanes, sidewalks, and  shared-use paths. That requires thoughtful policymaking grounded in data, collaboration, and  common sense.

While this legislation represents an important first step, there is still more work ahead. The  details of implementing and enforcing these policies must be carefully developed in  collaboration with municipalities, law enforcement, industry stakeholders, and the public. As  micromobility technology continues to evolve, so too must our approach to regulating it.

I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate to advance this legislation and  continue building a transportation system that is safe and reliable for our communities.

James Arciero is a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives in the Second Middlesex District, which includes Littleton, Westford and Precincts 3B, 4 and 5A in Chelmsford. State Rep. James Arciero is the House chair of the Joint Committee on Housing.

Kids ride on their e-bikes near Harada Elementary School in Eastvale in June, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)