Greetings, friends.

Over the next few days I’ll be sending a couple of emails of interest to club members.

Today’s email is about recent happenings with the NJ e-bike legislation, scheduled to take effect in July.  The NJ Bike and Walk Coalition is holding a Ride and Rally this Thursday, May 21 to advocate for revisions to the current legislation,  I plan to ride my class 3/motorized bicycle at this event and urge others to join,  Details can be found at https://njbwc.org/. There is also an “E-bike Resource Center” on that website.  While not claiming to be an expert on this issue, I’ve read the legislation and have contacted my local representatives.  Personally, I don’t understand why the advocacy effort focuses only on removing registration and liability insurance requirements for low speed electric bicycles (formerly class 1) and excludes motorized bicycles (class 3).  The law makes no distinction between ICE and electric motor vehicles whose top speed can be as high as 160 mph and those whose top speed is 120 mph.  Further, I don’t see the need to wear a motorcycle helmet when I ride my class 3 bike.  On a completely different note, Senator Scutari who made significant contributions to this bill was a big advocate for legalizing marijuana in NJ saying at the time that enforcing possession of small amounts of marijuana was a waste of valuable law enforcement resources,

I urge everyone to call your elected NJ representatives.  Do not write or email as these are ignored.  A few suggested talking points:

The real safety concerns apply to e-motos, throttle operated vehicles that can achieve speeds of up to 50 mph, and are frequently driven recklessly by adolescents who have no knowledge of, or choose to disregard, the rules of the road.

Just as a car that can reach speeds in excess of 100 mph is rarely, if ever, driven at such a high speed, a class 3 pedal assisted e-bike that can reach a top speed of 28 mph is rarely, if ever,  driven at that speed.

The law does not differentiate between ICE and electric motor vehicles whose top speed can be as high as 160 mph and those whose top speed is 120 mph. 

Some people have challenges that prevent them from obtaining an automobile license and rely on pedal-assisted e-bikes without a throttle for transportation.

Lower income individuals whose only form of transportation is an e-bike may not be able to afford registration and liability insurance.

The following are notes about e-bike regulations I presented at the kick-meeting:

Excerpts from E Bike Requirements Update: S4834/A6235 affecting MAFW members

• Eliminates prior e bike classification system, I.e. class 1, 2, 3
• Low speed electric bicycle: “2 wheeled vehicle, with fully operated pedals, that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling, and that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 20 miles per hour”; provides assistance when the rider is pedaling and has a maximum speed between 21 miles per hour and 28 miles 3 per hour on a flat surface ; “Motorized bicycle” means a pedal bicycle that is equipped with a helper motor characterized in that either the maximum piston displacement is less than 50 cubic  centimeters or the helper motor is rated at no more than 1.5 brake horsepower; or (2) an electric motor that can provide  assistance when the rider is pedaling or that, through the use of a  throttle, can be used to exclusively propel the bicycle to a speed of not more than 15 miles per hour; (3) a helper motor that is powered by an electric drive motor that provides assistance when the rider is pedaling and has a maximum speed of 21 miles per hour and 28 miles per hour on a flat surface; or (4) or an electric motor that is capable of propelling the bicycle in excess of 15 miles per hour through the use of a throttle with a maximum motor-powered speed of no more than 28 miles per hour on a flat surface.
• Regulations apply to all e bikes regardless of maximum speed capability
• Effective date is 7/1/2026
• Must be at least 15 years of age to operate an e bike
• Must hold an acceptable driver’s license
• Registration and liability insurance required
• Required documentation for registration to be determined: bill of sale, some form of affidavit
• Small number of insurers currently offering e-bike liability insurance-do a Google search
• No municipality shall limit or otherwise restrict the operation of motorized bicycles on any public roads or highways under its jurisdiction in contravention of the provisions of this act or any regulations adopted by the director pursuant thereto.
• Must carry license, registration, and proof of insurance when riding an e-bike

The club as an organization has not been an active player but I have called my reps as an e-bike owner and as President of the club.

Recommend to call your state representatives and express your thoughts on the legislation.  Calls must be logged, not emails, letters.

Lots of advocacy by a variety of organizations

Looking to see all of you during the peak riding season either on rides or at club functions.

Be safe; have fun.

Best regards,

Michael