Cycling safety in New Jersey

Crash data

24 cyclist fatalities in 2024 .

In 2024, 24 bicyclists were killed in New Jersey traffic crashes (source: IIHS Fatality Facts 2024, drawn from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System; posted June 2026). New Jersey, along with California, Florida and Texas, is among the states with the highest bicyclist death counts. Earlier state counts for 2023 vary by system: the NJ State Police Fatal Accident Investigation Unit logged 27 pedalcyclist deaths while the NJ Division of Highway Traffic Safety cited about 24. A clean statewide serious-injury total was not confirmed here (NJDOT's crash portal reports injuries by county and severity but not a single vetted statewide bicyclist figure), so cyclistInjuries is left null rather than estimated.

Official reports & data:

Cycling rules in New Jersey

Helmets: Anyone under 17 must wear a properly fitted and fastened bicycle helmet when riding a bike (as an operator or passenger); it also applies to roller/inline skating and skateboarding (N.J.S.A. 39:4-10.1). Adults are not required to. (source)
Passing distance: Under New Jersey's Safe Passing Law (effective March 2022), a driver approaching a cyclist or other vulnerable road user must move over a lane if possible, or otherwise pass with at least 4 feet of clearance; if neither is possible, the driver must slow to 25 mph and pass only when it will not endanger the cyclist. (source)
Sidewalk riding: There is no statewide sidewalk-riding law; whether cyclists may ride on sidewalks is set by each municipality, so check the local ordinance (many towns restrict it in business districts). (source)
E-bikes: New Jersey's e-bike rules changed dramatically in January 2026 (S5000, signed Jan 19, 2026). The state now defines a 'low-speed electric bicycle' narrowly as a pedal-assist bike with no throttle and assist up to 20 mph (essentially Class 1); throttle e-bikes and higher-speed models (the former Class 2 and Class 3) are reclassified as 'motorized bicycles.' Under the new law all e-bikes require registration and a license to ride, with motorized bicycles also needing insurance; a grace period ran to about July 19, 2026. This law is new and its rollout/enforcement is still being worked out, so verify current MVC requirements before relying on it. (source)
Lights & reflectors at night: When riding between a half-hour after sunset and a half-hour before sunrise a bike must have a front white headlamp and a rear red lamp, each visible from at least the distance required by statute (roughly 500-600 feet); a rear red reflector may be added but does not replace the required rear lamp (N.J.S.A. 39:4-10). (source)
Direction of travel / where to ride: Cyclists must ride with traffic (never against it) and keep as near to the right as practicable, moving left only to turn, pass, avoid hazards, or when the lane is too narrow to share. Riders may travel no more than two abreast where traffic is not impeded, otherwise single file (N.J.S.A. 39:4-14.2). (source)
Rights & responsibilities: A person on a bicycle has all the rights and is subject to all the duties of a driver of a motor vehicle (N.J.S.A. 39:4-14.1), meaning cyclists must obey stop signs, signals and other traffic laws. Riding while impaired is dangerous and discouraged; how New Jersey's DWI statute (39:4-50) applies to a pedal bicycle is not clearly settled, so this is left as a caution rather than a firm legal claim. (source)
Stop-as-yield (Idaho stop): New Jersey does NOT have a stop-as-yield / 'Idaho stop' law. Cyclists must come to a full stop at stop signs and red lights just like drivers. (source)

Cities and counties often add their own rules (for example, where you can ride on sidewalks or boardwalks). Check the local ordinance for the specific town you're visiting.

Resources

Bike-friendly destinations in New Jersey

Ride these with the rules above in mind:

In an emergency in the U.S., call 911. Read our general bike safety guide →