Somerville officials are taking new measures to address concerns about speeding on the community path, a popular corridor used by pedestrians, cyclists, and electric bike riders. Unlike most city streets, the path lacks a posted speed limit, but state law governs the types of electric vehicles permitted. Class 1 and 2 e-bikes are allowed, while faster electric vehicles generally are not. However, recent findings indicate some users operate e-bikes and scooters at speeds exceeding the 20 miles per hour threshold.
State law prohibits motorized scooters and mopeds on the trail, but new electric vehicles, some capable of reaching high speeds, have created enforcement challenges. City officials hope forthcoming state legislation will clarify permissible vehicles on the path.
To discourage high speeds, Somerville has installed rumble strips along portions of the trail. Wheeler, a city official and e-bike rider, said these strips are intended as a subtle deterrent rather than a jarring obstacle, aiming to prompt faster riders to slow down. Additional changes include replacing generic “No Motor Vehicles” signs with clearer versions depicting prohibited Vespa-style scooters, as well as LED signs urging riders to “Go slow” and pavement markings designed to encourage awareness of cross-traffic.
“This is a community path, and our priority is the slowest-moving users,” said Brad Rawson, Somerville’s head of transportation and infrastructure. The city plans to introduce more substantial traffic calming measures in the future if current interventions prove insufficient, including possible curb extensions, new stop signs, traffic signals, and speed humps.
Not all users are convinced the rumble strips will be effective. Maia Erselv, a 30-year-old cyclist from nearby Medford, described the bumps as somewhat irritating but doubted they would deter those operating larger e-bikes or mopeds equipped with advanced suspensions. Erselv, who experienced a serious accident after swerving to avoid a pedestrian, emphasized pedestrian inattention as a significant factor and suggested that improved education and etiquette could better reduce risks.
Crashes on the path are rare but can be severe, particularly involving faster electric vehicles. National data highlight a sharp uptick in emergency room visits linked to e-bike and e-scooter injuries among children and adolescents, with some reports indicating a more than 600 percent increase in such incidents from 2023 to 2026.
Cycling advocates point to certain sections of the path—characterized by steep inclines and narrow passages—as especially hazardous. Nearby Cambridge has not installed rumble strips but has issued more citations for motorized scooter violations than any municipality in the region this year, with Somerville ranking third.
Some residents have taken an active role in curbing unsafe behavior. Stephanie Galaitsi, a Somerville mother and volunteer with a local advocacy group, said she has confronted motorcyclists found driving on the path, successfully persuading at least one to move to the roadway. She supports the city’s efforts to maintain a safe environment that protects the most vulnerable users, particularly children.
“We need to make sure that whoever is the squishiest user is protected in the space that they are supposed to be in,” Galaitsi said. “And in this place, the squishy user is a person or a child who may have to contend with a fast e-bike.”