Metuchen First NJ Town To Have E-Bike Sharing Program

METUCHEN, NJ — Metuchen is now the first New Jersey town to have an e-bike sharing program, following the approval of low-speed electronic bikes and scooters earlier this week.

On Monday, Murphy signed S-731 into law, which approves the use of low-speed electric scooters and e-bikes in New Jersey. Lime, a popular e-bike and e-scooter sharing program, has introduced ten e-bikes into Metuchen's existing fleet of pedal bikes.

The e-bikes cost $1 to unlock and 15 cents a minute after that (that works out to $5.50 per half hour). The pedal bikes cost $1 per 30 minutes. Both bikes are available to rent on the app as of Thursday morning.

Lime will be piloting the e-scooter program in Hoboken, the first New Jersey city to get e-scooters. That program is expected to start next week with 300 scooters.

A Lime spokesperson did not respond to questions about the e-scooter program's future in Metuchen. Mayor Jonathan Busch said it was something the borough would explore.

"In view of the law’s passage, we will be working with Lime to discuss the possibility of bringing scooters to Metuchen. We are excited by the possibility of finding new ways for residents to get around the Borough," Busch said.

Still, the scooters likely wouldn't come to Metuchen unless they proved successful elsewhere first, Councilman Todd Pagel said.

"I do foresee scooters in the future for Metuchen, but not the near future. In my discussions with Lime, it seems that Metuchen doesn't have the population size to support scooters on its own as of now. But if larger towns in the area start getting scooters, we will get them as well," Pagel said.

The new law regulates e-scooters and e-bikes in a similar way to ordinary bicycles. The transportation devices – which must travel 20 miles per hour or slower – are allowed on streets, highways and bicycle paths.

An operator of a low-speed electric bicycle or motorized scooter is not required to register the scooter or e-bike, furnish proof of insurance or have a driver's license. All statutes, rules, and regulations that apply to ordinary bicycles will apply to low-speed electric bicycles and motorized scooters.

The primary sponsors of the new law were Senator Linda Greenstein, Senator Shirley Turner, Assemblyman Raj Mukherji and Assemblyman Jamel Holley. (Read the full bill here)

"Electric bicycles and motorized scooters offer a fantastic alternative to cars and their use will serve to cut both emissions and congestion in our cities," Murphy said. "As we seek to support New Jersey's Innovation Economy, this bill will help encourage a true re-imagining of urban commuting."

"Permitting the use of low-speed electric bikes supports our efforts to protect the environment by reducing our greenhouse gas emissions," said Assemblyman Mukherji, who represents Hoboken, Jersey City, Union City and Weehawken. "By bringing our motor vehicle laws into the 21st century, we will enable the rollout of e-bikes in Jersey City's bike share program and expand the transportation options available to New Jerseyans."

With reporting by Eric Kiefer