LYNNFIELD – At a recent meeting, the Traffic Safety Advisory Committee addressed expanding concern for e-bike regulations in town, suggested new criteria for road pavings, and called to consider recent MassDOT research with regards to the efficiency of electronic speed signage.
Residents have shared increasing concern with town representatives over usage of e-bikes, as kids are seen soaring within inches of walkers at high speed, oftentimes without wearing protective gear.
“E-bikes are a challenge everywhere, not just in Lynnfield,” said Committee Chair Anthony Guerriero. “It’s a really fuzzy matter and a big issue in the Boston area.”
Regulations have been adopted at the state level, which Chief of Police Nick Secatore believes are “adequate” for the time being.
The Committee nonetheless agreed to communicate more to the public concerning e-bikes in the future, notably via the Town website.
Committee member Thomas Manning then requested that criteria for paving and repairing roads include vehicle noise and speed.
For the time being, Guerriero explained, only vehicle volume is weighted, but towns still struggle with what to prioritize.
Manning said safety issues increase with higher vehicle volumes and higher speeds.
Additionally, according to research by James Cowan in the Handbook of Environmental Acoustics, “reducing vehicle speeds by 10 mph is as effective on noise levels as removing half of the vehicles from the highway.”
“This would be a major policy change,” said Town Administrator Robert Dolan – one he preferred not to endorse for the time being.
Manning finally suggested the consideration of MassDOT research and recommendations on the effectiveness of electronic speed signs as opposed to static signage.
“At several locations, these signs have been represented as ineffective,” Manning said, based on three independent studies conducted by MassDOT. “I request this research to be a primary consideration in our decision to use these signs.”
Recommendations on their effective use include deploying them in school zones, in transition zones and on approaches to signalized intersections.
Secatore emphasized he had received “overwhelming” positive feedback for electronic signage, to which Guerriero added he saw its effective use on a regular basis.
“Each town and community is different, and it falls to the community to make such recommendations,” Guerriero said.
The Committee unanimously consented to consider MassDOT criteria in the evaluation of electronic signs, and in the decision by the Chief and the Select Board to put up such signage.
