Following the death of a young e-bike rider in Somers Point last week, members of New Jersey’s District 2 Legislative team are seeking ways to strengthen safety requirements for e-bike operators.
A 14-year-old boy from Egg Harbor Township was injured July 17 in a crash in Somers Point between a motorized bicycle and a vehicle. He was taken to AtlantiCare Regional Trauma Center and later airlifted to Cooper University Hospital in Camden where he died the next morning.
The boy’s death prompted Atlantic County Prosecutor William Reynolds to pen an editorial asking parents to reconsider purchasing e-bikes for their children, who may not have the situational awareness to make split-second decisions in a high-risk environment.
“The growing popularity of e-bikes, electric scooters and golf carts on our roads — often operated by teenagers — presents new and significant dangers,” Reynolds wrote. “These vehicles can reach high speeds, often without the safeguards and regulations required for cars or motorcycles. And while they may appear fun and convenient, we cannot allow their novelty to blind us to the reality: they are fast, heavy, motorized machines being operated in live traffic, often by kids who are not developmentally ready for that responsibility.”
https://downbeach.com/news/2025/jul/21/atlantic-county-prosecutor-could-this-have-been-prevented/
On Sunday, a 17-year-old teen was injured in a crash with a vehicle
near the Walmart in Mays Landing. The teenager was not wearing a helmet and sustained non-life threatening injuries.
Reynolds said the state needs better policies regarding e-bikes.
“Manufacturers and retailers must do their part to educate consumers — not just sell a product,” he said.
E-bike on Ocean City boardwalkThe Ventnor City Board of Commissioners has fielded numerous complaints from city residents, mostly senior citizens, about e-bike riders whizzing by them as they try to walk on the boardwalk.
Although the commissioners have said they would review city ordinances to see if changes can be made, such as establishing a speed limit, there are several classes of e-bikes on the market, some that even seniors like to use because they are easier to ride.
The boardwalk is designed as a pedestrian pathway.
“The concern we have is the weight of the vehicle and the potential speed…in a shared space…” Mayor Tim Kriebel said.
The city has hired extra Class I officers this year to patrol the boardwalk to change the behavior of e-bike and even traditional 10-speed bike riders who are speeding, he said.
NJ Sen. Vince Polistina, Assemblyman Don Guardian and Assemblywoman Claire Swift today called for strengthening safety requirements for e-bike operators.
Polistina explained that following the July 17 accident, the District 2 Legislative Office received multiple inquiries from residents and local officials seeking explanation on the current e-bike laws and what legislative fixes could be introduced.
“After some initial research, it was clear that New Jersey does not offer proper safety instruction for these young riders,” Polistina said. “In working with the Office of Legislative Services, we are drafting a bill to create an operator’s safety course for Class I and Class II e-bike operators.”
Guardian added that e-bikes are far more dangerous than a manually pedaled bike and should be regulated more like scooters and mopeds.
“These e-bikes have the ability to carry a rider up to 20 miles an hour, nearly twice the average speed of a traditional bike,” Guardian said. “As the speed increases, so does the need for knowledge about how to safely operate an e-bike.”
“There are no other motorized vehicles that you can legally operate on land or on our waterways that do not require some type of certification or licensing,” said Swift, a former NJ Deputy Attorney General. “We do this to ensure responsible operation and keep everyone safe on the roads. We need to provide the same for our e-bikers.”
Polistina said the legislation would likely require any operator of any class of e-bike to take a mandatory safety class and obtain certification, similar to the state's Boating Safety Certificate program.
"If law enforcement stops them while riding an e-bike and they can't produce the certificate, they will be subject to a fine," he said.
Polistina said the legislative team will be drafting legislation in the next two weeks for introduction once the legislature reconvenes after the November election.
Learn more about e-bikes at https://njbikeped.org/where-can-i-ride-my-e-bike-in-new-jersey/
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