Massachusetts Bicycle Laws

Required under age

Required under age 17

Applies to passengers

Yes

Standard

ANSI Z90.4, Snell, or ASTM F1447 (CPSC-certified helmets meet these specifications)

Penalty

Non-criminal violation; no fine in practice for first offense. The statute applies to anyone aged 16 or younger and to passengers carried in a child seat or trailer (passengers must be at least one year old).

Statute

¹

See our find your helmet size and kids bike sizing guide.

Statewide rule

Allowed with conditions

Notes

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.

Statute

¹

See our commuter bike sizing guide and bike fitting guide.

Applies to bicycles

No

Separate cycling DUI statute

No

BAC limit

—

Penalty

Massachusetts's OUI statute (M.G.L. ch. 90 § 24) applies only to operators of a 'motor vehicle' on a public way. Bicycles are not motor vehicles under Massachusetts law, so a cyclist cannot be charged with OUI. Public-intoxication, disorderly-conduct, or related offenses may still apply.

Statute

¹

— Not yet researched.

Front light required

Yes

Front spec

White headlamp on the front visible from at least 500 feet, required from 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise.

Rear requirement

Rear reflector or light

Rear spec

Either an approved red rear reflector visible from 600 feet in motor-vehicle headlights, or a red rear lamp visible from 600 feet. Reflectors or reflective material are also required on each pedal (or on the rider's ankles) and on each side of the bicycle, all visible from at least 600 feet - Massachusetts has the strictest side- and pedal-conspicuity rules in the country.

Side reflectors

Yes

Pedal reflectors

Yes

When required

Darkness

Statute

¹

See our bike lights that meet the law and winter and low-light cycling setup.

— Not yet researched.

Two abreast allowed

Yes

Conditions

Two abreast permitted on the roadway, but riders must move to single file when being overtaken by other traffic. Three or more abreast is not permitted.

Statute

¹

Rule

One ear only

Statute

¹

— Not yet researched.

Bicycle registration required

No

Operator license required

No

Interstates

Prohibited

Notes

Bicycles are prohibited on Massachusetts Interstate highways (I-90 Mass. Pike, I-93, I-95, I-195, I-290, I-495) under MassDOT controlled-access regulations. The Bourne and Sagamore Bridges over the Cape Cod Canal carry separate sidewalks for bicycles. Conventional US and state routes (US-1, US-3, MA-2) remain open.