The 192nd legislative session was a busy one, MassBike supported a slate of bills related to electric bicycles, road safety, bike commuting, and funding for rail trails.

Below the state-level bills that MassBike supported during the 192nd legislative session and got passed into law:

An Act to reduce traffic fatalities

Filed by: Representative Mike Moran (18th Suffolk) and Representative William Straus (10th Bristol) // Senator William Brownsberger (Second Suffolk and Middlesex)

Bill Numbers (192nd Session): H.5103 - Read the final text signed by Governor Baker here

• H.3549 and S.2636 Info Sheet

What this legislation does:

• Defines "Vulnerable Road Users" to include people walking and biking; roadside workers; people using wheelchairs, scooters, skateboards, roller skates, etc.
• Requires "safe passing distance" to be 4 feet for drivers giving clearance to Vulnerable Road Users
• Requires state owned and contracted trucks to be equipped with lateral side-guards, mirrors, and backup cameras
• Clarifies the process for municipalities to lower speed limits on both municipal and state-controlled roads
• Develops a statewide standardized analysis tool to be used to report crashes and incidents involving Vulnerable Road Users
  
• Requires bicyclists to use rear red lights at night, but the absence of a light is not cause for an officer to stop a bicyclist

Updates:

• Signed into law by Governor Baker on Monday, January 2, 2022 - H.5103 - Signed Bill

An Act relative to electric bicycles

Filed by: Representative Dylan Fernandes (Barnstable, Dukes, and Nantucket) and Representative Steven Owens (29th Middlesex) // Senator Sal DiDomenico (Middlesex and Suffolk)

Bill Numbers (192nd Session): H.4676 and S.2809

• H.4676 and S.2809 Info Sheet

What this legislation does:

• Defines electric bicycle and differentiates between low-speed and high-speed electric bicycles
• Standardizes regulations for electric bicycles, with regulatory control remaining with jurisdictions, landowners, and departments (default would align electric bicycles similarly with regular bicycles, yet offroad trails will be up to individual jurisdictions)
  
• Implements additional regulations for Class 3 electric bicycles

Update:

• The e-bike definition language was passed as amendments to the Transportation Bond Bill (S.2989) to include Class 1 and Class 2 definitions for e-bikes.
• MassBike is still advocating for a class 3 definition in the future.

An Act relative to electric bicycle rebates

Filed by: Representative Natalie Blais (1st Franklin)

Bill Number (192nd Session): H.3262

• H.3262 Info Sheet

What this legislation does:

• Establishes rebates of up to $500 for electric bicycle purchases (and up to $750 for low- and moderate-income consumers), not more than 40% of the retail price of the purchase
  
• Directs the Dpt of Energy Resources (DOER) to include electric bicycles in their electric vehicle rebate program
  
• Directs an evaluation for whether the rebate takes place at point-of-sale through retailers

Update:

• The e-bike rebate language passed as an amendment to the Transportation Bond Bill (S.2989) to provide $1M in funding to direct the Dpt of Energy Resources (DOER) to evaluate offering point of sale rebates for customers ($500 for general consumers and up to $750 for low- and moderate-income consumers and not more than forty percent of retail price for the purchase of new and used electric bicycles)
• Text of the amendment: "not less than $1,000,000 shall be expended for the department of energy resources for a fund to establish new rebates up to $500 for general consumers and up to $750 for low-income and moderate-income consumers and not more than 40 percent of retail price for the purchase of new and used electric bicycles; provided further, that the department of energy resources shall evaluate offering electric bicycle rebates at the point of sale through Massachusetts owned and operated bicycle retailers;"

An Act authorizing municipalities to expend certain funds for the acquisition of land to be used for rail trails

Filed by: Representative Carmine Gentile (13th Middlesex) and Representative Lindsay Sabadosa (1st Hampshire) // Senator James Eldridge (Middlesex and Worcester)

Bill Numbers (192nd Session): H.286 and S.148 

• H.286 and S.148 Info Sheet

Governor’s Budget: Section 22 – CPA Funds for Rail Trails

• Passed in Governor's budget on July 16, 2021

What this legislation does:

• Clarifies that municipalities are allowed to use Community Preservation Act (CPA) funding to be used for acquiring federally rail banked right of ways for the development of rail trails