Good morning, Hopkinton! Welcome to the daily update we call Hopkinton Today — a quick recap of yesterday’s news, highlights of what’s on tap, and a photo of the day.
Lack of licensing, officer availability could affect efficacy of proposed e-bike speed limit on trails
PHOTO/JERRY SPAR
While the town is advancing closer to implementing speed regulations for e-bikes on town trails, concerns remain about the ability to regulate and enforce such a policy.
The Trails Committee has been assisting the Select Board in developing a warrant article for Annual Town Meeting that would allow for e-bikes and similar electric vehicles to travel on shared-use paths at speeds up to 10 miles per hour. Under the bylaw, violators can be fined $100 and have their e-bike confiscated for a period of between 15 days and six months depending on the number of violations.
[Editor’s note: A previous version of this article stated that the Trails Committee was developing the warrant article. The story has been corrected to indicate it is a Select Board article which the Trails Committee is providing input on.]
Hopkinton Police will be charged with ensuring enforcement of the proposed bylaw.
Concerns over the proposal were raised during Tuesday’s Select Board meeting. Assistant Town Manager Lance DelPriore brought up issues with the practicality of police enforcement. Member Matt Kizner worried the town may be “over-legislating” with the bylaw.
Open Space Preservation Commission chair Ed Harrow, who has been looking into the issue of e-bikes, told the Independent that there are issues with state law as well.
“The fact that there is no requirement [for e-bikes] with respect to registration, license [or] operator age … is absurd,” he said.
“How do we expect to enforce a speed limit on trails that are in the woods with people that are not licensed?” added Harrow.
A legal advisory put out by the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association outlines the safety regulations for e-bikes and their classifications under Massachusetts General Law. The commonwealth allows unlicensed riders to use Class 1 and 2 e-bikes on public roadways, designated bike lanes and shared-use trails. These bikes are limited to top speeds of 20 mph, and any Class 3 bike that exceeds those speeds is considered under MGL as a “motorized bicycle” that requires licensing and registration.
Harrow said those definitions are lagging behind. “The regulations, as promulgated by the state, have not kept up with the technology,” he said. He also added concerns that any e-bike without a plate on it could not be held accountable if citizens noted unlawful operation.
Deputy Chief Scott van Raalten also shared concerns over enforcement. “Unless officers are specifically assigned to trail enforcement, they would be unavailable or delayed in responding to other calls across town,” he stated in an email.
He also noted that the majority of unsafe e-bike operation his department has observed has involved teenagers. He recommended parents to consider the risks of e-bikes before purchasing them for their children.
— NICK SCHOFIELD
Latest News
At its meeting Tuesday night, the Select Board voted to adopt the town budget for fiscal year 2027 and send it to the Appropriation Committee for review.
The Parks & Recreation Commission on Tuesday debated policies for renting out the Fruit Street pickleball courts and its fee and booking structure for the Fruit Street athletic fields.
The Water Department has advised residents near the Alprilla Farm Road wells that temporary water discoloration is possible as the wells return to service.
This week’s Police Log features reports of a vehicle stuck in a snow bank, a deer in a fence and an electrical fire on Wood Street.
The latest Arts Residency highlights Hopkinton High School senior Alper Rozy, who HHS band director Craig Hay describes as one of the school’s “most musically curious students.”
The Hopkinton Lions Club will hold its meat raffle April 11 at Cornell’s Irish Pub in Hopkinton.
Town meetings tonight include the School Committee (6).
Photo of the Day
The sun sets over the fields behind Hopkinton High School.
PHOTO/JERRY SPAR
Some e-bike clarification. First, the warrant article is a Select Board article, with the Trails Committee one of several groups providing input.
Under current MA Law, e-bikes are not allowed on unpaved Shared Use Paths (SUPs) like Center Trail but there’s no enforcement. The proposed article would allow such use, with a speed limit put in place primarily as a reminder for users to be careful. Obviously, enforcement would be an issue. However, most e-bike users are responsible; enforcement would be requested if irresponsible users are noted. Such use typically occurs right before and right after school release, with these targeted times simplifying enforcement.
As Mr. Harrow noted, e-bike issues certainly need more attention at the state level. However, there is a problem in town with a small number of users and doing something rather than nothing would seem to make sense.
ebikes arent the problem, people should just know how to ride properly to not disturb the trails.