MEETING NEW MEXICO’S NEEDS for
SAFE, HEALTHY & REWARDING BIKING on ELECTRIC BIKES

1. Not allowing eBikes on bike paths is unsafe. New Mexicans cite safety on streets as #1 reason they do not ride their bike more.
   E-bikes are safer riding with other cyclists on protected bike paths than on streets. Most e-bikes are engineered to not exceed 20mph. Traditional cyclists average 10-25mph. Almost 1300 bicyclists were killed in the US in 2020, up 16% from the year before. This rose to 1325 bicycle deaths in 2021. New Mexico is in the highest 10% of bicycle fatalities in US. Year after year, ABQ’s Annual Bike-to-Work Day Survey shows all age groups report their #1 difficulty to ride more is “It feels unsafe riding around.”
    

2. Federal and 46 state laws now regulate most e-bikes as bicycles – not as motor vehicles.
   The Federal Department of Interior (including National Parks and US Forests) and 46 states, including all New Mexico’s neighboring states, have adopted regulations that classify an e-bike as a bicycle – not a motor vehicle. 
    

3. E-bikes are a healthier alternative to driving, ride-sharing, or other gas-powered vehicles – for riders, cities and the environment. 
   E-biking has multiple public health, environmental and economic  benefits. E-bikers can efficiently travel farther while decreasing greenhouse gas emissions and traffic congestion.
    

4. Ten states have either passed or are working on legislation to incentivize ebike purchases (including New Mexico).
   These pieces of legislation do and will continue to make it easier for more people from all socio-economic levels to own e-bikes and contribute to cutting our carbon output. Incentivizing the use of electric bicycles to replace car trips through a consumer tax credit or rebate will continue to encourage Americans to transition to greener modes of transportation – directly addressing our climate crisis.

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