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Residents urge stronger enforcement and education on electric bikes and scooters
Summary
Multiple residents and council members raised safety concerns about fast, helmetless riders and riders using earbuds; staff noted state rules regulate e‑bikes by speed category and suggested police enforcement and school education as responses.
Bound Brook — Several residents told the council they are seeing increasingly risky behavior from riders of electric bicycles and scooters and asked the borough to respond.
A resident described youth “riding wheelies” and using earbuds while riding in the middle of the road, creating hazards for motorists and pedestrians. “I had another time where a kid came flying out... he had him in earbuds,” one resident said, urging enforcement and safety outreach.
Staff and council members said state law regulates electric bicycles in different speed categories and that helmet rules apply — with participants in the meeting discussing age thresholds (one staff member said he believed the helmet requirement applies up to age 17). Staff recommended coordination between police enforcement and school‑based bicycle education programs to reduce risky riding.
The council asked the police to note patterns of disorderly conduct or traffic‑causing behavior and to take enforcement action when appropriate; staff also said the borough will follow up to confirm the state statute details and age thresholds for helmet requirements.
What happens next: Staff will check the specific statutory language on e‑bike/scooter regulation and coordinate with the police department on enforcement priorities; the borough discussed promoting helmet use and safety education in schools.
