TOWN MEETING 2024

Members approve article to make the rail trail safer for runners and walkers who worry about getting hit by motorized vehicles; rail trail bylaw includes a 15-mph speed limit for motorized vehicles

By Mark E. Vogler

Walkers and joggers have shared their fears with town officials in recent months about getting run over or hit by motorized vehicles on the town’s popular rail trail. After hearing a few of the horror stories at this week’s Annual Town Meeting session, members voted unanimously to approve a bylaw that empowers police to regulate activity on the 2.5 miles of the Northern Strand Community Trail that runs through Saugus.

“For someone who’s on the rail trail every day, I see how many motorized scooters and bikes almost hit people,” Precinct 2 Town Meeting Member Matthew Parlante said Monday night (May 20) during Session 3 as he spoke in support of Article 27, which was introduced by Board of Selectmen Chair Debra Panetta.

“I’ve watched mothers pushing carriages with their children being frightened by the bicycles and scooters passing them,” Parlante said.

Several members in the 50-member chamber shared their own harrowing experiences of feeling unsafe while going out for a walk.

Precinct 1 Town Member Sue Palomba admitted “I cringe” when she goes to the trail to take her morning walk. “We always feel like we’re going to get hit by one of those motorized bikes,” Palomba said.

Precinct 6 Town Meeting Member William S. Brown called Article 27 “a long overdue piece of legislation.” “Shortly before this meeting, my wife and I took our nightly walk down the trail and we were almost run over by a young kid on a motorized bike,” Brown said.

“He was going way too fast. We see it all the time. We are abutters to this [the rail trail],” he said.

A major feature of the rail trail bylaw approved by Town Meeting is a 15 mph speed limit for motorized vehicles on a multi-use trail, including electric bicycles and electric scooters. The regulations define potential uses and stipulate restrictions. Violations of the ordinance can be punishable by a $100 fine for a first offense and a $250 fine for each additional offense. Police also have the power to tow and store at the owner’s expense any unauthorized vehicles.

How the article evolved

Panetta’s proposed bylaw drew strong support from Town Meeting members. Precinct 4 Town Meeting Member Glen R. Davis offered a technical amendment to change the bylaw section from 601.02 Rail Trail to 601.03 Rail Trail because there is already a 601.02 section. Otherwise, the members who spoke on the article didn’t have any major problems with it.

“I have always been a strong supporter of the rail trail, and I know it is enjoyed by our residents,” Panetta said in a prepared statement she read to Town Meeting members.

“However, we have had some issues on our trail, including motorized vehicles traveling very fast. The trail is supposed to be used for bicycles, joggers, skaters and walkers – certainly not motorcycles or ATV vehicles,” Panetta said.

“I have had several people reach out to me with concerns, including a Town Meeting member from Precinct 2 who attended a Board of Selectmen meeting to share his concerns and those of his neighbors,” she said.

Panetta said she consulted with Malden City Council President Steve Winslow about how the city is handling its segment of the bike trail and how its rail trail bylaw is working. “After these discussions, I felt that a bylaw sounded like it would be beneficial to Saugus, so I reached out to Police Chief Riccardelli for his thoughts and opinion,” Panetta said.

“I shared with him Malden’s bylaw and suggested some updates. He did his own research, reaching out to other communities, and he updated the bylaw for Saugus. I then reached out to Town Counsel, who stated he also spoke to the Chief, and that the bylaw you have before you tonight is ‘fine as written,’” she said.

Chief provides opinion supporting bylaw

In preparation for Town Meeting’s discussion of Article 27, Panetta said, she requested an opinion from Chief Riccardelli on the proposed rail trail bylaw and whether he thought it would work in Saugus. At Monday’s session, Panetta read the chief’s opinion, which supports the proposed bylaw. “I think it is very important to have rules in place that will keep our residents safe while they are utilizing the rail trail,” Chief Ricciardelli wrote in his letter.

“The proposed rail trail by law is very similar to those that have already been passed in some of the surrounding communities. I spoke to several local police chiefs who have similar by laws in place and they all state that the bylaw was a big help in keeping their rail trails safe and orderly,” the chief said.

“As a Saugus resident and someone who uses the trail on a regular basis, I can tell you that the use of motorized/electric bicycles and scooters on the trail has become problematic,” he said. “It is that time of the year where we are getting ready to launch our bicycle patrol program that concentrates on rail trail safety. The proposed bylaw will give our bicycle patrol officers the authority that they need to keep the rail trail safe and orderly.”

Panetta told Town Meeting members that she plans to discuss with Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree the logistics for posting signs along the rail trail, letting people who use the trail know there is a 15 mph speed limit for motorized vehicles. “The chief is getting ready to launch the bicycle patrol program. Bicycle patrol officers are the ones that will enforce the bylaw,” Panetta said.

Parlante said he would like to see the bylaw crafted even more restrictively by eliminating the use of electric scooters or bicycles altogether. “A bicycle or scooter going 15 miles per hour hitting a mother with a carriage is going to do some damage,” Parlante said.