Who is a member?
Our members are the local governments of Massachusetts and their elected and appointed leadership.
The Honorable James Arciero, House Chair
The Honorable Brendan Crighton, Senate Chair
Joint Committee on Transportation
State House, Boston
Delivered electronically
Dear Chair Arciero, Chair Crighton, and Distinguished Members of the Committee,
On behalf of the 351 cities and towns of the Commonwealth, the Massachusetts Municipal Association writes to express our support for S. 3077, An Act to enhance the safe use of micromobility devices. This comprehensive legislation addresses an urgent, evolving challenge facing municipalities in Massachusetts, while providing local leaders with a framework necessary to integrate modern transit options while strongly protecting public safety and local control.
The MMA was proud to appoint two of our members to the Special Commission on Micromobility, whose diligent work and recommendations laid the groundwork for this bill. From Boston to Lenox, municipal officials are struggling to keep pace with the rapid proliferation of e-bikes, electric scooters, and other powered devices. S. 3077 offers a balanced, proactive approach that establishes critical statewide baselines while preserving the local autonomy required to manage unique community needs.
S. 3077 introduces a clear and predictable “maximum designed speed tier classification system” that categorizes devices from Tier 0 through Tier 3. By differentiating between low-speed e-bikes and high-speed devices capable of exceeding 40 miles per hour, this framework removes the guesswork for local law enforcement and municipal planners. It allows for sensible rules regarding who can operate these vehicles and where they can safely travel.
Further, the bill addresses critical safety concerns by establishing minimum electrical and battery safety standards, requiring compliance with UL 2271, UL 2272, and UL 2849. Because lithium-ion battery fires present an increasingly severe hazard to residential buildings and first responders, codifying these manufacturing standards is a necessity for protecting our communities. Alongside these product safety rules, the bill carefully protects pedestrians and vulnerable road users by explicitly excluding high-speed Tier 2 and Tier 3 devices, as well as traditional mopeds, from utilizing sidewalks and off-street recreational bike paths.
While these statutory speed distinctions provide a vital framework, municipalities remain concerned about the practical implications of day-to-day enforcement. Restricting high-speed devices from sidewalks, monitoring speed tiers, as well as product compliance is likely to fall on local law enforcement and municipal officials. As this legislation moves forward, the MMA urges the Committee to keep enforcement feasibility top of mind, ensuring that cities and towns are equipped with the regulatory tools and resources necessary to effectively uphold these standards without creating an impractical burden.
We appreciate this opportunity to submit testimony, and we encourage the Committee to report S. 3077 favorably. If you have any questions or need further information, please do not hesitate to have your office contact me or MMA Legislative Analyst Violet Gehr at [email protected] at any time.
Thank you for your thoughtful attention to this vital safety legislation, and for your continued partnership with the cities and towns of Massachusetts.
Sincerely,
Adam Chapdelaine
MMA Executive Director and CEO