New Jersey Would Be Foolish To Require E-Bike Insurance & Registration

[PedalUma]

What about families who have sold a car and invested in a pedal assisted cargo bike? They are doing everything right, going green. Just ban throttles, except for the disabled. Throttles are easy to remove. The poor pedaling position of mopeds will make them useless. And it bans eMotos without pedals.

 

[Mr. Coffee]

What about families who have sold a car and invested in a pedal assisted cargo bike? They are doing everything right, going green. Just ban throttles, except for the disabled. Throttles are easy to remove. The poor pedaling position of mopeds will make them useless. And it bans eMotos without pedals.

I don't disagree. If it were my choice alone I'd argue that "Class 1" e-bikes (possibly with more specific motor wattage restrictions, and possibly with total weight restrictions) ought to be treated as bicycles.

But you can't or won't want to make that argument here. You'll want to make it in Sacramento. And I am not convinced this battle is winnable in 2026. It might have been winnable in 2021 or 2022.

 

[Gionnirocket]

What about families who have sold a car and invested in a pedal assisted cargo bike? They are doing everything right, going green. Just ban throttles, except for the disabled. Throttles are easy to remove. The poor pedaling position of mopeds will make them useless. And it bans eMotos without pedals.

View attachment 205493

I have a 1000w and a throttle and use it responsibly. I don't need to justify it's use to you or anyone else. Just as I have a sports car capable of +150mph it's action that needs to be restricted, not hardware. It's close minded alarmist comments like this that are causing the problem. Just as legislators don't understand ebikes fully... You're not far behind.
Anywho...
I see this as Jay walking... Police will enforce it minimally and I'm not worried in the least.

 

[6zfshdb]

What about families who have sold a car and invested in a pedal assisted cargo bike? They are doing everything right, going green. Just ban throttles, except for the disabled. Throttles are easy to remove. The poor pedaling position of mopeds will make them useless. And it bans eMotos without pedals.

View attachment 205493

I agree. In theory, banning throttles should work. The problem is, these E-moto bikes are already illegal for road / trail use in most locations. The "kids" ride them anyway and will continue to do so, law or no law. The bike makers claim they are for off road use on private property and an anti throttle law does not apply.

The unfortunate folks who sold their car will just have to register & insure their new e-bike. The saving grace is, it will likely be cheaper.

​

 

[Mr. Coffee]

I have a 1000w and a throttle and use it responsibly. I don't need to justify it's use to you or anyone else. Just as I have a sports car capable of +150mph it's action that needs to be restricted, not hardware. It's close minded alarmist comments like this that are causing the problem. Just as legislators don't understand ebikes fully... You're not far behind.
Anywho...
I see this as Jay walking... Police will enforce it minimally and I'm not worried in the least.

Let me know how that works out for you. The large fines specified in the NJ laws make e-bike enforcement a revenue center for local police departments. And it is very easy to portray e-bike owners in a negative light.

 

[Gionnirocket]

Let me know how that works out for you. The large fines specified in the NJ laws make e-bike enforcement a revenue center for local police departments. And it is very easy to portray e-bike owners in a negative light.

Just as I have no driving violations with my car... I ride my bike the same way.
Besides I'm in NY

. . . and you gonna have to catch me first.

 

[PedalUma]

Here is the law in Marin County:

Key Marin County E-Bike Regulations

• Age Restriction: Riders under 16 are prohibited from using Class 2 (throttle) and Class 3 (up to 28 mph) e-bikes.
• Helmets: Mandatory for all ages.
• Class 1 E-Bikes: Allowed for all ages; provides assistance only while pedaling, up to 20 mph.
• Class 2 E-Bikes: Restricted to 16+; features a throttle, max 20 mph.
• Class 3 E-Bikes: Restricted to 16+; max 28 mph, allowed only on roadways, not multi-use paved pathways.
• Pathways/Speed: 15 mph speed limit on County-maintained pathways (some areas 10 mph).
• Trails/Fire Roads: Class 1 e-bikes are allowed on specific Marin Water District and Golden Gate National Recreation Area unpaved roads/trails, subject to local regulations.

Penalties and Enforcement
Violations, particularly for underage riders on Class 2/3 bikes, can result in warnings or a $25 fine, along with required safety courses. The rules are heavily focused on school safety, particularly prohibiting Class 2/3 bikes for elementary and middle school students.

I would accept this in a compromise preventing a total ban.

 

[Gionnirocket]

I agree. In theory, banning throttles should work. The problem is, these E-moto bikes are already illegal for road / trail use in most locations. The "kids" ride them anyway and will continue to do so, law or no law. The bike makers claim they are for off road use on private property and an anti throttle law does not apply.

The unfortunate folks who sold their car will just have to register & insure their new e-bike. The saving grace is, it will likely be cheaper.

​

Exactly... and this is why you ban actions, not hardware.

The whole eBike Class approach for such trivial differences I find rather ridiculous.

 

[PedalUma]

Something that has really worked is that schools in Marin do not allow bikes on campus that have throttles. That, and that eMotos are being impounded when spotted in public. I think the hardware is an issue. Getting a fourteen-year-old kid a $5K motorcycle that has a QR code on it that when scanned makes it do 50 will enable a high probability of problems.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Something that has really worked is that schools in Marin do not allow bikes on campus that have throttles. That, and that eMotos are being impounded when spotted in public. I think the hardware is an issue. Getting a fourteen-year-old kid a $5K motorcycle that has a QR code on it that when scanned makes it do 50 will enable a high probability of problems.

Don't know about the throttle part, but Carlsbad's doing something similar in partnership with the local police:

o Park an ebike on campus without a school-issued permit, and the bike gets impounded.

o No permit without a certificate of completion from the police department's ebike safety course.

In addition, Carlsbad cops are actively impounding Surrons and the like with unlicensed riders or without registration for street use. That of course includes every rider under 16.

Seems to be having a positive effect.

 

[RunForTheHills]

Yes, that is the intelligent approach to the problem. But you don't have to be intelligent to be elected to a state legislature.

 

[gromike]

I'd feel lucky if I lived in New Jersey! Then those 3 mid-drive class 1 Hyper ebikes I bought from Walmart for $350 shipped might be worth something. They are gutless no-throttle bikes, and just what NJ is mandating.

 

[PedalUma]

A Happy Run has nothing to do with a Vado SL! Everything about the Happy Run is garbage. The fork will fall apart in the first ten days. The little shiny cylinder on top of the rear spring is plati-chrome and does not do anything. You can slice the outgassing tires with your thumb and it is 6,000 watts. Do not paint the two with the same brush.

 

[Gionnirocket]

WTF does that have to do with banning throttles. Minibikes and kids have been an issue since way before ebikes.
Like I said before, your attitude is part of the problem. Don't throw the baby out with the bath water.

edit: We should also ban DIY ebikes. There's lot of builds with questionable hardware, inadequate brakes and unsafe batteries built by people without the proper skillset and electrical background.
So the best solution is just ban all DIY kits as it's impossible to regulate what people slap together in their basement.

 

[gromike]

We should also ban DIY ebikes. There's lot of builds with questionable hardware, inadequate brakes and unsafe batteries built by people without the proper skillset and electrical background.

I take offense to your statement. Some of the best ebikes are DIY (and maybe some of the worst too).

As far as those cheap ebike minimotos, if the importation of hose are stopped within a couple of years we won't have a problem because they will have become garbage.

 

[Gionnirocket]

I take offense to your statement. Some of the best ebikes are DIY (and maybe some of the worst too).

As far as those cheap ebike minimotos, if the importation of hose are stopped within a couple of years we won't have a problem because they will have become garbage.

I was being facetious... My first bike was DIY and I have no issue building another.
I was trying to demonstrate to Pedal why you keep the baby and his throttle ban is not the solution

 

[Chargeride]

The questions have come up since any form of motorising bicycles were invented.
Is it illegal to be towed above max assist speed, how about a sail or a large spring that you pedal into tension for hills, maybe a kite surfer sail or a descending weight on a lever, even large magnets to 'catch' passing vehicles.
The law just has to step aside from strict definitions and presume an attempt to 'motorise' the bike outside of pedals.

 

[Gionnirocket]

The questions have come up since any form of motorising bicycles were invented.
Is it illegal to be towed above max assist speed, how about a sail or a large spring that you pedal into tension for hills, maybe a kite surfer sail or a descending weight on a lever, even large magnets to 'catch' passing vehicles.
The law just has to step aside from strict definitions and presume an attempt to 'motorise' the bike outside of pedals.

Why not legalize amphetamines and cocaina and no one will need motorized bicycles.

Then Pedal will have a legit reason to carry a torch.