NJ State Legislators Advance Bill To Require Licensing, Insurance, Registration Of Low-Speed E-bikes

Class I e-bikes like this REI Coop model are speed-limited to 20 mph

Cycling supporters are urging New Jersey state legislators to reconsider a proposed new law that would create the strictest regulations in the nation for low-speed electric bikes. Supporters such as NJ Senate President Nicolas Scutari have argued that strict regulations are required for safety, but that idea has been strongly disputed by advocates, who warn that the new law would reduce access to e-bikes and eliminate incentives to ride safer e-bikes that are limited to 20 mph. The bill has already passed out of two legislative committees in the statehouse, and could come up for a full vote in the state Assembly and Senate as soon as this week.

E-bikes have grown in popularity because they make life easier for a lot of people. Climbing hills becomes a breeze, hot weather is less of a bother, and it is easier to carry small children on the bike. A wider range of people are able to ride an e-bike, thanks to the assistance provided by a small electric motor. These advantages can help people choose cycling for some trips instead of car use.

On the other hand, some e-bikes are extremely powerful, more like electric motorcycles than regular pedal bikes. New Jersey lawmakers recognized this difference in 2019, when they created a law that specifies three kinds of e-bikes. “Class I” and “Class II” e-bikes are speed-limited to 20 mph, a similar speed to what can be achieved on a regular bike. “Class III” e-bikes, which can go faster than 20 mph, require registration and insurance to ride. Similar classes of e-bikes are also recognized in 35 other states.

The legislation that is being advanced now would eliminate this distinction, and require a license, insurance, and registration for ANY kind of e-bike, even those that are limited to 20 mph. If the law passes, it would make New Jersey the hardest place in the nation to operate an e-bike. No other state has similar requirements for a license or insurane to operate low-speed e-bikes.

Advocates at the NJ Bike Walk Coaltion are encouraging New Jersey residents to contact their lawmakers and sign an online petition to save access to low-speed e-bikes. They are also holding a panel discussion by Zoom today, at 1 p.m., to discuss ways to improve policy to ensure safety. Further safety measures are potentially a good idea, but they describe the current bill as “overly restrictive” and “disportportionate”.

In particular, there is strong support for New Jersey’s “Target Zero Commission“, which aims to eliminate all fatalities on state roads by emphasizing safety. Most e-bike crashes involve other motor vehicles, reflecting New Jersey’s position as one of the most dangerous states to be a walker or cyclist. There are also questions about whether there is sufficient education about or enforcement of existing illegal e-motorbikes. Unfortunately, these questions would not be addressed by the current e-bike bill.

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