tomhawk
Senior Member
If you are in the market for an e-bike, you should be aware of some legal developments concerning them. New Jersey is the first state to enact some laws about e-bikes that may soon spread to other states. These laws require licensing and insurance for e-bikes. They extend the requirements that powerfull e-bikes be excluded from bike paths. They put age limits on users of e-bikes.
This legislation is, in part, stimulated by reports of accidents, injuries and deaths involving powerful e-bikes ridden by younger teens and riders travelling at high speeds not previously encountered on bike paths and sidewalks.
Some manufacturers have tried to cash in on the growing popularity of e-bikes by cynically adding pedals to powerful electric motorcycles so they appear to qualify as e-bikes. These have been termed electric motorcycles masquerading as e-bikes. These vehicles are definitely popular with some people since they are fast and don't require pedalling. People are parking and riding these motorcycles in places meant only for bicycles and pedestrians.
It would seem likely that increased numbers of e-motorcycles, posing as e-bikes, riding at high speed on bike paths will make bike paths unusable for ordinary non electric bicycles. These new laws are meant to prevent this. If you plan to ride a powerful e-bike on a public bike path, you soon might be breaking the law. Keep this in mind when you think about buying these powerful e-motorcycles.
In contrast, the low power, pedal-assist e-bikes allow lower effort transportation without excessive speed for people who otherwise would not ride a bike.
I would hope that these low power e-bikes can still be legally used on bike paths.
This legislation is, in part, stimulated by reports of accidents, injuries and deaths involving powerful e-bikes ridden by younger teens and riders travelling at high speeds not previously encountered on bike paths and sidewalks.
Some manufacturers have tried to cash in on the growing popularity of e-bikes by cynically adding pedals to powerful electric motorcycles so they appear to qualify as e-bikes. These have been termed electric motorcycles masquerading as e-bikes. These vehicles are definitely popular with some people since they are fast and don't require pedalling. People are parking and riding these motorcycles in places meant only for bicycles and pedestrians.
It would seem likely that increased numbers of e-motorcycles, posing as e-bikes, riding at high speed on bike paths will make bike paths unusable for ordinary non electric bicycles. These new laws are meant to prevent this. If you plan to ride a powerful e-bike on a public bike path, you soon might be breaking the law. Keep this in mind when you think about buying these powerful e-motorcycles.
In contrast, the low power, pedal-assist e-bikes allow lower effort transportation without excessive speed for people who otherwise would not ride a bike.
I would hope that these low power e-bikes can still be legally used on bike paths.
