HONOLULU (BRAIN) — New Jersey's passage of a bill requiring license, registration, and insurance for low-speed e-bikes and high-speed e-motos raised concern among the industry that other states would follow. That concern is unwarranted, at least in Hawaii, whose most recent bill defines and bans e-motos in certain locations while low-speed e-bikes are regulated like non-electric bikes.
HB2021 also adopts the three-class system — instead of altering it like in New Jersey — and creates what PeopleForBikes calls "reasonable regulations for e-bikes." After the State House's passage in March, the bill is now in the Senate and headed for a final reading before going to the Gov. Josh Green for potential signing into law.
Last year, Hawaii was close to passing an e-bike bill aimed to update the statewide traffic code to define e-bikes, bicycle safety, and micromobility devices, but it was vetoed by Green. Similar to other states, e-motos have become a problem, said Hawaii Bicycling League Advocacy Director Eduardo Hernandez.
"They seemed to have proliferated, while operating in a gray zone," Hernandez said. "(Honolulu Traffic Division Maj. James Slayter), a now retired traffic commander at the Honolulu Police Department, is on record noting the appearance of these devices as early as 2021. We worked closely with him and HPD in advancing legislation."
The Hawaii Bicycling League also has worked with PeopleForBikes and the League of American Bicyclists, of which it is a member.
"The bill in Hawaii reflects many trends in legislation that we've seen and support such as adoption of the three-class system, mandatory labeling requirements to distinguish classes, and defining e-motos as separate from e-bikes, as well as various other provisions aimed at rider behavior," said Ken McLeod, League of American Bicyclists policy director, who noted his group is working with PeopleForBikes to promote the federal Safe SPEEDS Act to address distinguishing e-bikes from e-motos. "By working together with our members and industry partners, we are hopeful that more states will make informed decisions that support safe, accessible, and sustainable cycling like Hawaii."
The Hawaii bill addresses unsafe riding behaviors, making wheelies and other stunts illegal. It also calls for a one-time $30 registration fee that helps support bike infrastructure and education. That fee has long been required. Hernandez said his group lobbied against requests for an annual registration, licensing, and insurance that were written into other bills.
"This is a 24-page bill with a lot of detail," Hernandez said. "For me, it comes down to two issues: safety and affordability. Our traffic code with respect to low-speed electric bicycle definitions was based on a federal standard adopted more than 25 years ago. The updated definitions and responsible use guidelines the bill offers should lead to more awareness about our shared roads, responsibilities, and the range of devices people use for transportation, recreation, and health. In strengthening a safety foundation, we hope that more people will be able to consider transportation mode shift away from high greenhouse gas emission vehicles to more sustainable and affordable options, like e-bikes."
PeopleForBikes said it applauds Hawaii's bill.
"Despite the one-time $30 registration, which PeopleForBikes does not support, we regard this as a really good bill," the advocacy group told BRAIN and added the bill includes an age 16 requirement for users of Class 2 and 3 e-bikes, in line with its model e-bike legislation.
