New Jersey's ebike law: 221 licenses issued, a dozen shops closed

A law with few licenses so far

The Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) has granted 221 ebike licenses, while advocates estimate 300,000 ebikes and e-motos are in New Jersey.^[1] If you ride an ebike in the state, the new law applies to you.^[1]

Bill S-4834 passed by a wide bipartisan margin and was sponsored by state Senate president Nick Scutari.^[1] The MVC has issued 16,825 ebike registrations, a small fraction of that estimated 300,000.^[1]

Why the state acted

Scutari said the rise in ebike use created greater dangers for operators, other motorists, and pedestrians.^[1] Several teenagers in the state died on two-wheeled motorized vehicles, including a 13-year-old boy who died last fall after colliding with a landscaping truck.^[1]

Records show at least five of the eight vehicles involved in serious crashes in the past year were e-motos, not ebikes, including the collision that killed the 13-year-old last fall.^[1] Advocates say the federal government could use existing rules to crack down on e-motos, which are often sold online at lower prices.^[1]

What the law requires

Riders of pedal-assist or throttle ebikes must be at least 15 years old and have a license.^[1] Low-speed bike riders aged 15 and 16 must get a special e-bike license from the MVC, while riders 17 and older can use a regular driver's license.^[2] A stand-alone motorized bicycle license is issued only after the applicant passes a road test.^[1]

The pedal-assist motor cuts off at 20 mph.^[2] E-bikes with a throttle and a larger motor that can travel up to 28 mph are classed as motorized bicycles.^[2]

Riders must register their ebikes with the MVC, and bikes capable of going faster than 20 mph must carry insurance.^[1]

What it costs

State ebike registration costs $8 annually, and licenses and exams cost $11 altogether, with all fees waived for the first year.^[1] Industry officials estimate required liability insurance for a motorized ebike could cost as much as $200 a year, which varies by company.^[2]

People with years-old ebikes who cannot provide proof of purchase have been told to pay sales tax again.^[1]

Confusion at the counter

Riders reported widespread confusion at local MVC branches, where workers appeared uninformed about the rules and reportedly ran out of registration stickers.^[1] In a written statement, MVC spokesperson Connolly acknowledged an adjustment period as staff are trained and customers get used to new procedures.^[1] Connolly said the launch of the law has gone smoothly overall.^[1]

Jersey City rider Karin Vanoppen has no driver's license, and the state's testing locations are more than an hour's ride away.^[1]

Shops report falling sales

Reports from The Electric Bike Report say e-bike sales in New Jersey dropped between 20% and 90% at locations across the state.^[2] According to The Electric Bike Report, at least a dozen bike shops have shut down since the law took effect July 19.^[2]

Zippy's Bikes in Wildwood has seen a 90 percent annual decline in ebike sales and a 50 percent overall decline.^[1] Shannon Connor's ebike shop Jesse's E-Rides has seen its sales cut in half this year and is relocating to a smaller storefront.^[1]

Reaction from lawmakers and groups

State Sen. Raj Mukherji called his proposal a sensible balance between public safety and affordable, environmentally friendly transportation.^[1] Immigrant rights groups have called the new statute discriminatory.^[2] State Sen. Jon Bramnick has called for the Attorney General to establish an E-Bike Task Force.^[2]