TRENTON, N.J. (BRAIN) New Jersey's governor signed a bill into law on Monday that will require license, registration, and insurance for all e-bike riders. State lawmakers say it addresses a rising number of crashes, including two killed in separate incidents.
The legislation extends the classification of motorized bicycles to include pedal bicycles with fully operable pedals and an electric motor that can provide assistance when pedaling or exclusively propelling the bike.
Riders in the state will need to meet those requirements within the next six months to legally ride their bikes. They also will need to be at least 17 with a valid drivers license or at least 15 with a motorized bike license.
New Jersey now has its own three-class e-bike definitions: "low-speed electric bike," with pedal assist up to 20 mph; "motorized bike," with throttle assist up to 28 mph; and "electric motorized bicycle," with pedals that can go over 28 mph.
The law also prohibits the online sale of any electric motorized bicycle for one year.
In a statement to BRAIN, PeopleForBikes, while overall disappointed in the law, said one of the best aspects is that New Jersey authorities will enforce provisions that ban online advertising or sale of e-motos meeting its definition of an "electric motorized bicycle."
"For the information of companies and individuals responsible for making and selling these motor vehicle products, the ban takes effect immediately and includes 'any two-wheeled vehicle with fully operable pedals and an electric motor capable of greater than 750 watts that is capable of reaching a speed greater than 28 miles per hour.' It's fairly straightforward to identify these products from their own websites and social media advertising, especially e-motos that have excessive motor power and built-in 'fast' modes, are deceptively sold as a Class 2 e-bike but are designed to be easily unlocked by following manufacturer instructions, and so-called 'electric dirt bikes' that are inappropriately equipped with pedals. We look forward to hearing from state authorities on their progress on stopping the sale of these e-motos."
Guest editorial by Pat Cunnane: Why New Jersey's e-bike legislation fails the public
The latest fatality occurred in September when a 13-year-old boy was killed after getting hit by a motorist driving a truck while crossing an intersection in the Scotch Plains township. It's not clear from news reports what class of e-bike he was riding.
"It is clear that we are in an age of increasing e-bike use that requires us to take action and update regulations that help prevent tragedies from occurring," said Gov. Phil Murphy after signing the bill into law as one of his final acts of his administration following completing his second term Tuesday. "Making our roads safer for all users has been a key priority for my administration. I'd like to thank Senate President (Nick) Scutari for taking the initiative to improve the safe use of e-bikes in New Jersey."
Scutari's bill (S-4834) was introduced in November and passed both houses of the Legislature last week.
"The dramatic increase in the use of e-bikes has created greater dangers for their operators, other motorists, and pedestrians," Scutari said. "They are faster, more powerful, and far more prevalent. Their popularity with young people, coupled with their inexperience as operators, puts them at greater risk. We are in a new era of e-bike use that requires updated safety standards to help prevent accidents, injuries, and fatalities. Requiring registration and licensing will improve their safe use and having them insured will protect those injured in accidents."
The League of American Bicyclists criticized the law.
"E-bikes are a common and safe form of transportation and recreation for millions of Americans," said Ken McLeod, policy director for the League, in an email to BRAIN. "This reactionary legislation conflates e-bikes and the unregulated, unsafe e-motos that are making people feel unsafe on our roads and shared trails. Unfortunately, this legislation will only make it more difficult for people in New Jersey to access the benefits of e-bikes without making any progress on the dangers of e-motos. The federal government has failed to act, contributing to confusion on the part of lawmakers and consumers. It should step up to regulate e-motos as motor vehicles and adopt a three-class system of e-bike regulation."
PeopleForBikes noted it is encouraged that the law has rallied support among many cycling and transportation advocates for an amendment.
"We are already cooperating on draft language for a new bill to address the issues created by this legislation, and redirect the focus of regulatory and safety efforts where they belong: on e-motos, the fast electric mopeds, motorcycles, and electric dirt bikes that are being marketed to kids in New Jersey and across the country. These are the devices that have been involved in recent fatal New Jersey crashes that lead to this bill. Unfortunately, too much of this relatively hasty legislative effort was misdirected at legal low-speed electric bicycles, which are now legally conflated with faster motor vehicles."
