bike_tom

So, it's complicated. If you look up Mass laws on mopeds and motorized scooters, you find this: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/mo...n-requirements
Which says:

• You may use bicycle lanes next to various ways but are excluded from off street recreational paths.

Good, but that defines a moped or scooter based in engine CCs, so doesn't apply to electric bikes.

I found this article on ebikes: https://www.massbike.org/ebikes
According to the article:

Class 1 and Class 2 electric bicycles are not considered to be "motorized bicycles" as further defined in MA law, as such no license is required to ride them and they're allowed on bikeways and bike paths. However a local jurisdiction may regulate and prohibit their use on bikeways/bike paths, but only after a public notice and public hearing.

What that guy was riding clearly had a throttle, so its not Class 1 or Class 3. And he was exceeding 20mph, so also not Class 2. Does that make it a "motorized bicycle", which brings us back to the moped laws, which don't talk about electric power.

Then I found this: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/ma...-c85-ss-11b-34.
Section (d) of that bans electric bicycles from natural surfaced paths but not paved ones. Unless, the local municipality imposes such a ban. This is basically what the massbike.org site says.

Question: what laws really apply to something beyond any of the three ebike classes?