Union County Bans E-Bikes, Scooters In Some Areas

UNION COUNTY, NJ — Motorized vehicles, including electronic bikes (e-bikes) and motorized scooters, are now banned in all Union County parks and County-controlled property.

Leaders issued an Executive Order 2025-01 Wednesday in response to the safety issues coinciding with the rise in popularity of the vehicles over the last few months. The policy went into effect immediately and includes:

• Low-speed electric bicycles
• Motorized bicycles (e-bikes)
• Low-speed electric scooters
• Motorized scooters

“This Executive Order reflects our commitment to protecting the public and acting swiftly when safety is at stake,” Lourdes Leon, Union County Commissioner Chairwoman, said at the announcement earlier in the day. “Families deserve to enjoy our parks without worrying about fast-moving vehicles endangering children or seniors."

The announcement also comes just days after two North Jersey crashes involving electronic vehicles.

On Sept. 24, a 13-year-old boy was killed by the driver of a landscaping truck while riding an e-bike at an intersection in Scotch Plains. That same day, a 12-year-old from Parsippany was taken to the hospital after he was hit by a car while riding an electric scooter.

“As a mother of five, the recent e-bike tragedies — especially the heartbreaking loss of a 13-year-old in Scotch Plains — strike very close to home,” said Union County Commissioner Kimberly Palmieri-Mouded. “No family should ever have to endure this kind of loss again."

The Union County Board of County Commissioners will amend the County Code at their next meeting to reflect the following:

"• The use of low-speed electric bicycles, motorized bicycles (e-bikes), low-speed electric scooters, and motorized scooters — as defined under N.J.S.A. 39:1-1 and N.J.S.A. 39:4-14.16 — is prohibited upon any footbridge, bridle path, bicycle path, lawn, wooded area, park, playground, or any other property owned, leased, or otherwise under the control of the County of Union.
• This prohibition does not apply to activities specifically authorized by N.J.S.A. 39:4-14.3(b)."

"The dramatic increase in the use of e-bikes has created greater dangers for their operators, other motorists and pedestrians," added Nick Scutari, Senate President. "We are in a new era of e-bike use that requires updated safety standards to help prevent accidents, injuries and fatalities."

The new policies will be enforced by County officials and law enforcement. Consequences for those who violate the new amended code were not immediately clear.

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