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New Legislation was signed by the Governor realtive to the operation of bicycles. Most of the law changes are effective April 15, 2009. among the changes are:       

  • Police academy curriculum will be changed as of July 1 to REQUIRE 2 hours of training for new officers relative to bicycle safety and bicycle laws and enforcement
  • Bicyclists riding together shall not ride more than 2 abreast but, on a roadway with more than 1 lane in the direction of travel, bicyclists shall ride within a single lane. Nothing in this clause shall relieve a bicyclist of the duty to facilitate overtaking as required by section 2 of chapter 89.
  • Section 11C.  A police officer who observes a traffic law violation committed by a bicyclist may request the offender to state his true name and address.  Whoever, upon such request, refuses to state his name and address or whoever states a false name and address or a name and address which is not his name and address in ordinary use, shall be punished by a fine of not less than $20 nor more than $50.  An offender who refuses to state his true name and address may be arrested without a warrant for such refusal but no person shall be arrested without a warrant for any other traffic law violation committed while operating a bicycle.  A police officer shall use the ticketing procedure described in chapter 90C to cite a bicyclist for a traffic law violation but the violation shall not affect the status of the bicyclist’s license to operate a motor vehicle nor shall it affect the bicyclist’s status in the safe driver insurance plan.  When a citation is issued to a bicyclist, it shall be clearly indicated on the ticket that the violator is a bicyclist, and failure to do so shall be a defense to the violation.
    The parent or guardian of a person under 18 years of age shall not authorize or knowingly permit that person to violate this section.  A violation of this section by a person under 18 years of age shall not affect any civil right or liability nor shall the violation be a criminal offense.  If the offender is under 16 years of age, the officer may give the notice to the parent or guardian of the offender.
    All fines collected by a city or town pursuant to this section shall be used by the city or town for the development and implementation of bicycle safety programs.
  • If it is not possible to overtake a bicycle or other vehicle at a safe distance in the same lane, the overtaking vehicle shall use all or part of an adjacent lane if it is safe to do so or wait for a safe opportunity to overtake.
  • No person operating a vehicle that overtakes and passes a bicyclist proceeding in the same direction shall make a right turn at an intersection or driveway unless the turn can be made at a safe distance from the bicyclist at a speed that is reasonable and proper.
  • No person shall open a door on a motor vehicle unless it is reasonably safe to do so without interfering with the movement of other traffic, including bicyclists and pedestrians. Whoever violates the preceding sentence shall be punished by a fine of not more than $100.
  •  Foa  complete text of the law chages see Chapter 525 of the Acts of 2008
  • For a complete text of laws relating to bicycles see Ch 85, Ch 89 and Ch 90  of the Massachusetts General Laws