By John S. Allen

CRW can take pride in its support for lawful and courteous use of the roads and paths on which we ride. This is important for our safety, also interaction among ourselves and with other travelers and being welcome in the communities where we ride.

Sometimes, though, questions arise about what actually is legal. And Massachusetts traffic laws can be confusing. They are scattered in the General Laws, ordinances of cities and towns, regulations for state highways and DCR property... Also, there have been some significant amendments recently.

My friend and CyclingSavvy colleague Eli Damon created a detailed summary of Massachusetts bicycling laws several years ago. I have been updating it since. The remainder of this article is the updated summary. It includes links to the underlying laws in case you want to take a deeper dive. I can be thankful that everything to look up is online now, and so is Wheelpeople, so the information is only a click away!

Access (MGL 85-11B)

• Cycling is permitted on all public ways (roads and trails) except limited-access or express state highways where signs prohibiting bicycles have been posted.

Behavior (MGL 85-11B)

Obeying the Traffic Law

• Bicyclists are required to obey the traffic laws for drivers, with specific provisions and exceptions.

Group Cycling

• Cycling more than 2 abreast is prohibited.
• Cycling 2 abreast is permitted subject to the duty to facilitate overtaking (MGL 89-2).
• Cyclists riding 2 abreast must ride within a single lane.

Passing on Right

• Cyclists usually pass on the left but are permitted to pass on the right – though this can be hazardous!

Cycling on Sidewalks

• Cycling is permitted on sidewalks when necessary in the interest of safety except in designated business districts, unless otherwise directed by local ordinance.
• Cyclists on sidewalks must yield to pedestrians and give an audible signal before overtaking a pedestrian. 

Signaling

• Cyclists are required to signal their intention to stop or turn. 
• Signals need not be made continuously and shall not be made when both hands are needed for the safe operation of the bicycle. 
• Signals may be made with either hand.
• Audible warning when needed (voice or bell); no siren or whistle.

No Hands

• A cyclist must keep at least one hand on the handlebar at all times.

Equipment (MGL 85-11B)

Seat

• A cyclist must ride upon or astride a permanent and regular seat.

Cargo

• Cargo must be carried in or on a basket, rack, trailer or other device designed for such purposes.

Modifications

• No handlebars above shoulders or extended front fork.

Passengers

• A passenger must ride only upon or astride a permanent and regular seat or on or in a trailer.
• A passenger between the ages of 1 and 4 must be in a “baby seat”, on a tandem, able comfortably to reach the handlebar and pedals or on or in a trailer.
• A passenger under 1 must be in a trailer.

Helmets

• A cyclist 16 or younger must wear a helmet
• A passenger 16 or younger unless in an enclosed trailer.
• Helmets must meet standards and be properly fitted and adjusted.

Brakes

• Must enable a cyclist to stop safely from 15 mph within 30' on a dry, clean, hard, level surface. 

Lights and Reflectors

• Cyclists must use lights and reflectors from ½ hr. after sunset to ½ hr. before sunrise.
• During this time, the cyclist must:
• Use a white headlight visible from 500'.
• Use a red taillight and a red rear reflector.
• Have pedal or ankle reflectors and reflectors facing to each side.
• A generator-powered light that activates only when the bike is moving is OK. 
• Reflectors must be visible from 600' when directly in front of lower beams of a motor vehicle's headlights.

Ebikes (MGL 85-11B 3/4, 90-1, 90-1C, 90-1E)

• Prohibited on sidewalks.
• May be prohibited on some trails by local regulation. 
• Class 1 and 2 (20 mph assisted top speed without/with throttle) are defined as electric bicycles, others defined as motorized scooters or motorcycles and subject to rules for them.

Laws That Apply to All Drivers Including Cyclists

Laws for drivers apply. Note especially:

Cyclists May Use the Full Lane

• Cyclists are not required to ride at the edge or in the door zone. “Upon all ways the driver of a vehicle shall drive in the lane nearest the right side of the way when such lane is available for travel, except when overtaking another vehicle or when preparing for a left turn.” (MGL 89-4B) 

Safe Passing

• “If it is not possible to overtake...at a safe distance in the same lane, the overtaking vehicle shall use all or part of an adjacent lane, crossing the centerline if necessary, when...safe... and...adhering to the roadway speed limit” (MGL 89-2).
• “In passing a vulnerable user, the operator of a motor vehicle shall pass at a safe distance of not less than 4 feet and at a reasonable and proper speed” (MGL 90-14).

Passing On Right

• “The driver of a vehicle may, if the roadway is free from obstruction and of sufficient width for two or more lines of moving vehicles, overtake and pass upon the right of another vehicle...(a) making or about to make a left turn, (b) upon a one-way street, or (c) upon any [one-way] roadway” (MGL 89-2).

Lane-splitting, Lane Changes

• “The...vehicle shall be entirely within a single lane, and [the driver] shall not move from the lane...until he has first ascertained if such movement can be made with safety” (MGL 89-4A). 

Violations

Reporting Crashes (MGL 85-11B)

• Cyclists must report a crash to local police if it involves personal injury or at least $100 worth of property damage.

Penalties (MGL 85-11B, 85-11E)

• Penalty can be up to $20, but no penalty for not wearing a helmet.
• Violators under 18 can have their bikes impounded for up to 15 days.
• Violations by cyclists under 18 cannot affect any civil right or liability and cannot be considered a criminal offense.
• Violations do not affect a cyclist's license to operate a motor vehicle or status in the safe driver insurance plan.
• Parents and guardians are responsible for violations committed by cyclists under 18.

Police Stops (MGL 85-11E) 

• A police officer who observes a traffic law violation committed by a bicyclist may request the offender to state his or her name and address. Refusing to do so, or stating a false name and address shall be punished by a fine of $20-$50. An offender who refuses to state his or her true name and address may be arrested without a warrant. Presenting ID is not required.
• Cyclists cannot be arrested for traffic violations.
• For cyclists under 16 committing traffic violations, police officers may give the notice to the parent or guardian.

Note: Massachusetts General Laws leave out many details, including, for example, what is required at a red, amber or green traffic signal. These are covered in ordinances of the 351 cities and towns (see Sample Regulation), in Mass. Highway Department regulations (CMR 700 9.00), in Department of Conservation and Recreation regulations (CMR 302) and in regulations for quasi-public entities, notably Massport. Regulations and ordinances cannot overturn provisions of the General Laws except (rarely) where the Legislature has granted a home-rule petition to a city or town. Example: in Provincetown, bicyclists are allowed to travel in both directions on one-way Commercial Street. 

Where you are from? I live in Arlington. I have always lived in the Boston area, and Arlington is my favorite. 

What is your best advice for a new club member? Enjoy your ride and get to know people! Rides are more fun that way! 

When did you become a Ride Leader? I have been a ride leader for a couple of years. 

What led to you becoming a Ride Leader? I was going on so many rides that I wanted to pitch in and help out! Every ride leader is different, but I find it really rewarding to ride with the same crew once or twice a week, and to welcome new cyclists. 

What types of rides are you planning on leading? I would like to lead some rides on Cape Cod. I am hoping to schedule some in 2025. 

How long have you been cycling, and what initially got you interested in the sport? About 12 years ago, I was on a day-long ride around Westport, MA. My friend’s son convinced me that I would have so much more fun if I ditched my heavy hybrid for a road bike. Happily, I took his advice. 

How many miles a year do you typically ride? Around 2,500.  Nearly all outside. 

What is your greatest cycling accomplishment? I’m just happy to keep getting back on the bike! 

What is your favorite route to ride? Last summer I went on the club ride to Martha’s Vineyard. That is a great ride with so much great scenery. 

What is your favorite post-ride food or drink? A chai latte and butter croissant. 

The CRW Slack space is great for organizing rides and keeping members connected. This is an information space divided into channels. Members can monitor chat in the channels of their choosing, send private direct messages to individuals or groups, and stay informed about club happenings.

Slack is where we plan impromptu rides, announce organized rides, share routes, discuss gear, and build our cycling community. Instead of information getting lost in lengthy email threads or scattered across different platforms, everything is organized into focused channels that make it easy to find exactly what you need.

We use threads to keep discussions organized, so you can easily follow the conversation about specific rides.

Members can also invite others to join the space by sending a simple invitation.

Quick Start Guide for New Members

1.    Getting Set Up

• Download Slack (desktop and mobile apps)

- Windows: https://slack.com/downloads/windows
- Mac: https://slack.com/downloads/mac
- IOS: https://slack.com/downloads/ios
- Android: https://slack.com/downloads/android

• Follow link from the invitation email.
• Complete your profile:

- Add a photo
- Contact info, if desired
- Add your general availability
- Set your preferences

2. Browse and Join Channels

• Click on the Home button.
• Hover over Channels, and you will see a drop down for Create/Manage/Show and Sort.
• Select Manage > Browse Channels.

• Hover over the channels you are interested and select Join; all members are automatically follow the club-announcement channel. 

Channel Descriptions:

3. Get Familiar

• Read up on older posts in your favorite channels
•  Check out #help-use-slack if you have questions
• Set up mobile notifications
• Talk to your riding buddies in the DMs
• Invite your friends to join: Under the CRW drop-down, select Invite People to CRW; copy the invite link to forward on.
  

4. Start Communicating
Members find many ways to communicate in Slack, for example:

• Hop into #ride to share your ride photos or find a riding buddy for your lunch ride today
• Talk about the hottest cycling tech or post a bike for sale in #gear
• Announce a non-CRW event in #community-news
• DM a ride leader with your questions about an upcoming ride
• Discuss routes for an epic multi-day trip in #adventure
• …and much more!

5. Best Practices

• Use threads (see below) for extended discussions to keep channels clean and organized.
• Tag specific people using @ mentions when needed.
• React with emojis to acknowledge messages without cluttering the channel.

6. Getting Help

• The #help-use-slack channel is your friend. Our experienced members are always ready to help you navigate the platform and get the most out of our digital community.

Remember, cycling is all about community, and our Slack workspace helps make that community stronger and more connected than ever. So jump in, join the conversations that interest you, and become part of our vibrant cycling community. See you on the roads – and in Slack!

We’re a month into the 2025 Winter Ride Challenge, and we want to congratulate Nick Linsky, who has taken a commanding lead! Since December 1st, when the challenge began, Nick has ridden an incredible 939 miles over 74 hours and climbed 45,251’!

Strong work, Nick! Keep it up!

We also want to recognize our top contenders:

• Barry Nelson: 628 miles over 48 hours, climbing 17,524’
• Beth Rosenzweig: 782 miles over 48 hours, climbing 28,690’
• Linda Nelson: 511 miles over 39 hours, conquering 4,558’

You are all an inspiration to us winter warriors, slogging through the cold days as we eagerly await the warmth of spring!

For those of you still considering joining the fun, there’s plenty of time to jump in! The challenge runs through March 31st, and every mile, hour, and elevation gain counts—whether indoors or outside.

Want to join the challenge or update your ride data? Find detailed instructions for signing up and entering your miles by visiting this guide. It’s easy to track your progress and be part of the action!

Let us know how your winter training is shaping up, and let’s make this winter one for the books!

So, keep riding! ‍♂️

The Charles River Wheelers (CRW) Board met on December 8, with the meeting called to order at 5:35 PM and adjourned at 6:30 PM. Barbara Jacobs served as the minutes taker. Below is a summary of the key discussions and decisions.

Attendance and Quorum

The meeting achieved quorum, with five Board members present. Attendees included Eli Post, Randolph Williams, Amy Juodawlkis, Norma Loehr, and Barbara Jacobs. Non-Board members Nina Siegel and Bernard Pemstein also participated.

Consent Agenda

The board approved the November meeting minutes with one abstention.

2025 Planning and Role Changes

Several role changes were confirmed:

• Barbara Jacobs will vacate her role as Publisher of WheelPeople and ChainLink.
• Katerina Trizlova was appointed as Assistant Treasurer.
• Eliot Morra will become VP of Finance.

These changes were unanimously approved.

Offsite Planning Meeting

An offsite planning session for the Board is scheduled for February.

Key Updates and Discussions

Financials (Amy Juodawlkis)

• Amy reviewed the financial reports, highlighting concerns over high costs for the Ride Leader and Volunteer Party. Follow-up with Eliot Morra will address specific line items.

“Contact Us” Form Redesign (Randolph Williams)

• Over 300 people used the club’s “Contact Us” form this year. A redesigned form will include FAQ links for better self-service, topic-oriented queries, and streamlined notifications to specific email addresses (e.g., RASC, Membership). A tracking spreadsheet will be implemented.

CPEC and WheelPeople Publisher Search (Norma Loehr)

• The club urgently needs a new publisher for WheelPeople and ChainLink. This will be discussed further at the next CPEC meeting.

RASC Update (Barbara Jacobs)

• Ride Leaders have been asked to submit budget suggestions, with plans to meet Eliot Morra soon for a financial review.

Additional Notes

• Partnership Policy Renewal: Deferred to January or the next Board meeting.
• Name Tags: A design is in progress.

Upcoming Meetings

The January Board meeting date is TBD. The February offsite meeting will focus on strategic planning.

Stay tuned for updates on these initiatives, and thank you to all Board members and volunteers for their dedication to advancing CRW's mission.

Warming up at Fern's in Carlisle.

Watch the CRW calendar (and Slack) for outdoor riding opportunities throughout the winter months!

CRW is looking for members with communications skills to help get the word out about our rides, events, and news. Heading into 2025, we are seeking individuals with expertise and interest in the following projects/areas:

• Develop and oversee communications strategies
• Manage CRW’s brand, messaging, and public image
• Oversee and/or create content for the website, social media, and publications
• Handle media relations and external communications
• Support fundraising, events, and marketing
• Chair the Club Promotion and Events Committee

If any of these sound like YOU, Contact Us and select Volunteer Opportunities to get the ball rolling!

CRW in the news!

CRW club President, Randolph Williams, was recently interviewed by the New England Endurance podcast, and the episode has just dropped.

The podcast episode titled "Charles River Wheelers (CRW): Building Community Through Cycling" features an engaging conversation with Randolph. The hosts, Art Trapotsis and Eric Schenker, delve into the history and mission of CRW, noting that it is one of the largest and oldest cycling clubs in New England. Randolph shares his personal journey into endurance sports, his leadership role in CRW, and the club's efforts to promote diversity and community engagement in cycling. The episode highlights CRW's various programs, events, and the importance of fostering connections within the cycling community.

The New England Endurance podcast launched in January 2024 with a mission  to "passionately showcase and celebrate the vibrant endurance sports culture thriving in New England." Art and Eric have produced 28 episodes over the past year, covering topics ranging from back country skiing to endurance running, to the Bike Education Institute for Pirates.

 If you want to dive deeper into the episode, you can listen to it here.

By Randolph Williams and John Allen

At Charles River Wheelers (CRW), safety is our top priority. Whether you’re riding on city streets, suburban roads, or multi-use paths, one of the most common interactions you’ll have is with pedestrians. Here are some simple guidelines to help keep everyone—cyclists and pedestrians alike—safe and comfortable.

1.  Be Alert and Anticipate
Pedestrians can be unpredictable. They might suddenly step into a crosswalk, veer off the sidewalk, or fail to hear your approach if they’re wearing headphones. Train yourself to stay alert:

• Scan ahead for people walking, jogging, or standing.
• Slow down when you see pedestrians up ahead, especially in congested areas.
• Communicate early by calling out or using a bell well before passing.
• Inform other riders of the approaching hazard.
• Maintain enough spacing from other cyclists so you can look ahead and brake as needed. Reserve paceline riding for roads where complicated encounters are unlikely.

2.  Respect Crosswalks & Right of Way
You are required to yield right of way to pedestrians in marked (and sometimes unmarked) crosswalks, and must always exercise due care. As a cyclist:

• Come to a full stop if a pedestrian is already crossing or about to cross.
• Watch for visual cues—sometimes pedestrians hesitate or are unsure you’ve noticed them.
• Yield even if it seems they’re pausing for you; better to err on the side of caution.

3.  Pass with Care
When you do need to pass a pedestrian:

• Alert other riders with a loud “Walker up!” (add a pointing hand signal if safe to do so)
• Announce your presence with a friendly “Behind you!” and/or a bell ring.
• Give them space—leave at least a few feet if the road or path width allows.
• A group should pass behind rather than ahead of a pedestrian who is crossing the street.
• Pass slowly if pedestrians are clustered or if children or pets are involved. Crowded space (ride starts, rest stops, farmer’s markets, etc…)  is pedestrian space. “Scooter’ your bicycle or walk.

4. Ride Predictably
Just as you want pedestrians to be predictable, they need you to be predictable, too:

• Do not “edge ride” where a pedestrian could walk out from concealment by a parked vehicle or other sight obstruction. Maintain enough clearance that you and the pedestrian would see each other in time to avoid a collision.
• Maintain a steady line rather than weaving.
• Use clear signals if you need to turn or slow down suddenly.
• Make sure that a crossing pedestrian is looking in your direction before you pass. This helps everyone navigate safely.

5. Observe Good Path Etiquette
On a path, bicyclists are the fastest users and must take special care with pedestrians.

• Keep right and pass on the left with plenty of clearance.  (Note: Rhode Island is unique in requiring pedestrians to walk on the left on paths, so be extra alert in Rhode Island.).
• Moderate your speed so that you can avoid pedestrians who unexpectedly change direction. Be aware that a child or dog may be concealed ahead of a pedestrian you are about to pass.
• Pass only once a pedestrian has responded to your bell or voice, or with plenty of clearance so that the pedestrian could not turn and collide with you. If a pedestrian is wearing headphones, you may have to get close before your bell or voice is noticed.
• Be alert to oncoming path traffic and wait until you have safe passing distance. You may have to slow to walking pace and follow a pedestrian until it becomes safe.
• Get the attention of oncoming pedestrians holding a conversation or looking at their phones – make sure that they have noticed you.
• Be especially cautious around children, who can be erratic.

6. Stay Courteous
A courteous attitude goes a long way.

• Smile or offer a simple “Thank you!” if pedestrians step aside to let you pass.
• Remember, we’re all out there to enjoy public spaces. Mutual respect keeps paths and roads welcoming.

Pedestrian safety is a shared responsibility. By staying aware, signaling your intentions, and respecting right-of-way rules, we can all enjoy a safer, friendlier cycling experience. Share these tips with fellow riders or new club members, and let’s continue to keep CRW rides safe and enjoyable for everyone.

At our November 3rd Board meeting, we reviewed several important updates about our club's activities and future plans.

Membership and ride participation remain strong, with 440 new members bringing our total membership to 1,889. Event registrations are matching or exceeding 2023 levels, and October 2024 saw more rides than the same period last year. We're especially pleased to welcome 13 new ride leaders who joined our ranks this year.

Looking ahead to winter, we're excited to announce that Elen Gugel will be leading rides every other week. Winter Ride Challenges will begin December 1st, offering opportunities to stay active during the colder months.

The Communications team is seeking volunteers to help publish WheelPeople and ChainLink. We're currently evaluating various options to ensure consistent and effective communication with our members.

Plans are underway for our annual Volunteer/Ride Leader appreciation event. The Board voted to open this celebration to all ride leaders, recognizing their vital contribution to our club's success.

The Board also began discussions about developing a formal partnership strategy to help grow our membership and enhance our community presence. We'll be continuing these discussions at our next meeting.

Our next Board meeting is tentatively scheduled for December 8, 2024. As always, members are welcome to attend as observers.

Randolph Williams

President, Charles River Wheelers