Waltham police remind parents to check rules on e-bikes, scooters

The Waltham Police Department is urging parents to make sure their children understand the rules for riding electric bikes and motorized scooters, warning that some vehicles marketed as ‘e-bikes’ or ‘electric scooters’ may actually be classified under state law as motorized scooters.

In a post on Facebook, police said parents should verify the type and speed of their children’s electric vehicles before letting them ride on public roads or paths.

Electric bicycles are bicycles or tricycles with an electric motor of 750 watts or less. To qualify as an electric bicycle, the motor must cease providing power to the bicycle when the bicycle reaches a speed of 20 miles per hour. 

Any vehicle that can travel faster than 20 mph under its own power is legally a motorized scooter, not an e-bike, and comes with stricter rules, the department said. According to the Massachusetts state legislature, a motorized scooter is any two-wheeled tandem or three-wheeled device with handlebars on which a user stands or sits. A motorized scooter may be electric or gas powered, and it is capable of propelling itself with or without human input.  

Riders of motorized scooters must have a valid driver’s license, as a motorized scooter is a motorized vehicle.  Motorized scooters are not allowed to operate on sidewalks or shared-use paths in Waltham, including the Waltham Rail Trail. Cities individually regulate where motorized scooters can and cannot go. 

“Many products sold online or in stores as ‘e-bikes’ or ‘electric scooters’ actually qualify as motorized scooters once you check their speed and power ratings,” the department said. “Something that seems like harmless fun can quickly become a serious safety concern or legal issue.”

Police encouraged parents to talk with their children about how to use the vehicles safely and within the law. The goal, they said, is not to take away enjoyment but to prevent injuries and misunderstandings that could lead to trouble.