A bill that would allow the town of Oak Bluffs to ban rental mopeds is set for a hearing on Beacon Hill this morning. The home rule petition will come before the Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government.
A bill that would allow the town of Oak Bluffs to ban rental mopeds is set for a hearing on Beacon Hill this morning.
The home rule petition will come before the Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government at 11 a.m.
The bill, H.1783, is sponsored by Cape and Islands Rep. Dylan Fernandes and would change town bylaws to prohibit the commercial lease or rental of mopeds and motor scooters to the public.
Cape and Islands Sen. Julian Cyr sits on the joint committee.
It has been a long road for the proposed rental moped ban, with many starts, stops and stalls along the way. Last year, the bill was filed late in the legislative session but died in committee after legislators expressed concerns about precedent for other Massachusetts cities and towns.
Moped rental companies also lobbied against the bill.
The bill was refiled at the beginning of the 2019 legislative session. Home rule petitions have a two-year lifespan, meaning this iteration of the bill will also have the 2020 legislative session to move through committees.
Last January, the bill was referred to the committee on municipalities and regional government with a hearing scheduled for April. But the hearing was canceled at the request of towns that had their annual town meetings on the same day.
Vineyard legislative liaison Kaylea Moore said this week that the bill moved through the committee without much trouble last year.
“Depending on the hearing, it will be reported out,” Ms. Moore said. “In the past, it has been reported out favorably.”
Oak Bluffs town administrator Bob Whritenour said the town would be submitting written testimony in support of the bill. The town overwhelmingly approved sending the home rule petition to the statehouse in spring of 2018.
“We are aware of it,” Mr. Whritenour said by phone this week speaking about the hearing. “We’re very happy to see the hearing moving forward on this important local determination issue. As you know, the law portends to give the towns actual legal authority to regulate the mopeds, which we don’t have now . . . We would like to see that passed.”
The bill will eventually have to go through three committees in the house and senate before it comes up for a vote.
“There’s a long legislative process,” Ms. Moore said. “This is the beginning.”
Comments
These clowns are trying to
Charlie Callahan So Boston/EdgartownThese clowns are trying to put the moped renters out of business. 1/2 the businesses on the Vineyard shouldn't be allowed. Leave them alone and let them make a buck
Charlie, name the other
T Bone Oak BluffsCharlie, name the other businesses you think shouldn't be allowed.
Banning the type of
Lorraine EdgartownBanning the type of transportation that is better for climate issues, is nonsensical. Automobiles pollute and over 30,000 people annually are killed by automobiles. Keep the bicycles, mopeds, scooters viable on the island....let us limit automobile traffic, that snarls up traffic, ties up the down towns and pollutes....perhaps that is too simple a solution?
Do a little research. Mopeds
Josh Oak BliffsDo a little research. Mopeds pollute more than cars and island moped rentals have caused a multitude of deaths and serious injuries. Moped rentals are not a large enough factor to reduce traffic flow on island.
Moped rentals do not cause
Lorraine EdgartownMoped rentals do not cause over 30,000 deaths in the US let alone the island....automobiles are dangerous multi pound vehicles, the driving skills and manners of many drivers on the island are sadly lacking. The absolute inability of many islanders to understand that two wheeled vehicles are beneficial, huge pickups and huge SUV's threaten smaller vehicles and bicyclers so that many do not even use their bicycles which they have done in decades past.
Mopeds and bicycles are a
Mark EdgartownMopeds and bicycles are a danger across the island. Packs of each hog narrow streets especially up-island causing near accidents and traffic delays. An outright ban of mopeds would be a positive for the island. Keep bikes off the streets by expanding dedicated bike / pedestrian paths.
Yea of course Lorraine limit
Jim EdgartownYea of course Lorraine limit automobile traffic, so long as it not your automobile!!!!!!
I worked for a moped rental
MSI worked for a moped rental shop in OB throughout high school and college. This was back in the mid 80's to early 90's. Back in those days, and up until very recently, the number of mopeds/scooters on the road with cars and trucks was a toxic mix. It got out of control and lots of people were getting hurt.
I do think that with the number of scooters having been drastically reduced recently, it has improved the overall situation dramatically...making roads much safer for all involved.
Scooters can be a reasonably safe option and convenient option for people to get around the island as long as there numbers and use is managed properly. Accidents can and will continue to happen...that's just a fact of life whether you drive a car, a scooter or a bicycle. But I think instead of an outright ban...maybe they should wait and see how the accident stats bear out before they throw the baby out with the bath water
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