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Proposed eBike Title/Registration Bill

In case you aren’t aware, there is a Maryland bill that will be heard on January 22nd that will require ebikes have a certificate of title, registration, and insurance.

Please contact your local Maryland State Senator and State Delegate and ask that they oppose this bill. You can also submit written testimony why you oppose the passage of this legislation.

You can read more about the bill here.

Here is a link to the actual text of the bill.

“Requires an electric bicycle to be titled and registered by the Motor Vehicle Administration; requiring an application for a certificate of title and registration for an electric bicycle to be submitted electronically; requiring an owner of an electric bicycle to maintain certain security; authorizing an insurer to exclude certain benefits from a policy for electric bicycles; and generally relating to the titling and registration of, and insurance for, electric bicycles”

Nigel Samaroo, Advocacy Committee Chair

 

Here is why such a bill should be opposed:

1) Complicated paperwork and related expenses. Title certificate is $50 in addition to annual $30 registration fees.
2) It treats eBike as equivalent to moped, motor scooter or motorcycle; they are not!
3) Additional insurance premium.
4) The proposed bill states, "authorizing an insurer to exclude certain benefits from a policy for electric bicycles; and generally relating to the titling and registration of, and insurance for, electric bicycles."
5) It will discourage environmentally-friendly alternative modes of transportation, and healthy life-styles.
6) Many eBike owners use them because of need due to advanced age, or other health related challenges. No need to be penalized as a result, and be discriminated against.
7) If such a law passes, next target will be regular bicycles.
8) The proposed bill states, "In the case of ELECTRIC BICYCLES, motorcycles, mopeds, or motor scooters, an insurer may exclude the economic loss benefits described in this section; or offer the economic loss benefits with deductibles, options, or specific exclusions."

I might have missed other reasons, but perhaps Nigel could elaborate more regarding this!

Thanks!
Nabil

More views addressing a similar New Jersey bill are linked here!

I think that likely what prompts some of these restrictive bills could be attributed to abuse and lawlessness perpetuated by some riders. Not all eBike users adhere to road rules or etiquette. We cannot judge eBike use by only, or simply, looking at our club users--for example--who for the most part ride eBikes just the same as if they were riding bikes without pedal assist. I am sure some of us have witnessed many riders on the B&A trail who speed with their eBikes--at times using class-2 bikes with throttle--who fly by you as bats out of hell without any regard to walkers or other cyclists. This is where the danger lie and what gives eBikes a bad name. This has been a lot more noticeable since the pandemic and the marked increase in bike ownership.
 
Education and enforcement, rather than punitive restrictive laws, should be viewed as a remedy to the chaos we have been witnessing on our roads. Do you think registering/licensing an eBike is going to change people's behavior? I doubt that!
 
Nabil
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14 February 2025

I was informed today that the bill was completely withdrawn!

Nabil