State Sen. Vince Polistina and Assemblywoman Claire Swift and Assemblyman Don Guardian, Republicans from the 2nd legislative district, said Tuesday their bill creates a safety course for Class I and II e-bikes, which have become common forms of transportation.
The lawmakers have also sought to regulate their use for safety to coexist with motor vehicles and bicycles amid growing popularity.
The announcements come as law enforcement officials have called for more regulations on e-bikes, which are seen as a cleaner, faster alternative to traditional pedal bicycles or walking. Crashes involving the motorized bikes, including cases with young riders, continue to grow just as the vehicles’ popularity, Atlantic County Prosecutor William Reynolds said following this month’s fatal crash.
The uptick in crashes involving electric bikes may be linked to their appeal as a form of transportation that can reach speeds uncommon for regular bicycle riders, Reynolds said. Some bikes, he said, can reach speeds between 20 and 30 mph.
“Teens are naturally impulsive,” Reynolds said in a statement following the fatal crash. “They tend to overestimate their ability and underestimate risk. They may choose not to wear a helmet to look cool. They may not see a blind curve, misjudge an oncoming car’s speed, or understand the rules of the road.”
The 2nd district lawmakers will draft the bill using feedback from law enforcement, Polistina said. It likely won’t be introduced at the Statehouse until the Lame Duck period, which falls after this year’s general election.
The senator envisions fines for riders who don’t hold certifications from the courses, he said.
“We’re talking to the legislative services about something similar to what we do with boating safety,” Polistina, D-2nd Dist., told NJ Advance Media. “So, you have those companies that provide the safety courses for boating. It would be safety courses for the e-bikes. At the end of that, you get a certificate, which certifies that you have met the training and passed the courses, and then that gives you the ability to operate one of these e-bikes.”
E-bikes, which are battery-powered bicycles, should be regulated like mopeds and scooters, the legislative team says. Being from the Jersey Shore, the lawmakers repeatedly hear complaints of reckless riding on local boardwalks and bike paths, Polistina said.
The fatality of the teen rider, an Egg Harbor Township resident, on July 17 in Somers Point, underpins the case for stronger laws governing the bikes’ use, the lawmakers argue.
“There are no other motorized vehicles that you can legally operate on land or on our waterways that do not require some type of certification or licensing,” said Swift, who previously served as deputy attorney general, said in a statement.
Meanwhile, two towns in the lawmakers’ district, Brigantine and Somers Point, announced plans to “immediately” increase enforcement laws. Their plan comes as the county’s population swells amid the summer tourist season at the shore.
“While e-bikes and bikes are a convenient and eco-friendly way to get around, we have seen a rise in unsafe and illegal use, especially in high-traffic areas,” Brigantine police wrote on their Facebook page. “Our goal is to keep everyone safe — pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists alike.
Riders of electric-powered bikes must follow New Jersey’s traffic laws, which regulate traditional bicycle use, including traveling with the flow of traffic and obeying laws for cars, according to the state’s Department of Transportation. State law requires helmets for riders under the age of 17.
Trenton lawmakers have worked on ways to better govern their use. A separate bill, A3359, would require riders to register and insure their e-bikes through the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, standardizing them similarly to automobiles.
It was introduced in the last legislative session but failed to advance after advocates argued the legislation would be a disadvantage for low-income people, who often consider e-bikes more affordable than owning a car. Insurance companies also raised concerns about tailoring coverage plans to battery-powered bicycles.
©2025 Advance Local Media LLC, Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
