By Stephen Appezzato
OCEANPORT – As electric bikes (e-bikes) continue to surge in popularity around the area, local officials are stepping up to address concerns over their safety, particularly among younger riders. The borough has joined a growing list of towns taking action to regulate e-bikes, passing a new ordinance at its Nov. 7 council meeting to bolster rider safety and prevent accidents.
E-bikes “are very popular” in town, said Oceanport Mayor Thomas Tvrdik. “Most importantly is the safety of our children.”
While an electric bike can be a fun and efficient mode of transportation, improper use – especially for young riders – poses significant risks.
“Somebody’s going to get hurt. They’re (e-bikes) fun, but they’re dangerous. And if they don’t know the safety aspect of these bikes, somebody is going to get hurt, seriously hurt,” Tvrdik said.
Tvrdik, like others in town, has noticed young riders without helmets, sometimes riding two on a bike and, in some cases, operating bikes that require a license.
“You have to be 15 years old to have bikes that go over 20 or 25 miles an hour,” which is classified as a class-3 motorized bike, he said. Under state law, riders must be over the age of 15, have a license and wear a helmet no matter their age to operate a class-3 bike.
In the lead-up to the passing of the new borough law, Tvrdik and members of the Oceanport Police Department spoke to young riders to raise awareness to the coming changes.
“Our school resource officer, Chuck Svenson, and our new chief, Gary Grimes, and myself, we actually spoke to the kids at Maple Place, doing a little Q & A and having them aware of what we were doing,” Tvrdik said. Grimes was sworn in as the new chief of police last week.
“We’re all about educating, and safety is most important.”
The Fine Print
The ordinance, similar to ones passed in Fair Haven and Sea Bright this year, defines classifications for e-bikes, electric scooters and other low-speed electric vehicles (LSEV), and sets rules and regulations that are enforced by strong penalties.
While LSEVs can be both “safe and appropriate,” they also pose a hazard due to the high volume of traffic through the borough, the ordinance notes. In the text, LSEVs are defined as two- or three-wheeled vehicles with fully operable pedals and electric motors less than 750 watts. A class-1 LSEV is a bike in which the motor only provides assistance when pedaling and disengages when the bike reaches 20 mph. A class-2 LSEV contains a motor that can be used exclusively to propel the bike.
The ordinance also restricts where these vehicles can be operated. Notably, it prohibits LSEVs from being ridden on sidewalks or pedestrian paths within the borough and generally bans LSEVs on borough property, including recreational areas and parks, with exceptions in specific cases.
Riders are required to follow standard traffic laws and all LSEVs must be equipped with lights and reflectors at both the front and back, as well as a bell or other audible signal. Riders under the age of 17 are also required to wear helmets, a measure aimed at protecting younger riders from head injuries in the event of a crash.
Riders who violate the new rules will face a tiered penalty system. For first-time offenders, adult riders face a $250 fine while minors will receive a written warning. If the warning goes unheeded, e-bikes can be impounded.
For second offenses, guardians of minors and adult riders will face a $250 fine. The police department can also confiscate LSEVs, followed by a hearing on whether or not to impound a rider’s vehicle. The same is true for third-time offenses, although penalties increase to $1,000 and a hearing is held to determine if a bike is subject to forfeiture.
“We implemented heavy fines so the parents take this seriously,” Tvrdik said. “We want you to have fun, but always safety first, and these parents need to research these bikes.”
Oceanport’s e-bike rules aren’t just about cracking down on dangerous behavior but also reinforcing positive choices. Tvrdik said police officers regularly engage with riders to remind them of safety and rules and, in the future, there may be a plan “to reward kids when they’re doing the right thing, not just penalize them,” offering law-abiding riders vouchers to local pizzerias.
As Oceanport joins other towns in putting an e-bike law on the books, Monmouth Beach introduced a similar ordinance at its Nov. 12 borough council meeting, which will be up for hearing Dec. 17.
The article originally appeared in the November 14 – November 20, 2024 print edition of The Two River Times.
