Ridgewood, NJ Mobility & Curb Rules: E-Bike Classes (2026)
Key Facts
- Class 1 cutoff
- 20 mph, pedal-assist only
- Class 2 cutoff
- 20 mph, motor can propel alone
- Motor limit
- under 750 watts
- Chapter adopted
- April 9, 2025, Ord. No. 4044
- Enforcement
- Chapter 1 general penalties (§ 241-3)
Summary
Village of Ridgewood Code Section 241-1 defines low-speed electric bicycles using New Jersey's two-class system. A Class 1 bike assists only while the rider pedals and cuts off at 20 mph; a Class 2 bike can be propelled by the motor alone but also stops assisting at 20 mph. Both classes are swept into the Village's Central Business District micromobility ban.
LOW-SPEED ELECTRIC BICYCLE A two- or three-wheeled vehicle with fully operable pedals and an electric motor of less than 750 watts that meets the requirements of one of the following classifications: "Class 1 low-speed electric bicycle," which means a low-speed electric bicycle equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling, and that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 20 miles per hour; or "Class 2 low-speed electric bicycle," which means a low-speed electric bicycle equipped with a motor that may be used exclusively to propel the bicycle and that is not capable of providing assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 20 miles per hour.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4854397; v35 updated 2026-04-22; through 04-22-2026).
Full Breakdown
Chapter 241, adopted April 9, 2025 by Ordinance No. 4044 and replacing the old 1989 skateboard chapter, opens with definitions before it regulates anything. Under Section 241-1, a low-speed electric bicycle is a two- or three-wheeled vehicle with fully operable pedals and a motor under 750 watts, split into Class 1 (pedal-assist only, cuts off at 20 mph) and Class 2 (motor can propel the bike without pedaling, also capped at 20 mph). 5 brake horsepower or certain higher-speed electric configurations up to 28 mph), so Ridgewood's code distinguishes an e-bike from a scooter or moped even though all three get treated the same way operationally.
That operational treatment comes from Section 241-2, which bars use of any 'low-speed electric scooter, bicycle, vehicle or device' on public sidewalks, other public property, and private property open to the public within the area described in Schedule A, the Central Business District. Outside that mapped CBD area, Chapter 241 itself imposes no additional class-based riding restriction; the definitions exist to pin down which devices the CBD ban reaches. Wheelchairs, motorized wheelchairs, and four-wheel assistive mobility scooters are expressly carved out of the whole chapter.
Violations & Fines
Violating any provision of Chapter 241, including riding a Class 1 or Class 2 low-speed electric bicycle on a barred CBD sidewalk, subjects the rider to the general penalty provisions of Chapter 1, General Provisions, Article I of the Village Code under Section 241-3. Ridgewood Police enforce the Schedule A boundary; a repeat rider can be summonsed on each occasion the device is used in the prohibited zone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Ridgewood treat Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes differently?
Where can I ride a Class 2 e-bike in Ridgewood?
Are e-bike classes separate from Ridgewood's scooter and skateboard rules?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Ridgewood
Compare Ridgewood to another location·View the New Jersey mobility & curb rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.