The draconian New Jersey e-bike laws had exactly the effect everyone feared
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- New Jersey's e-bike law, effective July 19, requires registration for all e-bikes, an MVC licensing test for riders under 17 without a driver's license, and insurance for Class 2 throttle-equipped and Class 3 models
- Bike shops across the state are reporting e-bike sales declines ranging from 20% to 90%, with several having already laid off employees, closed rental operations, downsized, or warned they may not survive through year-end
- Disabled customers are returning newly purchased e-bikes or abandoning plans to buy them because they fear they won't qualify for licensing or insurance, with one retailer describing customers losing transportation to work or school
- Customer confusion is widespread — some buyers reportedly believe e-bikes have been banned outright, while others tell dealers they'll purchase online and ignore the requirements
- Advocacy groups and bike shops had urged lawmakers to exempt low-speed e-bikes under 20 mph from licensing, registration, and insurance, arguing a Class 2 throttle bike (15-20 mph) performs similarly to a standard Class 1 pedal-assist model
Why it matters: A law ostensibly aimed at safety is producing the opposite effect: pushing disabled riders out of transportation options, shuttering small businesses, and likely driving people back into cars. With some dealers reporting 90% sales declines and layoffs already underway, the policy's cost is being borne by the mobility-disadvantaged and local retailers — not the reckless riders it targeted.
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