Navigating New Hampshire’s Urban Paths
“The bicycle is the most civilized conveyance known to man.”
— Iris Murdoch
Hello New Hampshire! This month a new threat has arisen, looming over cycling in New Hampshire, and it comes from our own State House of all places. So let’s talk about it!
$50 per Bike Every Year
If you don’t want to pay $50 for each of your bikes every year, then you should loudly shout your opposition to this bill.
How to do that? You can make your voice heard on this bill by following THIS LINK, then filling in the form, indicating your position on the bill, and (optionally) providing comments or uploading a document containing your comments. You should submit your comments before next Tuesday, January 27.
Some screen shots below will show this being done on the screen of an iPhone. It works just about anywhere.
Then hit “Submit” and you’re all done. Participatory democracy at its finest!
Or, even better, you can come to the hearing and speak. All such hearings are open to the public. YES, EVEN YOU! Read on below for details of how to attend.
NOTE: at the time of editing, on-line comments on this bill are heavily against it: over 11,500 opposed, 29 support, 3 neutral.
Representative Thomas Walsh, Republican of Merrimack introduced this bill, House Bill 1703, on January 7th of 2026.
His bill would create an annual $50 registration fee for all bicycles in New Hampshire.
Other sponsors are Representative Gregory Hill, Republican of Merrimack – District 2, and Representative Ted Gorski, Republican of Hillsborough – District 2.
The Bike Walk Alliance of New Hampshire will soon notify all area bike shops of this pending legislation. I saw an early draft of their email, and it looked something like the following:
URGENT MESSAGE TO BIKE SHOPS and BIKE OWNERS: PENDING LEGISLATION WOULD CREATE $50 REGISTRATION FEE FOR ALL BIKES IN NEW HAMPSHIRE
Next Tuesday, January 27, at 11:00 the NH House Transportation Committee will hold a public hearing on HB1703. Here’s a summary of the bill:
This bill would establish an annual registration fee of $50 for all bicycles (including e-bikes) operating on state or municipally funded paths, trails, and roadways. Registration would require proof of ownership of the bike or authorization from the owner to operate the bike. Registration by someone under 18 would require parental sign-off. You would have to affix a registration sticker to the bike or have the registration certificate on hand whenever riding the bike. There would be a $100 penalty for failure to register. Funds from registration fees and penalties would be used for the creation and maintenance of bicycle routes, lanes, paths, or trails in the state. The bill would also take away the authority that municipalities currently have under RSA 265:149 to require registration of bikes.
In case you’re wondering what the bill’s chances are, it is being proposed by the Chair of the House Transportation Committee, which gives it pretty good odds of being favorably received by the Committee unless there is overwhelming opposition to the bill.
You can make your voice heard on this bill by following this link, filling in the form (it’s January 27, Transportation Committee, HB1703), indicating your position on the bill, and (optionally) providing comments or uploading a testimony letter.
Better yet, attend the hearing! The hearing is scheduled for 11:00 on January 27 in Room 234 at Granite Place in Concord. In the hearing room, clipboards near the door will let you sign in and indicate your position on the bill (in favor, opposed, or neutral). To speak you also have to fill out a little pink card. But stay tuned, because hearings are sometimes rescheduled with little notice. You can “subscribe” to information about the status of pending legislation, including hearing schedules, here.
Bike-Walk Alliance of New Hampshire strongly opposes HB1703 for the following reasons:
- The bill would cost a family of four with four bikes $200 per year. That would make parents think twice about buying a bike for their kids.
- The registration fee and penalties would have the unintended and unfortunate consequence of discouraging bicycling, which has significant public health benefits, improves quality of life, and brings tourism revenue to New Hampshire.
- The bill would make New Hampshire a much less bike-friendly state, which would be disastrous for our tourism economy.
- It would make life even more difficult for those whose only mode of personal transportation is a bike, particularly the economically disadvantaged.
- The cost of implementing the registration program would be significant, maybe greater than the amount of revenue generated. The fiscal note sheds little light on the fiscal impact of the bill, stating that the revenues can’t be determined.
Feel free to get in touch with BWANH President Paul Susca or BWANH Executive Director Amanda Gourgue for more information.
Thanks, and keep on biking!
Call for Input
We very much want to hear from you! Do you have any questions or concerns? What topics would you like us to cover? Send your feedback our way and we’ll get on it! We want to ensure this column meets your needs.
Stay safe and have fun out there!
Note: The author is a member of the board of the Bike Walk Alliance of New Hampshire, but the views expressed in this article are his own.