New Jersey towns are drafting stricter rules surrounding electric bicycles, colloquially known as e-bikes, after a string of crashes, some of which were fatal, have raised alarms among both parents and officials.
In Scotch Plains, a 13-year-old boy was struck and killed by a landscaping truck while riding an e-bike. Days later, a 22-year-old man died in Orange when he crossed into oncoming traffic. The tragedies followed a summer filled with close calls, including a widely shared video from Montvale showing a teenager crashing into the side of a car and flipping onto its roof.
Police and local officials say the accidents point to a growing safety problem. E-bikes, which can reach speeds upward of 25 mph, are increasingly popular with teenagers who are either to young to drive a car or lack the formal training on road rules. National sales topped $1.7 million in 2024 and children without cars are now using them to commute to school or work.
In Morris County, the town of Florham Park recently enacted one of the strictest ordinances in New Jersey. The rules ban e-bikes and scooters from sidewalks, require helmets for riders under 17 and direct all riders to obey common traffic laws. Violators can face fines starting at $250. Parents of underage riders could face penalties up to $1,000 after repeated offenses. Police say the aim is to protect the community and not to punish.
State officials have moved swiftly to clarify rules around e-bikes. A law signed by Gov. Phil Murphy distinguishes between slower pedal-assist and throttle e-bikes, which are regulated like bicycles, and higher-speed e-bikes, which require licensing, registration and insurance. Another measure expanded driver education courses to include cyclist and pedestrian safety after traffic fatalities in New Jersey jumped 14% from 2023 to 2024.
At the federal level, Rep. Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) introduced legislation that would push for nationwide e-bike safety standards and provide funding to states for education programs.
Experts note that crashes aren’t related to a single culprit. Instead, they often result from a mix of factors, including road design, traffic speeds and lack of proper road training.
Local leaders are trying to balance the benefits of e-bikes with the risks. E-bikes stand as an affordable transportation option, but also increase the amount of inexperienced riders on crowded roads. Authorities continue to stress caution and proper training before children specifically take their e-bikes out for a ride.
The New Jersey Digest is a new jersey magazine that has chronicled daily life in the Garden State for over 10 years.