Why pushback is growing against New Jersey’s crazy e-bike law
New Jersey’s controversial new e-bike law was pitched as a way to improve safety, but with its July 19 implementation date rapidly approaching, a growing number of riders, advocates, and even lawmakers are arguing that the state may have gone too far. A rally at the New Jersey Statehouse last week drew a large crowd of supporters calling for the law to be amended or replaced. At the center of the controversy is the fact that the legislation treats nearly every type of e-bike the same, from a 20 mph (32 km/h) pedal-assist commuter bike to the much faster electric motorcycles and e-motos that have become increasingly common on streets. The law requires all e-bikers to be licensed in the state and sets out insurance and registration requirements. The distinction between electric bicycles and e-motos is one that many of us in the e-bike industry have been making for years. While media headlines often lump everything with two wheels and a battery into the “e-bike” category, there’s a world of difference between a Class 1 …
