Senator Vince Polistina, Assemblyman Don Guardian, and Assemblywoman Claire Swift of Atlantic County have announced plans to strengthen safety requirements for e-bike operators following the recent death of a teenager in Egg Harbor Township.
“First and foremost, our condolences are with the Sullivan family in the wake of this unspeakable tragedy,” Senator Polistina said. “As we see an increased use of these types of electric bicycles, so too do we see an increase in accidents.”
After the July 17th incident, the legislators’ office received several inquiries from residents and local officials regarding current e-bike laws and potential legislative solutions. “After some initial research, it was clear that New Jersey does not offer proper safety instruction for these young riders,” Polistina added. “In working with the Office of Legislative Services, we are drafting a bill to create an operator’s safety course for Class I and Class II e-bike operators.”
Assemblyman Guardian noted that e-bikes can reach speeds up to twenty miles per hour—nearly double that of traditional bicycles—and argued they should be regulated similarly to scooters and mopeds. “These e-bikes have the ability to carry a rider up to twenty miles an hour, nearly twice the average speed of a traditional bike,” explained Guardian. “As the speed increases, so does the need for knowledge about how to safely operate an e-bike.”
Assemblywoman Swift pointed out that other motorized vehicles require certification or licensing before operation. “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,” explained former NJ Deputy Attorney General, Assemblywoman Claire Swift. “We do this to ensure responsible operation and keep everyone safe on the roads. We need to provide the same for our e-bikers.”
The lawmakers expect their draft legislation will be ready within two weeks and plan to introduce it when the legislature reconvenes after summer recess.
