The New E-Bike Law is Stripping Away Mobility for Riders with Disabilities
Prioritizing accessible transportation options for people with disabilities is essential for creating more inclusive and equitable communities. Reliable and accessible transportation enables individuals to travel independently to work, school, healthcare appointments, and social activities, reducing barriers to full participation in everyday life. As part of a 2021 strategic plan for people with mobility challenges, the U.S. Department of Transportation concluded that “non-vehicular transportation modes [are] key to achieving a fully accessible transportation system that promotes complete trips for all.”
Expanding transportation choices, including accessible public transit, adaptive vehicles, and e-bikes designed for people with diverse mobility needs, can promote independence, improve physical and mental well-being, and increase opportunities for employment and community engagement. As highlighted by Anna Zivarts, author of “When Driving Is Not An Option,” during her recent keynote at the 2026 New Jersey Planning and Redevelopment Conference, investing in accessible transportation options helps ensure that people with disabilities have the same opportunities to move freely, contribute to society, and maintain a high quality of life.
However, this is not currently the case in New Jersey. The state’s new e-bike law erects unnecessary barriers and obstacles that limit the use and adoption of e-bikes, despite the many mobility benefits they provide by making cycling more accessible for people with disabilities. Some of the main advantages of e-bikes include:
- Greater independence: With more stability and support than traditional bicycles, e-bikes can make it easier to commute, shop, attend appointments, or visit friends without relying on others or public transportation.
- Reduced physical effort: Electric pedal assistance helps riders tackle hills, headwinds, and longer distances with less strain. This can make cycling possible for people with limited strength, joint pain, or reduced endurance.
- Improved physical activity: Even with motor assistance, most e-bikes still require pedaling. Riders often achieve moderate exercise, which can support cardiovascular health, muscle strength, and mobility.
- Less fatigue: People with conditions such as multiple sclerosis, chronic pain, or some forms of arthritis may be able to ride farther without becoming exhausted.
- Better mental well-being: Spending time outdoors and staying active can improve mood, reduce stress, and increase confidence.
- Expanded social opportunities: Riding with family or friends becomes more achievable when the motor helps compensate for differences in fitness or mobility.
Unfortunately, the e-bike law does not provide any accommodations or exemptions for riders with disabilities. Residents who are neurodivergent or have disabilities are often unable to obtain a driver’s license. Therefore, many of these folks have long relied on e-bikes to get around safely and independently. However, the law’s requirement for e-bike users to obtain and carry a license will stop the people who rely on e-bikes the most from being able to use them.
This all means our work is far from over. We may not have achieved the changes we need to the law just yet, but the collective advocacy of the NJ E-bike Coalition has laid important groundwork for the next phase of our efforts. The Coalition is continuing to work with our elected officials to prepare new legislation for the fall, and it is important that we ALL document how this law is affecting people across NJ.
If you’ve been affected by the new law in ANY WAY, the New Jersey Bike & Walk Coalition (NJBWC) wants to hear from you. Your story will help document the law’s real-world impacts and strengthen the case for new legislation this fall. Share your stories here.
The NJ E-bike Coalition is also working to help identify where these issues are occurring and support efforts to document these statewide patterns. Have you encountered an e-bike traffic stop, registration issue, e-scooter issue, e-moto issue, or county or local micromobility ban? If so, please consider adding it to the New Jersey E-Bike Enforcement Map created by the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia. Add your incident to the interactive map here.
To learn more about the law, its impacts, and how you can support the effort to improve it, visit NJBWC’s E-Bike Resource Center here.
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