What Do People Think of E-bikes? A Closer Look at Perception, Safety, and the New NJ Law

Authored by Hannah Younes, Yingning Xie

E-bikes are having a moment. They’re showing up in neighborhoods, on trails, at work and transit stations, and in the hands of people who never saw themselves as “cyclists.” But as their popularity surges, so do the questions: Are they safe? Who benefits? What happens when policy moves faster than public understanding?

E-bikes make bicycling possible for a wider range of ages, abilities, and trip types. They replace short car rides, cut emissions, reduce transportation costs, and expand mobility options. Even with these benefits, the rise of e‑bikes has not been smooth. Their popularity has grown faster than the safety infrastructure needed to support them, and the gaps often show up as frustration with rider behavior. Fatalities make headlines in the news and deserve attention as part of broader transportation safety efforts. Another layer to this challenge is the rise in use of higher‑speed e‑motorcycles (or e-motos) that resemble e‑bikes but are not always legal devices.

This led us to a research question: how do people who don’t use e-bikes feel about their use in the transportation environment?

E-Bike Survey: A Snapshot of New Jersey Voices

In the fall of 2025, we administered a survey (N = 998) to non-users of e-bikes in the United States who were at least 18 years old. Over 70% of respondents were from New Jersey, with smaller percentages from surrounding states. We collected 443 responses from non-owners[1] of e-bikes. E-bikes were defined in the survey as “bicycles that can be run on electric power as well as pedaling.” A convenience sample was employed, and e-bike owners were purposefully oversampled in the overall survey.

Non-owners of e-bikes were asked about their attitudes towards e-bikes, their propensity to purchase an e-bike, and what is holding them back from purchasing an e-bike. The survey design was inspired by the UK ELEVATE research project. In addition to barriers and perceived benefits, we also asked about willingness to use an e-bike, and specifically whether e-bike rebates would nudge them to purchase an e-bike.

Perceptions of E-bikes

Despite a growing perception that e-bikes are dangerous for all road users, our survey respondents had a more measured outlook. Respondents generally saw e-bikes in a positive light. Key findings included:

• 80% believe that e-bikes are a realistic alternative for some car trips,
• 76% think that they are better for the environment than driving, and
• 64% agreed that the government should do more to support e-bike use.

Still, road infrastructure remains a barrier, as about half felt that using an e-bike is dangerous in their neighborhood and are disruptive for other road users.

We also found exposure and familiarity with e-bikes matter. Those who have used an e-bike or knew someone who owns an e-bike were more likely to say that the government should do more to support e-bike use. Among people who have ridden an e-bike, 79% supported increased government action. Among those who know someone who owns an e-bike, 68% felt the same.

The surprising part is that people with no personal connection to e-bikes, including those who have never ridden one or do not know anyone who rides, still reacted positively—51% of respondents who have never used an e‑bike supported more government action, and 56% of those who do not know anyone who owns one also expressed support.

Across all groups, most respondents agreed that e-bikes offer environmental, recreational, economic, and health benefits. The overall message is clear: respondents see e‑bikes as a net good for their communities, even when they have limited personal experience with them.

Figure 1. Opinions of E-bikes Among Non-owners (N=443)

As we continue analyzing the survey, our next steps will dig deeper into how experiences and perceptions vary by gender, income, delivery‑worker status, and whether someone lives in an urban or suburban environment. We are also examining how e‑bike rebate programs shape people’s views. Together, these insights will help us understand what people think about e‑bikes and what supports are meaningful for current and future riders.

A New Law with Big Consequences: Lessons for New Jersey Policy

In January 2026, Governor Murphy passed S4834, one of the most restrictive e-bike laws in the nation, effectively requiring people to have a driver’s license and registration for their e-bike, rules typically reserved for motor vehicles. The survey was conducted before the law was passed, so we could not ask specific questions about the new law, but we did ask whether people had a driver’s license. The results were pronounced:

• 16% of respondents who did not own an e-bike (72 out of 443) did not have a driver’s license, and
• 18% of e-bike owners/users (102 out of 555) did not have a driver’s license.

That means nearly one in five current e-bike owners would be barred from legally using the device they may rely on. The reasons people lack a driver’s license vary, including disability, immigration status, costs, age, and other reasons. For these riders, the new law is not a safety measure; it’s a mobility barrier.

The law aims to address safety but places the responsibility and costs on riders instead of improving the conditions that make riding challenging in the first place. It overlooks a key reality: that New Jersey’s streets are rarely designed for the growing number of people using bicycles and e-bikes. The conversation can move in a better direction. Rather than limiting who can ride, we can focus on building a transportation system supported by more equitable regulations, safer street design, and investments that strengthen mobility and independence for all.

References:

[1] 401 respondents are non-owners and non-users while 42 are non-owners who indicated they occasionally use an e-bike as part of a bikeshare system.

New Jersey State Policy Lab, June 11, 2026