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A Law for E-Bikes, but What About E-Scooters?

 

 

Isaac Shadpour

As if the irony could not be any greater, I just watched a young bachur speed past on an electric scooter as I sit outside on a beautiful Sunday afternoon writing these words.. Watching him disappear down the road, I can not help but think that scarcely a day goes by without reports of yet another accident, near-miss, or frightening incident involving electric scooters and electric bicycles.

Pictures of mangled e-scooters have become an increasingly common sight in the news, emergency responders are regularly called to scenes across New Jersey, and many residents have grown concerned about the speed and lack of oversight surrounding these vehicles. Beginning July 20, New Jersey will usher in sweeping new regulations aimed at bringing greater accountability to electric bicycles. But even as local police prepare to implement the changes, one major question remains: Why were electric scooters left out?

Lakewood Police Chief Gregory Meyer says the department’s approach will focus first on education rather than punishment.

“We’re all about educating the public, making sure the kids are wearing their helmets,” Meyer told The Voice in an interview. “We’re not starting a crackdown. As we encounter people, we’ll just be educating them about the new law because a lot of people probably haven’t heard about it.”

Under the new state law, riders must be at least 15 years old to operate an electric bicycle. Riders aged 15 and 16 will need a special motorized bicycle license, while those 17 and older must possess a valid driver’s license. E-bikes will also be required to be registered with the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission and carry liability insurance.

One of the biggest questions surrounding the new law is how police will be able to determine whether an e-bike is properly registered. According to Chief Meyer, the state has devised a simple solution. “The state is giving out stickers when you register your electric bicycle, and they’ll be placed on the front forks so they’ll be visible to officers,” Meyer explained.

Despite the lengthy list of new requirements, Meyer stressed that residents should not expect random checkpoints or widespread ticket writing. “Our goal is to educate first,” he said. “We’re not going out looking to write tickets or looking to blitz people. We just want to get people educated so they’re able to comply.”

That educational effort will take center stage during Lakewood’s National Night Out event in August, which will focus heavily on electric bicycle safety this year. “We’re going to be doing helmet giveaways and reflector vest giveaways,” Meyer said. “It’s going to be geared toward safety and this new law.”

Still, the chief acknowledged that enforcement may become necessary in serious situations.

 

“If there’s an accident, we may have to take enforcement-type action,” he said. “People are going to be held accountable for their actions now riding these electric bicycles. It’s not going to be a free-for-all anymore.”

The chief noted that many of the crashes police encounter are the result of dangerous riding behavior.

“So many of these accidents that we’re seeing are from people riding against traffic or running through intersections and not stopping,” Meyer said. “That’s happening on e-scooters as well as e-bikes.”

While the law was designed to address motorized bicycles, both Meyer and this author expressed surprise that lawmakers chose not to include electric scooters, particularly at a time when incidents involving them seem to make headlines almost daily.

“I was kind of surprised that they didn’t bundle the e-scooters into the law,” Meyer said. “They had the perfect opportunity.”

Meyer believes the omission may eventually be corrected. “I think at some point you’re going to see the state realize that they missed [their] chance,” he noted. “Some of these e-scooters are very fast too. These are not kid toys.”

He added, “You may see the state revisit it and say we need to get a handle on these.”

Indeed, many residents have noticed that some electric scooters are capable of reaching speeds that rival those of small motorcycles; unlike electric bicycles, however, they currently do not require registration, insurance, or licensing under the new law.

Questions also remain regarding the use of low-speed electric scooters on sidewalks. State law gives municipalities discretion over whether scooters with maximum speeds of 19 miles per hour may operate on sidewalks. Meyer said he has not yet heard of any plans by township officials to address the issue but intends to raise the matter with local leaders.

Chief Meyer also pointed out that speed limits apply to electric bicycles just as they do to motor vehicles. “They can’t go over the posted speed limit,” Meyer said. “If it’s a 25-mile-an-hour zone for a car, the same [applies] for an e-bike. Some of these things go pretty fast.”
Meyer acknowledged that enforcing the new requirements will not be simple, especially as officers juggle accidents and other urgent calls. “This is a tough law for enforcement,” he said. “Officers are busy enough right now running around between accidents and other calls for service.”

For now, the message from Lakewood Police is clear: When it comes to the new law involving e-bikes, the emphasis will be on education, helmets, and safe riding habits. But with accidents involving e-scooters continuing to make headlines with alarming frequency, many observers believe that lawmakers may soon find themselves back at the drawing board. As Chief Meyer put it, “It’s the lawmakers that need to help us out.”

 

 

 The chief noted that many of the crashes police encounter are the result of dangerous riding behavior

 

Whether New Jersey’s new e-bike law will ultimately lead to fewer accidents and safer roads remains an open question, one that will begin to be answered when the law takes effect on July 20. In this author’s opinion, however, parents should not wait for Trenton to act when it comes to e-scooters. If you truly care about your children, there is no reason to wait for lawmakers to eventually impose restrictions on electric scooters. Come this Motzei Shabbos, take that electric scooter that you purchased for your child, or perhaps was won as a prize or received as a gift, and remove it from use. Dispose of it properly and in accordance with applicable regulations. In fact, one cannot simply throw it in the trash, since the lithium-ion batteries found in many of these devices can pose both a fire hazard and an environmental hazard if discarded improperly.

E-scooters are particularly dangerous because they combine speed with instability and virtually no protection for the rider. Their small wheels and high center of gravity make them susceptible to potholes, cracks, and sudden stops, which can easily throw a rider over the handlebars. Many users are children or teenagers with little knowledge of traffic laws and no formal training, and they often ride without helmets. Capable of reaching speeds of 15 to 20 miles per hour or more, e-scooters leave riders exposed to severe injuries, including traumatic brain injuries and fractures. Whether sharing the road with cars or weaving through pedestrians on sidewalks, e-scooters place riders in situations where even a split-second mistake can have devastating consequences.

In fact, Hatzolah of Central Jersey issued a message just last week imploring parents not to allow their children to become the next statistic. “Hatzolah has responded to more than 50 calls in the last three months involving e-scooters,” the organization warned.

Parents should not wait for another tragedy or another law. They have the power, and the responsibility, to act today.