6AM City In-house

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What to know about e-bikes in Boston, MA
An e-bike parked outside the Massachusetts State House
Did you know that ~260,000 e-bikes are sold in the US each year? | Photo by @deltacyclecorp
This year, Massachusetts’ e-bikes legislation didn’t fall flat. The popularity of the modern electric bikes has grown rapidly over the last five years, so it was time to put the pedal to the metal and update the previous rules for this method of transportation.

What is an e-bike?

Electric-assist bicycles look very similar to an average bicycle, but feature a battery + some have added technology to sense when a hill is approaching or when the rider needs a little boost from a stop.

As of August 2022, the state’s new e-bike language was signed into law as amendments to the Transportation Bond Bill. This law will go into effect 90 days from signing, which is coming up on Nov. 8.

That means that a short ride from now, riders can cruise on an electric bicycle with a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling + that ceases to provide assistance when the it reaches 20 mph. Ten other states share this classification.

What are the rules of the road?

E-bike riders have to follow regulations just like standard bicycle riders + motor vehicle drivers. E-bikes share all the rights and privileges applied to bicycle riders, so they can be ridden on public bikeways and bike paths.

They are not allowed to be ridden on sidewalks and should not be ridden on natural surface trails (aka mountain bike paths).

What’s ahead on the road for e-bikes?

The Transportation Bond Bill included a provision for $1 million from the Department of Energy Resources to establish a state rebate program to help supplement the cost of e-bikes with $500 rebates, and up to $750 rebates for qualified low-income consumers. Typically, an e-bike costs ~$1,500. The state’s financial team is expected to begin working on this new program in 2023.
Cabot and Company

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Today
  • Ghost Tour in Harvard Square | Thu., Oct. 6 - Mon., Oct. 31 | 7:30 p.m. | Cambridge Historical Tours at Harvard Square, 2138 Brattle Street, Cambridge | $25.00 | Things will get spooky on this ghost story tour.
  • Wicked Retro Night | Thurs., Oct. 6 | 7-10 p.m. | Dorchester Brewing Company | Price of purchase | Feel the nostalgia and play old school video games.
Friday, October 7
  • Harvard University Field Hockey vs Yale University | Fri., Oct. 7 | 7-10 p.m. | Harvard, Cambridge | Free for students | Cheer on the Crimson field hockey team for this match.
  • Immersive Vatican | Fri., Oct. 7 - Sun., Nov. 6 | 3 p.m. | Lighthouse ArtSpace at the Castle, 130 Columbus Avenue, Boston | $35+ | See the newest immersive exhibit featuring works from the ancient Roman city.
Saturday, October 8
  • Octoberfest | Sat., Oct. 8 | 12 p.m. | Time Out Market Boston, 401 Park Dr, Boston | Price of purchase | The Octoberfest celebrations continue in the Fenway neighborhood with live music, German bites + an outfit contest.
  • Denzel Curry | Sat., Oct. 8 | 8 p.m. | Roadrunner-Boston, 89 Guest St, Boston | $35 - $65 | See the American rapper perform at the local music venue.
  • Boston College Eagles vs. Clemson Tigers | Sat., Oct. 8 | Alumni Stadium, 2601 Beacon Street, Chestnut Hill | $77+ | Wear your BC gear to cheer on the home team against the South Carolina visitors.

We have a monthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.
100+ MORE EVENTS
6AM City In-house

Weather
  • 72º | Partly cloudy | 10% chance of rain
Arts
  • A new public art installation at the Boston Common is commemorating LGBTQ+ History Month through the end of October. The photography exhibition features 20 8-ft tall posters of local artists and activists, plus business and nonprofit leaders. 📸
Plan Ahead
  • Bono is coming to Boston. See the U2 artist at the Orpheum Theatre on Fri., Nov. 4 for his 14-city book tour. The memoir “SURRENDER: 40 Songs, One Story” will be released on Nov. 1. (Boston.com)
Number
  • 110 gigawatt hours. That’s the amount of hydroelectricity that FirstLight Power will deliver to 13 public utilities across Massachusetts annually through 2030 as a new renewable energy option. The Burlington-based renewable energy provider operates 13 hydro facilities in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania. ⚡(Boston Business Journal)
Sports
  • The Patriots are expected to sign Garrett Gilbert to the roster — this won’t be the first time in Foxborough for the quarterback. He first played in New England in 2014 + was signed to the practice squad last September. (Boston.com)
Award
  • Two records were broken at this year’s Topsfield Fair. Warren native Brandon Wood won the hot dog eating contest, downing 10 quarter pound dogs in just seven minutes. Tyngsboro resident Jamie Graham grew the largest pumpkin, weighing in at 2,480 pounds, which is ~50 pounds heavier than the previous record. 🎃 (7 News)
History
  • The lantern room atop the historic Scituate Lighthouse will be removed today at 7 a.m. after safety concerns were raised for the structure. The 11th oldest lighthouse in the country will have a rebuilt lantern room in early summer of 2023 for $2 million with a new frame, window frames, copper cladding, and glazing.
Ranked
  • No. 6. That’s where Boston ranked on Condé Nast Traveler’s list of the the best big cities of 2022. The travel blog highlighted the 2.5 mile Freedom Trail, visiting the Isabella Stewart Gardener Museum + having a shucking good time at Neptune Oyster.
Health
  • Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts launched a first-of-its-kind “ASPIRE Center” this week to expand local research, training, and education programs. The center is based in the league’s office on Commonwealth Ave. and will expand the “Get Real” program + Complex Family Planning Fellowship. (Boston Business Journal)
Announced
  • By becoming a BOStoday member, you’ll directly support our mission of offering our newsletter, social content, and website access for free to all Bostonians (read: no pesky paywalls). Learn more + sign up.
Outdoors
  • Notice an uptick in any of these feathered friends in your backyard lately? Keep them safe from colliding with your windows — a cause of death for millions of birds each year — by throwing up some decals like these. We love these leaf designs too to keep things festive for fall.*
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Caution: wet paint alert 🎨

Over $1 million for new murals across Boston, MA
Photo of the new South End Mural.
“Souledad” was completed in the South End by Victor “MARKA27" Quinonez. | Photo by @leehopkins_ + @marka_27
The City of Boston is celebrating the installation of new murals across nine neighborhoods. This is the third year of the Transformative Public Art Program, which cost an estimated $1+ million.

Bookmark this map and plan an artsy adventure around Boston to see these eight new public arts.

While the paint dries on these murals, four murals will be installed next year at the Faneuil Branch of the Boston Public Library in Brighton, a community center in East Boston, the Malcolm X Park basketball courts and the BCYF Shelburne in Roxbury.
THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by City Editor Jessica.

Editor’s pick: This cause is too sweet not to share. The 23rd annual Bakes for Breast Cancer kicks off on Friday and continues through Thurs., Oct. 13. Visit participating restaurants + bakeries and support research efforts for breast cancer.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Make plans to meet some new friends.
Connect with us.

Editorial: Jessica Burton, Sara Frazier, Sarah Leonhardt, Erin McPherson, Ashlea Hearn, Emily Shea | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

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