Former New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy signed legislation early this year mandating regulations for electric bicycles that will be effective starting in July.
A low-speed e-bike, according to the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, is a two-wheeled bicycle with pedals where the motor assists only while a rider pedals and ceases when the bicycle reaches 20 miles per hour. A motorized bicycle is a pedal bicycle that is throttle capable of assisted speeds up to 28 miles per hour.
Key e-bike requirements are as follows: Riders must be at least 15 years old and possess a valid driver’s license, e-bike license or e-bike permit; all e-bike owners must carry liability insurance coverage – similar to motor vehicles – and must be registered with the motor vehicle commission; and they must wear a helmet, regardless of age.
For an e-bike license, riders must schedule a road test and practice operating, unsupervised and during daylight hours, for 45 days. After passing the test, riders obtain their e-bike license at a commission’s licensing center.
All changes create consistent standards statewide, improve safety and enforce responsible use on the roadways. Moorestown’s Cyclist, Pedestrian and Traffic Safety Committee is looking at options for how e-bikes and bicycles can safely move around, according to Police Director Patrick Reilly.
Some complaints that the police have received from residents about e-bikes include excessive speed, riders on the wrong side of the road or on the sidewalks and riders not wearing helmets.
“There’s a prevalence here of them, so what we’re trying to do is put a system in place where pedestrians are safe, e-bike (riders) understand what the regulations are and are adhering to those regulations on the road,” Reilly said.
With the state’s new requirements, there are a lot of moving parts in trying to get a system out for everyone to understand, he explained, but the goal is to have something concrete within the next month or two. The police department is also considering the idea of having SROs and/or community officers visit the township’s middle and high schools to addresses changes and expectations.
The department will also keep residents informed with social media updates. But the important thing, Reilly noted, is that all riders need to wear a helmet because it’s simply a safety issue that he wants them to understand.
“It’s necessary and it’s a safety precaution to have that helmet on,” he explained. “ … If they (riders) get a warning or an actual summons, it clicks, and now going forward, the behavior will change … Our guys… don’t want to be the bad guys giving kids tickets, but if their behavior is such that it’s dangerous, something must be done to stop that exposure to the danger, but also, get a message through: ‘Don’t do this.’
“We want to be more educational than we do institutionally issuing a summons.”
For updates on e-bike requirements, visit the police department’s social media.
