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The Pacific Coast Bike Route
Plus, New Jersey passes an extremely restrictive e-bike law, and Stats for the Nerds.
Sam Westby
January 22, 2026
Welcome to the Bike Bulletin. We keep you up to date on the cycling world better than a derailleur keeps a chain.
This newsletter is about a love for two-wheeled transit. From riding around town to riding across the country, the more time you spend on a bike, the better. You can look forward to a new edition every week.
Here’s what we have today.
🌍 RIDE: The Pacific Coast Route
❓ OPINION: New Jersey to Require Registration of All E-Bikes
🎥 WATCH: beans.mp4
📰 NEWS: Lots of new funding and record-breaking micromobility trips
Written by Sam Westby, @samcwestby
ROUTE ON MY RADAR
The Pacific Coast Route
Here’s what you’d be getting yourself into.
“Big trees, big waves, beautiful beaches.”
Ocean views almost the entire time, with dramatic headlands
1,877 miles (3,020 kilometers) with 94,000 feet (28,650 meters) of elevation gain
A mix of quiet coastal roads, state highways, and bike paths
A strong northerly wind, so southbound is recommended
Southbound route on RideWithGPS
Watch Aspen’s Wanderings experience on YouTube (31 minutes)
OPINION
New Jersey to Require Registration of All E-Bikes
On January 19th, New Jersey passed the strictest e-bike law in the U.S. All e-bikes, even low-speed Class 1 bikes, must be registered, and riders must have a license. Faster Class 2 and 3 e-bikes must also be insured.
There are some problems with this.
First, there is no enforcement plan. In 2019, NJ passed a law requiring Class 3 e-bikes to be registered, licensed, and insured, but the law was never implemented or enforced.
Second, low-speed e-bikes (<20 mph) are not the problem. The state claims “safety” and “reckless driving” as motivation for this bill. They should have some nuance about electric motorcycles versus electric bicycles.
Several organizations, including People For Bikes, New Jersey Bike Walk Coalition, and Tri-State Transportation Campaign, are working to add an amendment to the bill to lift the restrictions on Class 1 e-bikes.
WHAT I’M WATCHING
beans.mp4
It’s a 3-minute video, and i had a good laugh watching.
$1.35 million. The estimated cost to build a 1.76-mile trail in San Antonio. Construction should begin in December. (Community Impact)
$300,000. The amount awarded to Solana Beach, CA, to extend its Coastal Rail Trail. (San Diego Union-Tribune)
$120,000. The amount awarded to Orchard Park, NY, to develop a Safe Streets program for the area around the Buffalo Bills stadium. (WGRZ)
$25 million. The amount awarded for the Cotton Belt Trail projects spanning 26 miles from Plano, Texas, to the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. (Arlington Network)
€360 million. The amount pledged by Ireland for active travel projects in 2026. (Zag Daily)
12.9 million. The number of shared bike and scooter trips taken in Chicago in 2025. A new record. (WTTW)
Confiscated. A new Oceanside, CA ordinance allows police to confiscate e-bikes from riders with 2 or more reckless driving infractions in the past 12 months. (NBC San Diego)
Santa Monica. This city is testing automated bike lane enforcement with cameras mounted on city vehicles. Ticketing violators may create safer streets. (Streetsblog)
A Note From Sam
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