"The bill, S4834/ A6235, requires cyclists to register any class of electric bicycle with New Jersey's Motor Vehicle Commission - the Garden State's version of the DMV - and obtain liability insurance for class 2 electric bicycles. The legislation's smooth passage through Trenton drew alarm from cycling advocates, who successfully lobbied against an even more backwards version of the legislation that would have applied its requirements to bikeshare networks."
"In October, the bill's sponsor, State Senate president Nicholas Scutari (D-Union County), told reporters that he wanted to do something to rein in e-bikes after high-profile crashes involving them - even though in all instances the victims of the crashes were e-bike riders and the perpetrator of the road violence was a driver. Nonetheless, Scutari cited three cases: a truck driver who killed a 13-year-old boy in Scotch Plains; a motorist who hit and killed a 22-year-old in Orange; and a teenage hit-and-run driver who killed two teen girls."
New Jersey legislators are preparing to vote on S4834/A6235, a bill that would force owners of all classes of electric bicycles to register with the Motor Vehicle Commission and require liability insurance for Class 2 e-bikes. A modified version passed an Appropriations Committee and exempts bikeshare systems, but advocates warn the remaining requirements create a heavy burden for current e-bike owners. Sponsor Nicholas Scutari cited several fatal crashes when proposing the measure, though the cited incidents involved drivers killing e-bike riders. Cycling advocates argue the policy targets light, low-speed bicycles rather than addressing driver-caused road violence.
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