William E. Cleary Sr. | Cleary’s Notebook News
GLOUCESTER CITY, NJ (May 31, 2026)(CNBNews)–Electric scooters and electric bikes have flooded into Gloucester City and surrounding towns, and the results are becoming harder to ignore. What began as a convenient way to get around has quickly turned into a safety problem for anyone who uses our sidewalks, jogging paths, or neighborhood streets responsibly.
The danger isn’t theoretical. On my daily walks with Sweetie, I’ve had kids on these motorized bikes come up behind us without a sound. These machines make no noise, so you can’t hear them approaching until they’re already on top of you. More than once, a rider has blown past us at high speed, leaving no time to react. In one instance, a teenager on an e‑bike came straight at the dog and me, expecting us to move aside. I was forced to step off the path or be hit. That’s not “sharing the road”—that’s intimidation.
Recently, we also heard of an electric scooter allegedly striking a pedestrian at the Johnson Boulevard Jogging Track in Gloucester City. That didn’t surprise us. We’ve watched riders whip around that park as if safety rules apply only to someone else. Not long after, we saw a motorbike racing down the sidewalk toward the Market Street Wawa before cutting directly into oncoming traffic. These aren’t isolated incidents—they’re part of a growing pattern of reckless behavior that puts innocent people at risk.
CNB article first published April 1, 2026
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E-bike Definitions
A low-speed electric bicycle (e-bike) is a two-wheeled bicycle with pedals where the motor assists only while pedaling and ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 20 miles per hour.
A motorized bicycle (moped) is a pedal bicycle that is throttle-capable of assisted speeds up to 28 miles per hour.
E-bike Requirements
- Minimum age – 15 years old.
- Possess a valid driver license or e-bike license or e-bike permit.
- e-bikes must be registered and insured.
- A helmet is mandatory for all e-bike riders, regardless of age.
E-bike licensing is not currently available. Please click the link above to get updates when licensing will begin.
E-bike License
- You must be at least 15 years old.
- Schedule an appointment for an e-bike permit.
- Pass the Knowledge and Vision Tests to validate your permit.
- Schedule a Road Test.
- Practice operating the e-bike, unsupervised and during daylight hours, for 45 days.
- Upon passing your Road Test, obtain your e-bike license at an NJMVC Licensing Center.
E-bike registration is not currently available. Please click the link above to get updates when registrations will begin.
E-bike Registration
- Obtain e-bike insurance.
- Schedule a registration appointment.
- Provide ID and show valid proof of ownership or affidavit of ownership.
- Provide a Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin (MCO)
- If an MCO, bill of sale or formal proof of ownership is not available, the Motor Vehicle Commission may accept an affidavit from the current owner. The affidavit sets forth with reasonable specificity the acquisition of ownership of the e-bike, together with any supporting documents, as proof of ownership of the e-bike.
- Obtain registration.
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