Wow, I just looked up Massachusetts e-bike laws, and they are harsh!
"E-bike riders must carry a driver's license and are subject to registration requirements. No one under 16 years of age can use an e-bike. E-bikes are prohibited from all bike paths, as well as all sidewalks, regardless of local context."
wow, glad i live in iowa -
"In Iowa, an e-bike is defined as a “bicycle,” so long as the ebike’s motor is under 750w, with a top motor-assisted speed of
20 mph under motor power alone, and with fully operable pedals.
The same rules of the road apply to both e-bikes and humanpowered bicycles.
E-bikes are not subject to the registration, licensing or insurance
requirements that apply to motor vehicles.
Helmets are not required and there is no age minimum for e-bike
use. E-bikes are allowed on sidewalks and bike paths".
https://wsd-pfb-sparkinfluence.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2020/01/E-Bike-Law-Handouts_IA_2020-1.pdfPer handout, "In many states, e-bikes are regulated under antiquated laws primarily aimed at combustion engine vehicles such as mopeds or scooters.
PeopleForBikes and the Bicycle Product Suppliers Association are clarifying state laws governing the use of e-bikes in the U.S.
Every state’s law is different, but the objective is to ensure that low-speed e-bikes are regulated similarly to traditional, human-powered bicycles."