Paterson’s City Council is considering a citywide ban on electric bicycles and scooters on sidewalks and pedestrian pathways. The proposal, which has passed only its first reading, would start with a 90-day education period before fines that could reach $500 for repeat violations. It would also set parking rules and restrict reckless operation.
A notice posted by the City of Paterson says the ordinance was introduced and passed first reading at a virtual special council meeting on September 29. Council President Dr. Lilisa Mimms sponsored the measure. According to TAPinto Paterson, it would add electric bicycles and scooters to city vehicle regulations that currently cover all-terrain vehicles, dirt bikes and snowmobiles. Mimms said the proposal went through the city’s public safety process and had the public safety director’s support.
Mimms cited riders weaving through traffic and moving onto sidewalks, saying drivers had been “swarmed with all these bikers,” according to TAPinto Paterson. She also said the proposal does not cover people using wheelchairs or motorized cars because of medical restrictions.
What the Ordinance Would Actually Require
If the council approves the measure, its first 90 days would be an education period, when officers would generally give written warnings instead of summonses. The exceptions would include violations that cause injury or property damage, pose an immediate risk of injury, or involve someone who has already been warned. The city says it would provide safety information through signs, schools and community outreach, with materials in English, Spanish and other commonly spoken languages.
After the warning period, the proposed fines would be up to $100 for a first offense, up to $250 for a second offense within 12 months of a prior conviction, and up to $500 for a third or later offense. Municipal court could require community service or a safety course instead of, or in addition to, a fine; the ordinance would not allow imprisonment for violations. The proposal would also require at least 36 inches of clear sidewalk space and bar parking that blocks building entrances, bus stops, fire hydrants, emergency access points or wheelchair ramps. People using wheelchairs or other mobility devices because of disabilities would be exempt.
Council Members Describe Dangerous Encounters
At the council meeting, members questioned how the rules could be enforced. Ruby Cotton described large groups of motorcycles, bicycles and dirt bikes near Summer Street and 21st Avenue, and asked how one officer could intervene. She said she plans to work with police leadership on enforcement of vehicle-related ordinances, according to TAPinto Paterson.
Paula Alford called for additional action on reckless riding beyond the sidewalk proposal, citing a fatal electric-bike incident that affected someone in her neighborhood. Luis Velez raised a separate concern about businesses selling electric and gas-powered bikes without proper dealer licenses, according to TAPinto Paterson.
How Paterson's Plan Compares to Passaic County's Park Ban
Passaic County has adopted a separate restriction for its parks: a resolution barring motorized bicycles, motorized scooters and low-speed electric bicycles and scooters on county park property, effective July 19, according to Passaic County. The ban includes pedal-assist and throttle-operated e-bikes under 750 watts and under 20 mph, as well as Class 3 e-bikes capable of reaching 28 mph. It exempts mobility-assistance devices used by people with disabilities, including motorized wheelchairs and other ADA-required equipment. NorthJersey.com reported that fines under the county park ban start at $50.
A report from the New Jersey State Policy Lab at Rutgers University says police crash reports in the state code e-bike and e-scooter riders as pedestrians, complicating efforts to track how often these devices are involved in crashes.
State law uses a different framework from Paterson’s proposed sidewalk rules. Under P.L. 2025, Chapter 285, New Jersey defines an “electric motorized bicycle” as a two-wheeled vehicle with fully operable pedals and a motor capable of producing more than 750 watts and speeds greater than 28 miles per hour, according to the New Jersey Legislature. The law also directs sellers of low-speed electric bicycles, motorized bicycles and electric motorized bicycles to make applicable registration forms available to buyers, according to the New Jersey Legislature. Available city records show the proposal passed first reading, but do not establish whether it has advanced toward final adoption.
How the Proposal Fits Wider Rules and Safety Data
The state law establishes vehicle classifications and seller paperwork requirements; Paterson’s proposal instead focuses on where devices may be ridden and parked. The information cited here does not establish the effective dates of the state-law provisions. Summit’s official e-bike page reported in an October 2, 2025 update that Union County had issued an immediate ban on electronic bicycles, scooters and other motorized vehicles on county-owned parks and properties. That county-property restriction is distinct from Paterson’s proposed city sidewalk rules and does not establish a Summit sidewalk rule.
On national safety trends, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission staff estimated that emergency-department visits associated with micromobility products rose from 37,300 in 2017 to 149,100 in 2024, a statistically significant increase, according to the CPSC. The figures describe a national trend and do not establish a Paterson-specific pattern or its cause.
