Consider Electric Options.
Join the electric revolution. Powered by an electric battery, you can increase your speed, decrease your effort, and have fun.
Best of all, you get to reduce your carbon footprint.
This is especially true if your power source is from a renewable energy provider, solar installation or other renewable energy.
Electric bicycles, or e-bikes, come in a few different styles. Pedal-assist bikes provide extra power when you pedal, while throttle bicycles have a throttle that propels the bike forward. Combination e-bikes utilize both the throttle and pedal-assist modes.
According to New Jersey law, low-speed e-bikes — those with a motor less than 750 watts and a maximum speed of 20 mph — must follow the rules and regulations of traditional bikes.
In contrast, high-speed e-bikes — those that can achieve speeds between 20 and 28 mph — are considered motorized bicycles in New Jersey. As with gas-powered bicycles, these require a license, registration, and insurance.
Local bike stores such as Jay’s Cycle, Kopp’s Cycle, Pedego Princeton, and Sourland Cycles offer different e-bikes, while Princeton E-bikes focuses exclusively on electric bikes.
In New Jersey, only low-speed electric scooters with a floorboard, handlebars, and a maximum speed of 19 mph, are permitted. As with low-speed e-bikes, these e-scooters must comply with the laws and regulations of traditional bikes.
Either way, let’s learn from other cities. Be safe and considerate of others when riding, scooting, or parking, and please wear a helmet.
Did you know?
Yes, they’re legal. In May 2019, new state legislation clarified the rules for e-bikes and e-scooters.
Get out there. One study showed that e-bikes enourage frequent ridership and replace some car trips.
Zoom, zoom. New Jersey is already seeing an influx of scooter and bicycle rental companies. Asbury Park has a scooter share program through LINK scooters, and cities like Hoboken and Jersey City have each launched e-scooter pilots in past few years.
