Councilors used Nov. 3 discussion to press for clearer public engagement and faster action on micro-mobility regulation after residents and speakers described unsafe scooter and e-bike behavior in Harvard Square and Linear Park.

Public commenters and Councilor James Williamson described riders traveling at high speed, wrong-way riding in bike lanes and several hazardous incidents. "If you walk around in Harvard Square these days, the electric scooters'people riding the electric scooters are just riding willy-nilly all over the place," Williamson said during public comment.

Councilor Nolan said the special commission's process appeared to lack proactive, city-led outreach: "It sounds like it may have been lost in the shuffle," he said, urging the city to get the word out to allow community input before recommendations are finalized. Transportation staff and Commissioner McKenna said the commission held public meetings but did not structure them for public testimony; the commission now expects to issue recommendations in January and intends to forward them to the state legislature.

Commission staff said that many recommendations are intended as legislative proposals, which is why hearings at the state level will be a principal venue for public comment. Councilors and commissioners agreed the city should prepare to host local committee hearings and community outreach once the draft recommendations are available.

The council did not take formal regulatory action at the meeting; several councilors asked staff to plan for a transportation committee hearing and to coordinate public outreach when the commission's recommendations are published.