New laws E-Bikes
#1
NJ just announced its new laws on E-bikes. The basics are you need to be 17, have a license, registration and insurance. There are some exceptions for kids as young as 15 with slower vehicles. Whats your thoughts?
#2
Kids flying around on these things like crazy, saw one almost get taken out the other day by a driver who didn't see the kid flying up on them (and I wouldn't have blamed the driver). I don't know the answer but I'd hate to be the driver who plows one of these kids flying around, the blame would be totally on the driver, guess the pedal is dead now...too much effort.
#3
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 7,318
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From: Merritt Island, FL
We have had a few get in wrecks. I hate to see a law and blame it a bit on parents not telling kids.
But it is crazy, some of these are basically electric motorcycles and kids are riding in the street and on sidewalks with NO idea of any traffic laws. In Orlando they have been showing videos when school lets out and there are dozens of them riding down streets and not stopping at traffic lights etc. There have been a few that T boned cars because they just went through the red light and right into the car.
I have to be a minimum age and have both a drivers LC and motorcycle endorsement, why should they be exempt?
But it is crazy, some of these are basically electric motorcycles and kids are riding in the street and on sidewalks with NO idea of any traffic laws. In Orlando they have been showing videos when school lets out and there are dozens of them riding down streets and not stopping at traffic lights etc. There have been a few that T boned cars because they just went through the red light and right into the car.
I have to be a minimum age and have both a drivers LC and motorcycle endorsement, why should they be exempt?
#4
I have no idea what the answer is for these annoying things is. At a minimum if they can go a speed above 10mph then they need some sort of lisc and training and follow all the same rules as everyone else on the road if they are on the street. Ive seen ALOT of them running around at close to 30+mph with no lights, no helmets, no reflective gear etc and on the street in the dark at like 9pm! just an accident waiting to happen....dont get me started on how they dont feel the need to stop at lights or stop signs either!
The rest of the slower ones should stay on the sidewalks...period...no street riding at all.
The rest of the slower ones should stay on the sidewalks...period...no street riding at all.
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-Wally
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-Wally
Money can't buy happiness, but it can buy horsepower. And I've never seen a sad person hauling a$$!
#6
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Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 103
Likes: 40
Getting ridiculous in chi town. Started with ebikes, now they ride full blown gas mx bikes right down the street. Nobody seems to know the law. I have asked police and get shrugged off. All 3 of my boys race mx, never would I let them ride on the street. I see the brothers riding kx 80 past police on lakefront trail. Oh yea can't offend the brothers. Insurance needed required at the very least and no street riding.
#7
They are not the original pedal assisted electric bikes of the past. They are basically electric motorcycles with pedals. I hate laws, but they morphed into motorcycle territory and need to looked as such. I ride electric scooters and s#it, they run 40+ mph now. I should be regulated on them, lol
#8
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 412
Likes: 569
From: New Smyrna Beach FL/ LOTO MM 21
I hate that the kids can't have fun with them, (wish they were around when I was 12), but they are a 100% liability to licensed and insured drivers and shouldn't be running around on the roads. My neighbors boy is 7 years old and I saw him 10 miles from the house with some older kids last weekend (mom wasn't impressed when I called to report his location). Its like turning 16 early and having no liability. His goes 35 mph and looks like a little motocross bike. Its a KTM SX E5 and is really cool-you can see them on youtube.
Joe
Joe
Last edited by JPEROG; 01-22-2026 at 07:53 PM.
#10
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 412
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From: New Smyrna Beach FL/ LOTO MM 21
Its the parents fault, the older kids who he was with are at fault, its little Brian's fault. Bottom line is that fault doesn't matter. We used to get in trouble for being gone on our bikes any further then we could hear the bell ring (today kids have cell phones as a bell, bicycles suck compared to this thing he has-different world). These electric bikes make the neighborhood really small. I just don't want to be driving the truck that these guys get run over by.
Joe
Joe






