BOSTON- This week, Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn filed four pieces of legislation aimed at improving pedestrian safety in Boston. He re-filed an amended ordinance to effectively ban mopeds and e-bikes from third-party food delivery services, and filed a new ordinance regulating all e-bikes in the City of Boston. He also re-filed a hearing order to advocate for traffic-calming infrastructure on main streets and areas of high foot traffic, and joined Councilor Enrique Pepen on a hearing order regarding school zones in Boston.
In April 2024, the Council passed the Mayor’s Ordinance to require third-party delivery giants (Uber East, Grubhub, DoorDash) to obtain a permit; however, it’s unclear drivers will be able to obtain liability insurance, and concerns on enforcement remain. Last fall, a person tragically passed away weeks after a collision near Copley Square. Councilor Flynn maintains it is critical that the Council act to prevent more people from getting hurt – including the drivers themselves. There have also been reports on how third-party companies have potentially incentivized workers to prioritize speed over safety in order to receive more orders and tips, to keep high ratings, and their jobs. Councilor Flynn has emphasized that food delivery wasn’t always this way until just a few years ago.
In 2022, with the demand for food delivery higher with remote work – the city reported that their goal was for third-party deliveries to shift away from cars towards two-wheeled vehicles due to the loss of a travel lane on Boylston Street. However, in June 2024, the City subsequently launched the Boylston Street Better Bus and Bike Lane Project, eliminating two lanes and over 90 parking spaces. In February 2025, the City announced removal of the bus lane. In a letter to the City Council, Uber Eats confirmed that the city encouraged use of two-wheel delivery vehicles to decrease cars on the road, and the company had a 9 month pilot program to incentivize drivers to do so
Moreover, on Councilor Flynn’s ordinance to regulate all e-bikes in the City of Boston, according to Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 90, Section 1, electric bicycles are excluded from the definition of motorized bicycles, which are separately defined by engine capacity, transmission type, and maximum speed. This ordinance intends to provide clarity and consistency on the regulation of e-bikes, including Class 3 e-bikes, which are currently classified as mopeds in the City of Boston. It is critical that there are strict regulations and enforcement measures to protect operators and pedestrians, and also prevent further tragedies.
“Since 2022, the City of Boston encouraged large third-party food delivery companies to have drivers use two-wheel vehicles, while the companies also incentivized workers to prioritize speed over safety to get more assignments and higher ratings. The result has been a significantly worsened pedestrian safety crisis, with mopeds and e-bikes going over 20 mph through red lights and stop signs nearly every day,” said Councilor Flynn. “No reasonable person believes the rules of the road can continue to be optional. It can no longer be the Wild West on the streets of Boston.”
For more information, please contact Councilor Flynn’s office at 617-635-3203 or [email protected].
