Last week, New Jersey passed the nation’s strictest law regulating e-bikes. On his way out the door before the swearing-in of Gov. Mikie Sherrill, outgoing New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy signed a bill into law requiring all e-bike riders to register their vehicles and hold a valid drivers’ license, with speedier Class 2 and 3 e-bikes requiring a vehicular insurance policy like a car or motorcycle.
Folks, this is a terrible idea.
Not only are e-bikes a viable, emerging solution for urban transportation and short trips, the insurance industry and regulatory agencies responsible for implementing this backwards policy aren’t prepared to do so. Insurance and registration requirements will almost certainly be difficult to meet even for those who want to comply, and those on the fence about trying an e-bike will likely be discouraged.
