Sidewalk Cycling Laws in Massachusetts
Last reviewed by BikeSize EditorialThis guide is for general information only and is not legal advice. Laws change - verify current rules with your state DOT or a licensed attorney before relying on this for any legal matter. Read full disclaimer.
The rule
Statewide law allows sidewalk cycling with conditions in Massachusetts. Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 85, § 11B permits bicycles on sidewalks outside business districts when necessary in the interest of safety, unless local ordinances or by-laws say otherwise. The same section requires riders to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians and to give an audible signal before overtaking and passing. Boston, Cambridge, and Somerville each prohibit sidewalk riding in their central business districts and on streets where bicycle lanes are provided. See Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 85, § 11B.
Statute
What this means in practice
Sidewalk cycling is legal in Massachusetts only when you follow the statutory conditions — typically yielding to pedestrians, giving an audible warning before passing, and slowing to a near-walking pace in crowded areas.
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Sidewalk, bike-lane, and right-of-way rules vary city to city. A bike that fits you well is the one rule that travels with you everywhere.
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