NJ bill would require low-speed e-bikes to be registered, insured

JERSEY CITY, N.J. (PIX11) - Whether you're on one, or one is coming to you, e-bikes are part of the fabric of places like Jersey City.

Many who use e-bikes are worried a new bill in Trenton could force them to take a detour.

"It becomes more complicated to do this job now for many delivery drivers," said New York City delivery worker Antonio Solis, speaking through a translator.

A coalition of dozens of groups representing bikers and delivery workers rallied at Grundy Park Wednesday in opposition of the Senate bill. If it were to become law, all low-speed e-bikes and e-scooters in the Garden State would have to be registered to the Motor Vehicle Commission and have insurance coverage.

Karin Vanoppen is a mom living with a heart defect who needed a flexible job and said the extra oomph an e-bike provides allows her to do the job.

"It just helps me … up the hill a little bit, and we have a bunch of them in Jersey City," said Vanoppen, "and it makes it so you can do your work maybe a little faster."

"The cost of this insurance would amount to what my bike has cost," added Vanoppen, "so it doesn't add up."

Members of the coalition said not only would the increased cost hurt riders, it would also discourage people from using more environmentally-friendly transportation.

The bill's sponsor, Democrat and Senate President Nicholas Scutari, did not offer comment to PIX11 News about the legislation, but the latest version of the bill mentions several times the intention to insure owners of e-bikes from accident liability.

"You can think of a million mobility devices where people crash and get hurt - skateboards, biking, even walking," said Corey Hannigan of the Tri-State Transportation Campaign, "but we don't require insurance for that, right?"

"The intention should be on what can we do to address traffic violence and traffic fatalities in New Jersey," said Emmanuelle Morgan of Hudson County Complete Streets, "not on getting low-speed e-bikes that max out at 20 miles per hour registered with [MVC]."

The bill has been referred to the Senate Budget and Appropriations committee.