the staff of the Ridgewood blog
MONTVALE, NJ — Following a string of electric bike (e-bike) crashes this summer, Montvale Police are urging riders and families to prioritize safety and follow local laws—especially after a dramatic collision between an e-bike and a car was caught on surveillance video and shared online.
The crash occurred on Chestnut Ridge Road and was shared in a July 28 Facebook post by the Montvale Police Department. The video—now viral with over 300,000 views and shared by dozens of departments and local leaders—shows a car turning left out of a gas station as a high-speed e-bike rider slams into the driver’s side. The impact launched the rider onto the car’s roof.
“Fortunately, the e-bike rider is now recovering from injuries sustained in the crash,” the department stated in its post.
🚨 E-Bike Safety Takes Center Stage
Montvale police say this crash is just one of several incidents involving e-bikes in the borough this summer. Officials are reminding residents of key New Jersey laws and safety practices that could prevent future injuries:
✅ E-Bike Safety Guidelines in NJ:
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Helmets are mandatory for all riders under 17, for both traditional bicycles and low-speed e-bikes.
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High-speed e-bikes may be considered motorized bicycles, requiring:
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A valid NJ driver’s license
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State-issued registration
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Sidewalk parking is permitted, but e-bikes must not block pedestrian walkways.
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Class 3 e-bikes (up to 28 mph) require:
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A DOT-certified helmet with chin strap
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A valid moped license
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Riders must be at least 15 years old to obtain a moped license in NJ.
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Helmet shelf life is typically 5 years. Even well-kept helmets may lose effectiveness over time.
🛑 A Message From Montvale’s Mayor
Montvale Mayor Mike Ghassali also shared the video, asking, “Is this enough reason to slow down?”—emphasizing the growing concern over reckless riding and lack of helmet use.
🚲 Know the Rules Before You Ride
As e-bikes grow in popularity among teens and young adults, police are asking parents to make sure their kids understand the rules and risks before riding.
📋 Safety Checklist:
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Always wear a helmet
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Obey traffic laws
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Stay alert to vehicles and surroundings
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No doubling up on a single bike
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Ensure riders are using bikes that are age-appropriate
“Let’s keep our streets safe for everyone. Share this video with someone who needs a reminder!” Montvale PD urged.
📽️ Watch the viral crash video here:
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/16FN1swFas/
Join the new Saddle River Valley, Ramapo and Pascack Valley Communities Facebook group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1931704860512551/
#news #follow #media #trending #viral #newsupdate #currentaffairs #BergenCountyNews #NJBreakingNews #NJHeadlines #NJTopStories
Watch the video. First, the e-biker rider had the right of way. Second, the driver, who doesn’t stop to look, is pulling out of the lot and making a left turn and had ample time to see the rider approaching on the left. Also, I’d bet left turns that require you to cross over two lanes on traffic is a no-no but it’s not clear there’s a sign indicating that. That said, the rider also appears to be going pretty fast, compared to the speed of the other drivers on the road. So you’ve got a doofus speeding on an e-bike but you also have a driver clearly not paying attention or with a hefty sense of entitlement that cancels out physics.
The automobile driver was also issued a summons.
I will never understand how there is no requirement to have a driver’s license for operating ANY kind of motorized driving apparatus whether it be an E-bike, moped or ANY kind of device. The powers that be really dropped the ball on THIS one in letting it become the nuisance and danger it is now.
Licenses are required for anything above a Class 2 e-bike. Class 2 category allows for a max speed of 20 mph. The problem is that many of the e-bikes on the road exceed this threshold. There is limited enforcement and parental oversight because the vehicles are called “bikes,” when in fact they are electrified mopeds with pedals attached to them.
You can thank Governor Phil Murphy for the legislation he signed in 2019 permitting these.
I NEVER make a left across 2 lanes of traffic. NEVER
e-Bike reform needed. Drivers need to be licensed, registered and insured. Most of these are overpowered and being used illegally.
Driver just keeps going.
She did not. Video ended just as she was stopping.
Why didn’t she hit the brake immediately instead of continuing forward?
Likely stunned and didn’t think to immediately apply the brakes.
This is identical to what happens daily with motorcycles and pedal bicycles. It’s not an e-bike issue at all; it’s not licensing, insurance, or registration, nor is it the number of lanes you cross – or don’t. It’s a legal turn. I see no sign. We all glance left/right looking for oncoming cars, trucks, buses, etc., looking for BIG things, and fail to see oncoming bikes. I’ve made the same mistake, and now make a deliberate effort to LOOK. TWICE!! Just a new habit.
It’s an issue with a driver not paying attention, not having the right of way, pulling out of the lot without stopping to look first, coupled with a biker likely driving too fast.
Obviously, “WE” all don’t glance left/right otherwise there wouldn’t have been an accident here. Doesn’t even matter if the turn is legal or not, stupid is stupid. And if you’re making a left across two lanes of oncoming traffic you better damn well be sure no one is coming. That didn’t happen here. The video is clear.
That kid was flying. Was the bike legal?
The bike hit the car…. so doesn’t that make it the fault of the bike?
If a car hits another car broadside that means the driver of the car wasn’t “maintaining control of his car at all times”
Cars can’t move sideways, so the only way this would have been avoided would have been if the bike had avoided hitting the car.
Maybe the driver of the car kept moving to get to the side of the road? Thank god that kid landed on the roof and not in front or he would have been run over.