In June, the NJ State Legislature adjourned for the summer without a reform bill for the punitive e-bike law that was signed by former Governor Murphy. Registration began on June 30th. So, for now, the law as it stands remains in effect. As many news outlets and nearly every police force in the state have made crystal clear, enforcement begins on Sunday, July 19. We continue to work to rescind this poorly designed law. If you want to keep up with the latest updates on the e-bike situation in New Jersey, please visit the E-bike Resource Center managed by the NJ Bike and Walk Coalition.
Don’t forget to look up and call your state Senator and Legislators and tell them to fix this law. Find your legislator here.
Out-of-State Visitors: MVC Posts that You Need to Register Your E-Bike Too. But How?
The law states that out-of-state residents are not subject to the law so long as they are compliant with their own state laws. However, the MVC has updated its website to inform out-of-state residents that they need to come into an NJ MVC and register their bicycle. From what we understand, out-of-state residents who are temporarily living in NJ (college, military, seasonal residents) can register a vehicle (such as an e-bike) if they present proof of residency. If you do try to register your e-bike in New Jersey, remember that you will need to obtain liability insurance for throttle-assisted e-bikes. Or ride with caution given the contradictory information the MVC is providing on its website. To date, only a small percentage of e-bike owners have registered their bicycles.
Reporting Your NJ E-Bike Compliance Experience
To help track issues and concerns and unintended outcomes of the implementation of the law, we have created the New Jersey E-bike Enforcement Report Map, an interactive community map that documents and tracks issues related to New Jersey’s strict e-bike enforcement policies. The map serves as a crowdsourced database where residents can report their experiences with the state’s new e-bike regulations. Concurrently, the NJ Bike and Walk Coalition has created a Google Form that allows you to share your own story on how the e-bike law is affecting you.
How to Add a Data Point to the Map
- Click on the “Menu” option button on the map
- Select “Add Point”, which allows you to add a new data point.
- Select your Issue.
- Once selected, users are prompted to complete a survey form that documents their specific enforcement-related issue or experience.
The Survey Categories:
Registration Issues
This category allows users to report issues related to e-bike registration and insurance requirements. Registration began in late June. As expected, there has been confusion at the MVC, which was directed by the legislature to create a registration process for 300,000+ bicycles and mopeds in a very short time frame. Given New Jersey’s mandate that all e-bikes must be registered and licensed (and that motorized bicycles also require insurance), this category captures problems people encounter during the registration process, delays, fees, insurance, or compliance challenges.
Traffic Stops
Users can document law enforcement encounters during traffic stops for e-bike violations or registration compliance. This category captures the enforcement actions themselves and helps map where and how frequently such stops occur.
County or Local Micromobility Ban
This category covers local ordinances or municipal-level restrictions on e-bikes that go beyond or conflict with state regulations. Counties or municipalities may have their own bans or restrictions, including local e-mobility bans on regional trails. This category allows residents to report where these local policies are being enforced.
E-Scooter or E-moto Issues
Any issue that involves an e-scooter or an e-moto and was not a traffic stop should be reported here.
Click Here to Expand the Map