Electric-assist bicycles, or e-bikes, have become increasingly popular across Massachusetts in recent years. With their rising popularity, it is important for all riders to understand that e-bikes are subject to specific rules under Massachusetts law. Riders must follow the same traffic laws as motor vehicles and traditional bicycles, including obeying traffic signals, yielding to pedestrians, and riding safely and predictably.
But what about Wellesley?
Messaging in Wellesley specifies that you can ride a Class 1 or 2 e-bike—pedal-assist or throttle up to 20 mph—on public roads, in bike lanes, and on shared use paved paths. And that you can’t ride them on NRC Trails (whether most residents or others would know what “NRC” is… Natural Resources Commission… we’re not so sure).
What about the Brook Path?
The Brook Path is indeed an NRC trail. Is it really a paved path though? It’s mainly covered in stone dust.
We got clarification on this subject from NRC Director Brandon Schmitt and Wellesley Police Lt. Michael Lemenager.
Schmitt says “the NRC has not yet taken any formal action to designate the Brook Path one way or another. But it is altered and improved with surfacing materials that move it beyond the more simple ‘natural’ trails that are outlined in the governing state regulations. We continue to monitor the information available, and our hope is in the absence of governing regulations that with continued education and some common sense, everyone can continue to enjoy the path safely.”
Please share the trails and roads safely. Click here to learn more.
