Just because it has two wheels and a motor/engine, does not make it a motorcycle. I have a feeling that the vehicles you’re describing are not actually true motorcycles, but rather motorized scooters/motorized bicycles. If that is the case, they are in fact permitted to ride in bike lanes, as long as the engine displacement is under 50cc’s.

Legally speaking, I would say no. The statute refers to “motor vehicles,” which is defined in §1 of chapter 90 as “all vehicles constructed and designed for propulsion by power other than muscular power.” It goes on to further specify that “[t]he definition of “Motor vehicles” shall not include electric bicycles or motorized bicycles.”

The thing is, I can’t guarantee you won’t be cited under this chapter. Most cops don’t actually understand the law, so they might not grasp the above distinction. It seems unlikely, though.

Good question, easy answer: bikes need to wait for the green light. The walk signal is for pedestrians, and cyclists in traffic are not pedestrians. I always thought this should be more obvious, since the walk signal is a picture of a little person on foot, and that’s not what a bike rider looks like (duh). But I get how it can be confusing when you’re waiting for the light to change and you see a bunch of bikers go on the walk signal. Anyway, now you know definitively!

One caveat: If you want to cross on the walk signal, you need only dismount from your bike. Boom, instant pedestrian!

Yes. Well, kinda. The right hook law in MA (See, MGL Ch. 90 §14) applies when the car overtakes the cyclist, which does not describe all right hooks.  However, there’s also the general principle of safely changing lanes, as described in Ch. 89 §4A.  It states the following:

When any way has been divided into lanes, the driver of a vehicle shall so drive that the vehicle shall be entirely within a single lane, and he shall not move from the lane in which he is driving until he has first ascertained if such movement can be made with safety.  [emphasis mine] 

Even though cars can’t drive in bike lanes, I would argue that they would still be considered travel lanes under this statute. Therefore, drivers have a duty to make sure it’s safe before they try and cross the bike lane to make their right turn. So, even if a car did not pass you prior to turning right into you or in front of you, I would say it’s still their fault for not checking before making their turn.

Now, as to your question about what you should do if a car ahead of you starts turning right, I would suggest you apply the brakes. If that doesn’t work, give me a call.

-JZ

Further reading: The Right Hook

Yeah, that’s pretty much it!  A bit more detail:

-under the law (Ch. 85 §11B), you can only ride on the sidewalk if it’s “in the interest of safety,”  but it pretty much always is. Just keep in mind that you shouldn’t be riding there in the interest of speed or convenience or something.

-you have to yield to pedestrians when riding on the sidewalk, and you need to signal audibly (best done with a bell) when passing a pedestrian.

-a “central business district” is a vague term, and you shouldn’t have to define it. Instead, just look for signs that say you can’t ride on the sidewalk. No signs, no problem.

Good question.  As far as I know, the signs you saw are mostly correct, insofar as they’re conveying the fact that crosswalks do not offer any legal protection to cyclists under Massachusetts law.  However, it’s not technically illegal to ride a bike in a crosswalk—you don’t have to walk your bike.  But given the legal status of crosswalks in the Commonwealth, it’s certainly a good idea.

You can read more about the specifics of this issue here.

Hmm, tricky situation. Email me.

Interesting question.  The relevant statute is MA General Law Ch. 85 § 11B, which states that bicyclists have the “right to use all public ways in the commonwealth except limited access or express state highways where signs specifically prohibiting bicycles have been posted.”  Elsewhere in the Commonwealth, highway onramps tend to feature signs with pictograms indicating no bikes, horses, or pedestrians, but for some reason the ones on Storrow Drive aren’t as explicit.  They simply say “Cars Only,” and “No buses or trucks over 2 ½ tons.”  As you’ve pointed out, that doesn’t really count as “specifically prohibiting bicycles.”  I hesitate to say that this means that bikes are allowed on Storrow Drive, as riding there outside of Hub On Wheels is an exceedingly bad idea.  However, unless I’m missing the sign on Streetview, it appears that it’s technically legal.  I’d ask MassDOT first, though.

Nobody is prohibited from riding in crosswalks; we’re just not given any additional rights in them (like the pedestrians get). Also: adults can ride on the sidewalk too, if it’s in the interest of safety.