New Jersey will soon have some of the strictest e-bike restrictions in the nation.
On his last full day in office, former governor Phil Murphy signed a bill to regulate electric bicycles in New Jersey, citing concerns about the rise in e-bike accidents throughout the state. These regulations will require riders to register, license, and insure electric bikes and place a one-year ban on online e-bike sales. The new law also abolishes the three-tier system the state used to classify e-bikes.
When in effect, the bill will expand regulations from only high-speed non-pedal-assist bikes to any e-bike, including lower-speed pedal-assist bikes. It will also require operators to be at least 17 years old with a valid driver’s license, or at least 15 years old with a motorized bicycle license or permit.
Riders must obtain the necessary documentation and register their vehicles with the NJ Motor Vehicle Commission by July 19. The commission will waive all examination, registration, and licensing fees for a year.
This bill follows a December Council of the Princeton University Community meeting, during which the Environmental Safety and Risk Management committee announced the possibility of changing the Personal Electric Vehicle (PEV) policy on campus.
While an official announcement has not been made regarding an updated PEV policy, University spokesperson Jennifer Morrill told the ‘Prince’ that this legislation, “along with feedback collected from the campus community,” will inform the Council’s discussions about potential policy changes.
Captain Thomas Lagomarsino of the Princeton Police Department told the ‘Prince’ that the municipality is still trying to finalize the logistics of enforcing the new law. Licensing, registration, and insurance requirements still need to be finalized, he said.
Pallavi Nuka, the president of Walk Bike Princeton and associate director of the University’s Julis-Rabinowitz Center for Public Policy and Finance, told the ‘Prince’ that she believes these regulations may disincentivize the use of sustainable transportation methods. She mentioned that she herself rides an e-bike, and considers it a convenient alternative to driving.
Nuka also addressed the impact this policy may have on those who use e-bikes for travel. “This law is going to disproportionately affect those people who rely on the e-bikes for their main needs of transportation and community,” she said.
Nuka expressed skepticism that the new law would make roads safer. “Communities would be better served by encouraging low-speed e-bikes as alternatives to cars and motorized e-bikes for short-distance trips,” she added.
A number of students also expressed distaste for the new law. Lucas Peterson ’29 shared that an e-bike makes his commute across campus easier.
“As an athlete, I have to go from upper campus all the way down to Jadwin [Gymnasium] and back. Not having an e-bike would make that so much more of a pain,” Peterson, who is on the Princeton men’s fencing team, told the ‘Prince.’
Peterson had been in an e-bike accident last semester, in which he collided with another student on an e-bike. However, he said that he believes “e-bikes are as dangerous as regular bikes.”
Kian Mitty ’29 told the ‘Prince’ in an interview that he has never encountered any trouble with an e-bike or e-bike users.
“People are pretty considerate with their e-bike usage. They mainly go on paved roads, and if they see that there’s a lot of people, they usually walk with them,” Mitty said. “It’s not a hazard to me.”
According to Morrill’s statement, updates to the policy, if any, will be announced this semester. “An educational and communication campaign will help e-bike riders navigate any changes,” she said.
Lagomarsino said that the Princeton Police Department will share information regarding the bill through social media channels and host in person information sessions once more information is released by the state and the motor vehicle commission.
The Daily Princetonian reached out to State Senator Andrew Zwicker, who voted in favor of the bill. He did not respond in time for publication.
The new bill will take effect on July 19, 2026.
Christine Woods is a staff News writer for the ‘Prince.’ She is from New York City and can be reached at cw0453[at]princeton.edu.
Please send any corrections to corrections[at]dailyprincetonian.com.
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