US cities tighten e‑bike and e‑scooter regulations

After New Jersey enacted a comprehensive e‑bike law in July 2026—setting a minimum rider age, licensing, registration, helmet use and insurance requirements, and prohibiting motorized bicycles on highways—state officials began issuing licenses and stickers, with police emphasizing education.

In early August, New York City Council introduced a package of 17 bills targeting e‑bike and micromobility safety, including city licensing for delivery‑app companies, a ban on throttled 25 mph e‑bikes, mandatory safety equipment, and NYPD reporting requirements, while urging the state to adopt a New Jersey‑style framework.

Soon after, the mayor of New York City sent cease‑and‑desist letters to more than 40 online retailers, ordering them to stop selling high‑speed e‑bikes and e‑scooters that exceed the city’s speed limits and warning of fines up to $2,000; a public hearing on the council package is scheduled for 30 September.

Municipalities beyond the Northeast are adopting comparable measures: Harlan, Iowa, banned sidewalk riding of scooters in business districts and imposed penalties following a child‑vehicle collision; Sikeston, Missouri placed electric personal‑mobility devices under the same traffic rules as bicycles; Revere, Massachusetts urged police to increase enforcement of e‑bike and scooter rules on sidewalks and beaches; and Greensburg, Pennsylvania’s mayor called for local regulations after a rise in e‑bike crashes.

These actions illustrate a growing, nationwide effort to standardize safety standards and enforcement for e‑bikes and other electric personal‑mobility devices.