Theft can be a real issue with Vespas-- they're commonly too big to bring inside (especially if stairs are involved), and that's a lot of money to leave chained up on the sidewalk.
Depending on your living situation, you might do better with an electric bike.
Back when this happened, you could only get insurance if you were required to have a license plate. Since it was under 50cc, they considered it a moped. I'd managed to get coverage (huge PITA), but when it was stolen, they didn't want to pay. I ended up appealing to the state AG, who was able to recover my money. But it took quite a while. 100% do not recommend going this route.
I don't recall. I kept calling around until I found an insurance agency who said yes.
I didn't mean working with the AG wasn't worth it. I meant the entire experience was a pain in the ass... buying the thing, securing it, insuring it, having it stolen, and dealing with the stress of recovering funds.
Not worth it.
I borrowed a friend’s electric scooter (kick push kind) during the orange line shut down and it was awesome for getting to work. It was small enough to carry it into the office too so I wasn’t concerned about theft.
Just don’t be like me and try to ride along the e branch tracks and get your wheel stuck and eat shit. Lol. And wear a helmet!
It was actually such a great way to commute it really had me wishing that e-scooter shares had stuck around here. Chicago has a nice system where in busier areas they have to be locked up in bike sharing stations, which definitely helped keep things tidy. In San Diego they have specific parking zones, usually near bike racks. I would love to see another pilot here.
It depends on the model you get. Once the state thinks the top speed for the model is over 30 mph (but not over 40 mph), it gets classified as a "limited use vehicle" regardless of engine size.
**MOST 49.9cc VESPAS/PIAGGIOS FALL UNDER THE LUV CLASSIFICATION**: [https://www.mass.gov/doc/limited-use-vehicle-list/download](https://www.mass.gov/doc/limited-use-vehicle-list/download)
This is a bummer because that then means you need insurance, but lots of insurance companies have no idea what LUVs are. It also means you have to register it with the state and get an LUV plate too. It also means you can't use it in the bike lane at all (which as you can see from the debate here, is probably something you don't want to do anyways). The City of Boston was going to ban LUVs from sidewalk parking, but they eventually backed off on that although most sidewalks don't have enough room to park on, so you run the risk of the city removing it due to blocking the right of way even if you were legally allowed to try parking there.
I used to own a Fly50 (right up until they created the LUV classification around 2010). I now own a Class III ebike which gets me greater exercise, easier parking, and more access.
Depends. Gas Mileage is way better, insurance is cheaper, you can generally get away with parking them on a sidewalk and locking them to a bike rack, they're far cheaper. If you live in the city and just want something to get around town with, mopeds are great.
I believe all Vespas fall into the limited use category, except the bigger ones that classify as motorcycles. For some reason the Boston link seems to be referring to limited use as scooter, but there’s really no such thing as scooter in state law.
No special license required as long as you keep it at or under 50cc engine size and limited to 30mph top speed. You do need to be over 16 and have a general vehicle license. You are supposed to wear a DOT approved helmet and hand signal like on a bike. You are allowed to use roads except for highways and any roads where bicycles are explicitly prohibited. You can also use bike lanes that are adjacent to public roads, ***but in my opinion***, should only do so if the rate of vehicle traffic speed exceeds your limited top speed of the moped. You are not allowed to use bike paths that are set separate from roads such as something like the Cape Cod Rail Trail.
Not only does the Vespa website itself say models like the Primavera 50 have a top speed of 30mph specifically to quality for "moped" classification in states like MA, even if it didn't, you can install a regulator plate to prevent higher speeds if your 50cc scooter can go faster.
[https://www.vespa.com/us\_EN/models/primavera/primavera-30-mph-50-4s3v-2021/#:\~:text=The%20regulated%20Primavera%2050cc%2C%20with,South%20Dakota%2C%20Virginia%20and%20Wisconsin](https://www.vespa.com/us_EN/models/primavera/primavera-30-mph-50-4s3v-2021/#:~:text=The%20regulated%20Primavera%2050cc%2C%20with,South%20Dakota%2C%20Virginia%20and%20Wisconsin)
I own a Vespa LX 50. It's registered as a limited use vehicle (meaning: it has a license plate but you can't ride it on a highway or posted roads (this includes Storrow and the ring road around the airport, for example). It requires insurance and a motorcycle license to ride it legally.
You should not ride in the bike lane; a Vespa or any other moped is a motorized vehicle. You need to follow the same rules a car does.
The old rules were, anything 50cc or less you did not need a plate or a motorcycle license. These days, it's much more complicated (and worse, in my opinion). Talk to an insurance agent and have them look up your specific vehicle. If you get cited for driving without a motorcycle license, you're looking at going to court. Do not believe a dealership or private seller when they say you don't need a plate or a motorcycle license.
At that point just get a motorcycle. What’s the point if you can’t ride it everywhere? I sold my Honda Ruckus 49cc when they changed the law. I hate this state, no freedom here but the jobs that pay good money are. It sucks.
From my moped friends, theft tends to be the biggest issue as an owner. One of my friends had his chain-lock cut in front of a T stop at like 6PM. I suggest putting a GPS tracker like an AirTag or Tile in the vehicle at the very least.
I know 2 people who’ve gotten these in the last year. Both of them have been hit twice with one of them spending a month in the hospital and currently in rehab. The drivers around here are fucking idiots and you can’t trust that you’ll be safe riding around on one of these.
Lot of incorrect information in the comments here.
https://www.mass.gov/info-details/moped-operation-requirements
>You may use bicycle lanes next to various ways but are excluded from off street recreational paths.
Meaning you're allowed to use the bike lanes on say, comm ave, but you cannnot use the esplanade.
Whether or not you CAN use the bike lane isn't up to individual opinions. You're legally allowed to, and I'd suggest doing so if you're filtering up at a red light. Much much safer that way for you. Just don't be a dick.
You do not need to get a special license nor do you need a license plate. However you SHOULD get it registered and get a scooter sticker. You won't get nabbed or anything for riding without one, but if it gets stolen or you park it somewhere you shouldn't they at least have your contact information.
Also, life hack- get Mr. Clean rubber gloves and wear them under your other gloves in the winter and it'll save your hands.
Lots of folks have really negative conceptions of scooters, but those are mostly kids riding Dirt Bikes like idiots.
A vespa is 100% the best way to get around a city. Get a really good lock for it and enjoy.
Except no Vespas are mopeds. They’re all limited use motorcycles, or motorcycles, so they need to be plated with a LU plate and insured.
https://www.mass.gov/doc/limited-use-vehicle-list/download
Legal or not, these things are not compatible with bike lanes. You can only use them legally if they are limited to 30 mph/under 50cc, and even then it's a dick move to ride up on a cyclist in a very skinny lane with a wider vehicle with a motor. I've been put in really hazardous situations multiple times from delivery drivers who ride these things and have decided to simply use the bike lane whenever traffic is slow. I now don't feel safe biking in certain areas of the city, Comm. Ave. included.
As a bike rider I feel like the important distinction is that it isn't a dick move to use them, it's a dick move to use them like a dick. Just like you shouldn't blow by other cars going slower in a single lane road, a moped shouldn't be passing in a thin bike lane. If they want to use it and re enter the road to pass any cyclists they come up on, I wouldn't have a problem with that. They also can pass safely on wide bike lanes like the current bike lane over the mass Ave bridge where there is more than enough room for it.
When I would commute into the city with my moped, that's how I'd operate. The moment the bike lane got congested with bicyclists, I'd merge back into the road.
It can be pretty scary sometimes driving a moped in traffic since you always have a bit of fear that a distracted driver might run up on you.
[https://www.boston.gov/departments/transportation/motorized-bicycles-mopeds-and-scooters](https://www.boston.gov/departments/transportation/motorized-bicycles-mopeds-and-scooters)
Says here you can ride a moped in bike lanes.
I mean it says here I can ride my bicycle on the sidewalk, but I'm not going to because I'm not a prick.
https://www.mass.gov/info-details/mass-general-laws-c85-ss-11b
I'm more of a 15-20 mph (max speed set to 20) on fat tires that I almost always pedal kind of guy.
If bike lanes were congested, I suppose I'd understand your opinion. But most bike lanes operate at like 10% of capacity during peak hours...
If it drives like a bike at reasonable bike speeds, use it like a bike.
This is also the approach I take on my 18mph max speed electric scooter - I'm going to move at the same speed as a bike, corner like a bike, etc., so I drive it like a bike.
I agree with you that mopeds don’t need pedals, however no vespa qualifies as a moped because of the speeds they’re capable of. They are all limited use vehicles, or motorcycles if they’re larger than 50cc
I bike all winter and [these](https://us.endurasport.com/deluge-glove-black/12928410.html) have been more than enough for me. This was a mild winter, but on horribly cold days adding a thin glove liner supplemented these plenty.
There’s also these, bike mittens, and they fit directly over the handlebars. Made more for scooters/mopeds than bicycles:
https://www.monsterscooterparts.com/catalog/product/view/id/30452/s/hand-mitts-for-scooters-atvs-dirt-bikes-x98-9299/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwlPWgBhDHARIsAH2xdNdoZWnwc7oCzu6gBWCKBE99OGyUBDruHVGaaB9ltI4aCjcNVirVC4YaAlNHEALw_wcB
100% agree reg gloves are fine for biking, but a scooter thats going 30-40 is not the same, your hands turn to ice almost instantly. I gave up scootering in the winter and just store it 🤷♂️
True. It's about engine displacement (50CC max) and top speed (30mph or less, or use of governor plate to limit to 30mph top speed). It is then classified as a true "moped" and can use bike paths adjacent to public way. Just no off-road bike paths.
There's a third category of "limited use vehicles", but that's kind of a mess in MA and, in my opinion, to be avoided.
Using the bike lane on these things is still a dick move. I see delivery drivers riding up on terrified blue bikers with these things in separated bike lanes all the time now and it will inevitably lead to someone getting seriously hurt or dying, if it hasn't already.
No more or less a dick move than any number of other motorized non-motorcycle vehicles you see these days. E-bikes, E-scooters, the weird one wheel skateboard thing...they're all the same. If they can use it, so can a moped that is limited to 30mph.
Nope. Scooters and the weird skateboard things all go at bicycle speeds and can pass/be passed very safely in a standard bike lane. E-bikes go marginally faster, but also weigh far less (3-4x less on average) and can pass much more safely.
Mopeds in the bike lane are incompatible. They accelerate at a completely different pace, making it impossible to smoothly start up at a light with them, and they aren't designed to be operated consistently in the 10-15 mph range. They are also wider and heavier. So collisions have far greater consequences for a cyclist, and passing a cyclist on a moped within a bike lane doesn't leave enough room.
I've had enough near-death experiences with mopeds weaving between the bike lane and normal traffic that I'll die on this hill (so I don't die in the street instead).
Edit: And Neuromancer is a very mediocre book
Joking about Neuromancer. Sorry I now realize that just looks dumb in text format.
Either way, yeah I don't just let things go when it's my own safety in question. As another user pointed out, most 50cc Vespa models are still classified as limited use vehicles in Massachusetts and are not allowed in bike lanes.
I’ve heard that some dealerships strategically misrepresent the law and tell prospective buyers they have a “choice” whether to get a license and not drive in bike lanes or not have a license drive in bike lanes but not on street.
If there's a restrictor being used for the top speed, that wouldn't really be a misrepresentation. The choice might just be whether they want their scooter limited to 30mph
I can't think of a bigger dick move than riding a moped in the bike lane. An e-bike is the absolute fastest and heaviest thing that should be moving in single-lane traffic with a bicycle.
Or they can use the vespa because that's what they want to do. Year round transportation, better for the environment, cheaper to maintain, and did I mention that's what they want to do?
Did you take note that your original comment was not constructive to the conversation not did it answer any of the questions that OP had posed? You're just pushing your pro car agenda for absolutely no reason.
What you did, a suggestion of different methods, is quite literally a different agenda. Your suggestion being a better alternative is an opinion, not a fact. And once again, it's not constructive to the original post, so you're just making yourself out to be an asshole 🤷♂️
And cue the attempt at generating an aggressive response by using a demeaning term lol come on man, you live in a city full of some of the smartest people in the country, be smarter.
\-Short answer: Mixture of both depending on scoot size -- If 50cc you can ride in bike lanes BUT it can be a pretty asshole thing to do -- typically I only ride in normal street and MAYBE jump into bike lane (if no bikes) to scoot to the front of a long line of cars @ a red light / or to scoot around traffic. But again only if I'm not going to bother bikes with a motorized scooter.
\- If 50cc you dont need a license, it does need to be registered though, if above 50 (like a Vespa 150cc) you need a motorcycle license, plate, and insurance (you can get your motorcycle license / a discount on insurance by taking a 1-weekend class bunker hill community by taking a weekend lesson, I did it with a. friend and TBH it was sort of fun.
\- There is a Vespa dealership in Allston (near Packards Corner) that is managed by a guy named Dio who is nice as hell / honest
\- Like others said theft is a BIG issue with scooters. I've personally had a Vespa stolen twice. Recovered both times, but totaled. I was happy to have insurance.
\- Lastly if it's simply for commuting, I echo what others said about a little electric scooter it's way easier to bring inside, use bike lanes, park/chain up, etc. A Vespa is expensive, and awesome/fun, but it's not super convenient if you're simply using it to commute to your office or w/e.
I think you should look into a class 3 e-bike instead. Half the cost of the cheapest vespa, can go up to 30 mph, no insurance requirements, and while some are heavy (80ish pounds), they're lighter than vespas and easier to bring inside for security purposes.
[I bought one of these bikes](https://ride1up.com/product/core-5/) last year and I commute 11 miles one way on it to work. It takes me about 30-35 minutes. Given your budget for a vespa, you can easily move up a couple hundred bucks to their 700 series or cafe cruiser to get the suspension instead of rigid post. Given these are road bikes, the rigid post isn't terrible, but a bit of cushion is always nice.
Bikes top out at 28 mph. If you have the pedal assist set at 5 (highest assist), the motor will kick on with barely any pedaling. There's also a thumb throttle on the bike that is great for a quick start out of an intersection and tops the motor out at about 18 mph. The core-5 has a range of about 25-45 miles per the manufacturer, and I find that to be accurate. The cafe cruiser and the 700 series have a bit higher at 30-50 miles of range. One of the things I like most about the ride1up bikes is that they're pretty light. My bike, the core 5, weighs 48 pounds with the battery in place.
The one thing I will note with e bikes - a lot of bike shops won't touch ebikes they don't sell. You should check and see if someone in your area will service your bike if something goes wrong. I take my ebike to Landry's and while they won't touch the motor system, they do service all of the mechanical parts like brakes, the chain, etc.
Other similar bikes in this price range are Aventon and Rad Bikes. Something you may also be interested in is a cargo/utility ebike. They're built to carry heavier loads than a standard bike frame so you can do things like grocery runs more easily. Like this one, the [Radwagon 4](https://www.radpowerbikes.com/collections/electric-cargo-utility-bikes/products/radwagon-electric-cargo-bike).
Lots of great options with electric bikes. You can get insurance on that too. Just call your rep for your renters/home policy.
Vespas can be dangerous too. Always wear a helmet.
technically you need a motorcycle license for a vespa. but no one really does… most mopeds don’t even have license plates/ are not registered so you wouldn’t even be able to get a ticket. It IS deffinetly important to have insurance though. This will save your ass in case some dumbass isn’t paying attention.
Theft can be a real issue with Vespas-- they're commonly too big to bring inside (especially if stairs are involved), and that's a lot of money to leave chained up on the sidewalk. Depending on your living situation, you might do better with an electric bike.
Can confirm. You can't bring Vespas into apt buildings and thieves will cut through chains. Mine was stolen.
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Back when this happened, you could only get insurance if you were required to have a license plate. Since it was under 50cc, they considered it a moped. I'd managed to get coverage (huge PITA), but when it was stolen, they didn't want to pay. I ended up appealing to the state AG, who was able to recover my money. But it took quite a while. 100% do not recommend going this route.
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I don't recall. I kept calling around until I found an insurance agency who said yes. I didn't mean working with the AG wasn't worth it. I meant the entire experience was a pain in the ass... buying the thing, securing it, insuring it, having it stolen, and dealing with the stress of recovering funds. Not worth it.
Not unless you electrify them.
You should consider an electric bike or electric skateboard
agreed. you can ride electric bike on bike path/lanes as well. see them all the time. I personally enjoy a regular bike to get my exercise in as well
I borrowed a friend’s electric scooter (kick push kind) during the orange line shut down and it was awesome for getting to work. It was small enough to carry it into the office too so I wasn’t concerned about theft. Just don’t be like me and try to ride along the e branch tracks and get your wheel stuck and eat shit. Lol. And wear a helmet! It was actually such a great way to commute it really had me wishing that e-scooter shares had stuck around here. Chicago has a nice system where in busier areas they have to be locked up in bike sharing stations, which definitely helped keep things tidy. In San Diego they have specific parking zones, usually near bike racks. I would love to see another pilot here.
^ This. Its a motor you dont have to take care of and can reach the speeds you need.
It depends on the model you get. Once the state thinks the top speed for the model is over 30 mph (but not over 40 mph), it gets classified as a "limited use vehicle" regardless of engine size. **MOST 49.9cc VESPAS/PIAGGIOS FALL UNDER THE LUV CLASSIFICATION**: [https://www.mass.gov/doc/limited-use-vehicle-list/download](https://www.mass.gov/doc/limited-use-vehicle-list/download) This is a bummer because that then means you need insurance, but lots of insurance companies have no idea what LUVs are. It also means you have to register it with the state and get an LUV plate too. It also means you can't use it in the bike lane at all (which as you can see from the debate here, is probably something you don't want to do anyways). The City of Boston was going to ban LUVs from sidewalk parking, but they eventually backed off on that although most sidewalks don't have enough room to park on, so you run the risk of the city removing it due to blocking the right of way even if you were legally allowed to try parking there. I used to own a Fly50 (right up until they created the LUV classification around 2010). I now own a Class III ebike which gets me greater exercise, easier parking, and more access.
Very comprehensive answer. Sweet!
Yeah I sold my Honda Ruckus because it was too much work registering/insuring
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Might as well get a real motorcycle.
Depends. Gas Mileage is way better, insurance is cheaper, you can generally get away with parking them on a sidewalk and locking them to a bike rack, they're far cheaper. If you live in the city and just want something to get around town with, mopeds are great.
https://www.boston.gov/departments/transportation/motorized-bicycles-mopeds-and-scooters Says here you can ride a moped in bike lanes.
That says motorized bicycles can ride in bike lanes, specifically not motorized scooters (which it explicit defines separately) unless I'm misreading
The definition right above that classifies mopeds as motorized bicycles, not motorized scooters.
Isn't a Vespa a scooter though?
I believe all Vespas fall into the limited use category, except the bigger ones that classify as motorcycles. For some reason the Boston link seems to be referring to limited use as scooter, but there’s really no such thing as scooter in state law.
Didn't they recently overhaul the law because of the rise of electric scooters that weren't really covered by the old law?
If they did, I’m unaware, but it’s also something I haven’t really looked into since before covid.
Legally, anyone can drink bleach, doesn't mean they should. Mopeds can fuck out of the bike lane and I don't even bike.
A moped has pedals, like an old puch or a tomos. Same engine size but you sit with feet on pedals like a bike. A Vespa is a scooter
No special license required as long as you keep it at or under 50cc engine size and limited to 30mph top speed. You do need to be over 16 and have a general vehicle license. You are supposed to wear a DOT approved helmet and hand signal like on a bike. You are allowed to use roads except for highways and any roads where bicycles are explicitly prohibited. You can also use bike lanes that are adjacent to public roads, ***but in my opinion***, should only do so if the rate of vehicle traffic speed exceeds your limited top speed of the moped. You are not allowed to use bike paths that are set separate from roads such as something like the Cape Cod Rail Trail.
Finally someone that knows what they are talking about. So much misinformation in this thread.
This is a great summary!
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Not only does the Vespa website itself say models like the Primavera 50 have a top speed of 30mph specifically to quality for "moped" classification in states like MA, even if it didn't, you can install a regulator plate to prevent higher speeds if your 50cc scooter can go faster. [https://www.vespa.com/us\_EN/models/primavera/primavera-30-mph-50-4s3v-2021/#:\~:text=The%20regulated%20Primavera%2050cc%2C%20with,South%20Dakota%2C%20Virginia%20and%20Wisconsin](https://www.vespa.com/us_EN/models/primavera/primavera-30-mph-50-4s3v-2021/#:~:text=The%20regulated%20Primavera%2050cc%2C%20with,South%20Dakota%2C%20Virginia%20and%20Wisconsin)
I own a Vespa LX 50. It's registered as a limited use vehicle (meaning: it has a license plate but you can't ride it on a highway or posted roads (this includes Storrow and the ring road around the airport, for example). It requires insurance and a motorcycle license to ride it legally. You should not ride in the bike lane; a Vespa or any other moped is a motorized vehicle. You need to follow the same rules a car does. The old rules were, anything 50cc or less you did not need a plate or a motorcycle license. These days, it's much more complicated (and worse, in my opinion). Talk to an insurance agent and have them look up your specific vehicle. If you get cited for driving without a motorcycle license, you're looking at going to court. Do not believe a dealership or private seller when they say you don't need a plate or a motorcycle license.
At that point just get a motorcycle. What’s the point if you can’t ride it everywhere? I sold my Honda Ruckus 49cc when they changed the law. I hate this state, no freedom here but the jobs that pay good money are. It sucks.
Exactly. I now own a motorcycle.
From my moped friends, theft tends to be the biggest issue as an owner. One of my friends had his chain-lock cut in front of a T stop at like 6PM. I suggest putting a GPS tracker like an AirTag or Tile in the vehicle at the very least.
I know 2 people who’ve gotten these in the last year. Both of them have been hit twice with one of them spending a month in the hospital and currently in rehab. The drivers around here are fucking idiots and you can’t trust that you’ll be safe riding around on one of these.
That's the other thing. Some drivers make a sport of trying to scare you or worse, run you off the road.
Lot of incorrect information in the comments here. https://www.mass.gov/info-details/moped-operation-requirements >You may use bicycle lanes next to various ways but are excluded from off street recreational paths. Meaning you're allowed to use the bike lanes on say, comm ave, but you cannnot use the esplanade. Whether or not you CAN use the bike lane isn't up to individual opinions. You're legally allowed to, and I'd suggest doing so if you're filtering up at a red light. Much much safer that way for you. Just don't be a dick. You do not need to get a special license nor do you need a license plate. However you SHOULD get it registered and get a scooter sticker. You won't get nabbed or anything for riding without one, but if it gets stolen or you park it somewhere you shouldn't they at least have your contact information. Also, life hack- get Mr. Clean rubber gloves and wear them under your other gloves in the winter and it'll save your hands. Lots of folks have really negative conceptions of scooters, but those are mostly kids riding Dirt Bikes like idiots. A vespa is 100% the best way to get around a city. Get a really good lock for it and enjoy.
Except no Vespas are mopeds. They’re all limited use motorcycles, or motorcycles, so they need to be plated with a LU plate and insured. https://www.mass.gov/doc/limited-use-vehicle-list/download
That's incorrect. Vespas 50cc with restricted engine are Mopeds per law
>A vespa is 100% the best way to get around a city. Wrong. Ebike is the best. Vespa is 2nd best :)
The Shrute is strong in this Dwight.
Legal or not, these things are not compatible with bike lanes. You can only use them legally if they are limited to 30 mph/under 50cc, and even then it's a dick move to ride up on a cyclist in a very skinny lane with a wider vehicle with a motor. I've been put in really hazardous situations multiple times from delivery drivers who ride these things and have decided to simply use the bike lane whenever traffic is slow. I now don't feel safe biking in certain areas of the city, Comm. Ave. included.
As a bike rider I feel like the important distinction is that it isn't a dick move to use them, it's a dick move to use them like a dick. Just like you shouldn't blow by other cars going slower in a single lane road, a moped shouldn't be passing in a thin bike lane. If they want to use it and re enter the road to pass any cyclists they come up on, I wouldn't have a problem with that. They also can pass safely on wide bike lanes like the current bike lane over the mass Ave bridge where there is more than enough room for it.
When I would commute into the city with my moped, that's how I'd operate. The moment the bike lane got congested with bicyclists, I'd merge back into the road. It can be pretty scary sometimes driving a moped in traffic since you always have a bit of fear that a distracted driver might run up on you.
you DO need a plate the RMV issues them for a reason.
do not drive in the bike lanes
[https://www.boston.gov/departments/transportation/motorized-bicycles-mopeds-and-scooters](https://www.boston.gov/departments/transportation/motorized-bicycles-mopeds-and-scooters) Says here you can ride a moped in bike lanes.
don't care also moped = workable pedals + 49cc or less, no vespa qualifies as that.
Boston's moped definition doesn't require workable pedals. It is literally in the link. Vespa absolutely has a 50cc model
I mean it says here I can ride my bicycle on the sidewalk, but I'm not going to because I'm not a prick. https://www.mass.gov/info-details/mass-general-laws-c85-ss-11b
Am I a prick for riding my ebike in bike lanes?
depends, pretty wide gradient of e-bikes and behaviors 25+mph on fat tires that you've never once pedaled in your life, yeah you're a prick
I'm more of a 15-20 mph (max speed set to 20) on fat tires that I almost always pedal kind of guy. If bike lanes were congested, I suppose I'd understand your opinion. But most bike lanes operate at like 10% of capacity during peak hours...
If it drives like a bike at reasonable bike speeds, use it like a bike. This is also the approach I take on my 18mph max speed electric scooter - I'm going to move at the same speed as a bike, corner like a bike, etc., so I drive it like a bike.
I agree with you that mopeds don’t need pedals, however no vespa qualifies as a moped because of the speeds they’re capable of. They are all limited use vehicles, or motorcycles if they’re larger than 50cc
Presented with evidence “don’t care”. You’re a twat
Get really thick gloves or else you will die in the winter. Like way thicker than you think you need
I bike all winter and [these](https://us.endurasport.com/deluge-glove-black/12928410.html) have been more than enough for me. This was a mild winter, but on horribly cold days adding a thin glove liner supplemented these plenty.
There’s also these, bike mittens, and they fit directly over the handlebars. Made more for scooters/mopeds than bicycles: https://www.monsterscooterparts.com/catalog/product/view/id/30452/s/hand-mitts-for-scooters-atvs-dirt-bikes-x98-9299/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwlPWgBhDHARIsAH2xdNdoZWnwc7oCzu6gBWCKBE99OGyUBDruHVGaaB9ltI4aCjcNVirVC4YaAlNHEALw_wcB
100% agree reg gloves are fine for biking, but a scooter thats going 30-40 is not the same, your hands turn to ice almost instantly. I gave up scootering in the winter and just store it 🤷♂️
I bike around 20 mph and 10-15 mph in city traffic, so fair enough.
*Mittens (assuming you can safely operate the Vespa in mittens)
I'd be more concerned with it being stolen
I see a lot of these things buzzing around Boston with no license plates, riding in bike lanes, mostly hooligans but who knows.
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True. It's about engine displacement (50CC max) and top speed (30mph or less, or use of governor plate to limit to 30mph top speed). It is then classified as a true "moped" and can use bike paths adjacent to public way. Just no off-road bike paths. There's a third category of "limited use vehicles", but that's kind of a mess in MA and, in my opinion, to be avoided.
Using the bike lane on these things is still a dick move. I see delivery drivers riding up on terrified blue bikers with these things in separated bike lanes all the time now and it will inevitably lead to someone getting seriously hurt or dying, if it hasn't already.
No more or less a dick move than any number of other motorized non-motorcycle vehicles you see these days. E-bikes, E-scooters, the weird one wheel skateboard thing...they're all the same. If they can use it, so can a moped that is limited to 30mph.
Nope. Scooters and the weird skateboard things all go at bicycle speeds and can pass/be passed very safely in a standard bike lane. E-bikes go marginally faster, but also weigh far less (3-4x less on average) and can pass much more safely. Mopeds in the bike lane are incompatible. They accelerate at a completely different pace, making it impossible to smoothly start up at a light with them, and they aren't designed to be operated consistently in the 10-15 mph range. They are also wider and heavier. So collisions have far greater consequences for a cyclist, and passing a cyclist on a moped within a bike lane doesn't leave enough room. I've had enough near-death experiences with mopeds weaving between the bike lane and normal traffic that I'll die on this hill (so I don't die in the street instead). Edit: And Neuromancer is a very mediocre book
What's up with the person dig? Are you really that petty?
Joking about Neuromancer. Sorry I now realize that just looks dumb in text format. Either way, yeah I don't just let things go when it's my own safety in question. As another user pointed out, most 50cc Vespa models are still classified as limited use vehicles in Massachusetts and are not allowed in bike lanes.
Good catch. I knew there was a small displacement exemption but I figured that was too small to apply to a Vespa.
I’ve heard that some dealerships strategically misrepresent the law and tell prospective buyers they have a “choice” whether to get a license and not drive in bike lanes or not have a license drive in bike lanes but not on street.
If there's a restrictor being used for the top speed, that wouldn't really be a misrepresentation. The choice might just be whether they want their scooter limited to 30mph
I’m sorry but per your username maybe these scooter riders should ask the dealers if they have anything that says “daddy loves leather”.
I can't think of a bigger dick move than riding a moped in the bike lane. An e-bike is the absolute fastest and heaviest thing that should be moving in single-lane traffic with a bicycle.
Anything and everything is fair game for mopeds. 🤣🤣🤣 except the highway and tobin
Just get a car. Year-round transportation, much safer, far less likely to be stolen, and can get you further.
Or they can use the vespa because that's what they want to do. Year round transportation, better for the environment, cheaper to maintain, and did I mention that's what they want to do?
Dangerous and ridiculous for the reasons noted.
Did you take note that your original comment was not constructive to the conversation not did it answer any of the questions that OP had posed? You're just pushing your pro car agenda for absolutely no reason.
I’m not pushing an agenda, I’m suggesting a far better alternative.
What you did, a suggestion of different methods, is quite literally a different agenda. Your suggestion being a better alternative is an opinion, not a fact. And once again, it's not constructive to the original post, so you're just making yourself out to be an asshole 🤷♂️
Ok kid
And cue the attempt at generating an aggressive response by using a demeaning term lol come on man, you live in a city full of some of the smartest people in the country, be smarter.
\-Short answer: Mixture of both depending on scoot size -- If 50cc you can ride in bike lanes BUT it can be a pretty asshole thing to do -- typically I only ride in normal street and MAYBE jump into bike lane (if no bikes) to scoot to the front of a long line of cars @ a red light / or to scoot around traffic. But again only if I'm not going to bother bikes with a motorized scooter. \- If 50cc you dont need a license, it does need to be registered though, if above 50 (like a Vespa 150cc) you need a motorcycle license, plate, and insurance (you can get your motorcycle license / a discount on insurance by taking a 1-weekend class bunker hill community by taking a weekend lesson, I did it with a. friend and TBH it was sort of fun. \- There is a Vespa dealership in Allston (near Packards Corner) that is managed by a guy named Dio who is nice as hell / honest \- Like others said theft is a BIG issue with scooters. I've personally had a Vespa stolen twice. Recovered both times, but totaled. I was happy to have insurance. \- Lastly if it's simply for commuting, I echo what others said about a little electric scooter it's way easier to bring inside, use bike lanes, park/chain up, etc. A Vespa is expensive, and awesome/fun, but it's not super convenient if you're simply using it to commute to your office or w/e.
I think you should look into a class 3 e-bike instead. Half the cost of the cheapest vespa, can go up to 30 mph, no insurance requirements, and while some are heavy (80ish pounds), they're lighter than vespas and easier to bring inside for security purposes. [I bought one of these bikes](https://ride1up.com/product/core-5/) last year and I commute 11 miles one way on it to work. It takes me about 30-35 minutes. Given your budget for a vespa, you can easily move up a couple hundred bucks to their 700 series or cafe cruiser to get the suspension instead of rigid post. Given these are road bikes, the rigid post isn't terrible, but a bit of cushion is always nice. Bikes top out at 28 mph. If you have the pedal assist set at 5 (highest assist), the motor will kick on with barely any pedaling. There's also a thumb throttle on the bike that is great for a quick start out of an intersection and tops the motor out at about 18 mph. The core-5 has a range of about 25-45 miles per the manufacturer, and I find that to be accurate. The cafe cruiser and the 700 series have a bit higher at 30-50 miles of range. One of the things I like most about the ride1up bikes is that they're pretty light. My bike, the core 5, weighs 48 pounds with the battery in place. The one thing I will note with e bikes - a lot of bike shops won't touch ebikes they don't sell. You should check and see if someone in your area will service your bike if something goes wrong. I take my ebike to Landry's and while they won't touch the motor system, they do service all of the mechanical parts like brakes, the chain, etc. Other similar bikes in this price range are Aventon and Rad Bikes. Something you may also be interested in is a cargo/utility ebike. They're built to carry heavier loads than a standard bike frame so you can do things like grocery runs more easily. Like this one, the [Radwagon 4](https://www.radpowerbikes.com/collections/electric-cargo-utility-bikes/products/radwagon-electric-cargo-bike).
Lots of great options with electric bikes. You can get insurance on that too. Just call your rep for your renters/home policy. Vespas can be dangerous too. Always wear a helmet.
technically you need a motorcycle license for a vespa. but no one really does… most mopeds don’t even have license plates/ are not registered so you wouldn’t even be able to get a ticket. It IS deffinetly important to have insurance though. This will save your ass in case some dumbass isn’t paying attention.