NJ E-Bike Law: Day 229 - The Crash Data Tells a Different Story

We are still fighting New Jersey's e-bike law, and one of the biggest things we need to focus on right now is understanding what kinds of electric vehicles are actually involved in serious crashes.

There is still so much confusion about the difference between a traditional low-speed e-bike and a higher-powered electric motorcycle, often referred to as an e-moto or electric dirt bike.

What Are We Actually Fighting For?

We are not fighting for kids under 15 to be able to freely ride electric motorcycles in the street.

What we are fighting for is a better understanding of the difference between an e-bike and an e-moto. Not every electric two-wheeled vehicle is the same, and they should not all be treated as if they are.

This distinction matters because many of the serious crashes and fatalities we hear about are reported in the media as involving an "e-bike." But when we look more closely at the vehicles involved, we are finding that some are actually higher-powered e-motos rather than low-speed e-bikes.

Looking at the Actual Crash Data

We are trying to gather the data so that we can better understand what is actually happening.

Every time there is a fatality or a serious accident involving what is being called an e-bike, I file an OPRA request. OPRA stands for the Open Public Records Act, and anyone can use it to request certain government records in New Jersey.

For each crash, we are collecting information such as:

• The date and location of the crash
• The age of the rider involved
• Whether it resulted in a fatality or serious injury
• How the vehicle was described in the media
• How the vehicle was identified in the reports
• Make, model, and other identifying information when available
• Photographs of the vehicle when we can obtain them

We can then compare what the vehicle was called in the media with what the records and photographs show it actually was.

E-Bike or E-Moto?

So far, we have found examples where a vehicle was described as an "e-bike" in media coverage, but the information and photographs we received showed a vehicle that appeared to be an e-moto.

Thankfully, we are starting to see some reporters use terms like e-moto and electric dirt bike in their articles and headlines instead of calling every electric two-wheeler an e-bike.

That difference is incredibly important.

These higher-powered vehicles can often be identified by features such as knobby tires, large batteries, different fender designs, and visible suspension components. They are very different from the low-speed e-bikes that many people use every day for transportation, mobility, and recreation.

What About Low-Speed E-Bike Riders?

Our concern is that the current law has placed additional requirements on people riding lower-speed electric bicycles, while the serious safety problems we are trying to understand may involve very different types of electric vehicles.

This is why we continue to push lawmakers to revisit the law and look closely at the actual crash data.

And this issue affects far more than recreational riders.

It affects people with disabilities. It affects lower-income riders who rely on e-bikes for transportation. It affects restaurant workers who use bikes to get to work. It affects tourism, bike rentals, bike shops, and other businesses throughout New Jersey.

We Need More Organizations to Get Involved

Our group of advocates still meets every Tuesday, and we are getting energized for the upcoming legislative session.

But we are a small group, and we have done as much as we can do on our own. Now it is time to bring more organizations into this effort.

We are reaching out to groups including:

• Disability advocacy organizations
• Tourism organizations
• Restaurant and hospitality associations
• Transportation and mobility groups
• Health organizations
• Business and industry trade groups

Who do you know?

If you know someone involved in public policy at one of these organizations, or another organization that should understand how this law is affecting New Jersey residents and businesses, please help put us in touch.

Educate, Educate, Educate

Right now, one of the most important things all of us can do is educate, educate, educate.

When someone hears about an accident involving an "e-bike," we need to ask what kind of vehicle was actually involved. Was it really a low-speed e-bike, or was it an e-moto or electric dirt bike?

We are going to continue gathering public records, documenting these crashes, looking at the data, educating the public, and working with organizations that can help us bring these concerns to lawmakers.

The terminology matters. The data matters. And understanding the difference between an e-bike and an e-moto matters.

📂 This update is part of our ongoing NJ E-Bike Law series.
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