By Isiah Christie
Transportation is one of Hudson County’s strongest spots of discussion. The county’s denseness creates dissonance among residents, unsure if they should favor public transportation, traveling by foot, or their own means of movement. Teenagers and adolescents in particular fall into this trap. Considering they often lack the consistent salaries for public transit and do not yet have cars of their own, they’ve had to favor alternative approaches. And as of late, the craze has been for motorcycles – and Jersey City citizens in particular are divided on this trend.
These motorcycles, which are categorized as “low-speed motorcycles”, are notable for their simplicity in comparison to full-size builds – they max out at 50cc engines and cannot exceed 35 miles per hour on flat surfaces, rendering them as effective but relatively safe. They are largely restricted on certain roads in New Jersey, including highways, state toll roads, and all roads with a speed limit higher than 35 mph – they also require ample registration with the state and an automobile license to drive, meaning those as young as 17 can use them.
On paper, the regulations seem reasonable. However, they are under an issue with usage, availability, and freedom, especially with regards to younger crowds. Many residents complain of youth using the vehicles to get around – albeit in an unsafe, reckless manner – and it is raising questions about the consistency and legitimacy of law enforcement and their attentiveness to vehicular standards. Many of these low-speed motorcycles can be bought from places that are not official and do not require proper registration upon purchase, leaving them poorly regulated and attended to by the state. There are also inconsistent, vague laws regarding their usage – especially the electric variants, and they are cheap enough to be bought as gifts by parents or through savings.
“I have a feeling people who drive these don’t even have a motorcycle license. Yet, they’re everywhere and even on bike lanes,” u/Alukrad of the Jersey City subreddit complained. Many have pointed out that these low-speed motorcycles often occupy sidewalks and bike lanes with little care for adjacent pedestrians, which is illegal and poorly administered by local enforcement. License checks are also rare with these vehicles, which indirectly encourages youth to ride them illegally with no fear of consequences. This is also because cars are being seen as less and less of a necessity among younger generations – with the share of new cars bought by 18-34 year-olds falling below 10 percent this year, according to S&P Global Mobility – these low-cost, convenient vehicles are taking their place in the transportation hierarchy.
There isn’t an innate problem with the presence of these low-speed motorcycles, as their usefulness is written all over their profile. As mentioned earlier, they’re inexpensive, easy-to-use, accessible, and manageable in terms of energy costs. However, Hudson County police will need to work harder to enforce the rules governing their use, as they aren’t going away – and the consequences of poor regulation are immense.
