When the State of New York passed legislation to legalize e-bikes and e-scooters in 2020, pedestrian safety measures and battery safety measures were not taken into consideration, nor was where these micromobility devices would be charged.

The number one complaint I hear from Manhattan residents is that e-bike delivery people heedlessly ignore pedestrians and traffic laws. While the NYPD does not track data on micromobility collisions, we know from shared personal experiences and news reports that the danger is significant.

Our Work

Check out our comprehensive Micromobility Safety Memo and highlights below.

Legislation

• Local Law 42 of 2023 prohibits the assembly or reconditioning of “second use” lithium-ion batteries made with reused cells, the most dangerous type of battery.
• Local Law 38 of 2023 requires the city to develop a public information campaign on the fire risk posed by powered mobility devices.
• Local Law 49 of 2024 requires all businesses that sell, rent, or lease e-bikes or e-scooters to post lithium-ion battery safety information in all designated citywide languages.
• Local Law 50 of 2024 increases the penalties for illegal powered mobility device sales, leases, or rentals, imposes recordkeeping requirements on retailers, and grants enforcement authority to the FDNY.
• Intro. 1145 would require that electric bicycles and electric scooters that are part of share systems have speedometers and limit electric speed assistance to new riders.
• Intro. 20 would require the Department of Transportation to develop a micromobility safety course and require third-party delivery companies verify that their delivery workers complete the safety course. 
• Intro. 132 would require the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection and the Department of Transportation to jointly develop and distribute materials related to safe and legal operation of mopeds at the point of sale.
• Res. 223 supports legislation in Albany that would require lithium-ion batteries sold in New York State for micromobility devices to be manufactured in accordance with federal standards and specifications.
• Res. 231 supports legislation in Albany that would increase penalties for leaving the scene of an accident involving an e-scooter and expanding the law to include e-bikes. This legislation, A.1679/S.561, was motivated by a West Side constituent who was struck by an electric moped on W. 65^th Street in 2022 and suffered a traumatic brain injury.
• Res. 224 supports the New York State Commercial E-Bike Licensing Act (S.7587/A.7833), sponsored by Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal and Assembly Member Tony Simone, which would require the registration and licensure of e-bikes used for commercial purposes. E-bikes, e-scooters, and mopeds must follow the rules of the road, and I am focused on effective legislation to improve pedestrian and traffic safety.
  • ***NOTE: I have not signed on to Intro. 606, sponsored by Council Member Bob Holden, which would require e-bike users to register their devices with the New York City Department of Transportation. While I support the intent of this bill, DOT is not equipped to establish, manage, or pay for an e-bike registration program or to be responsible for enforcement. The New York State Commercial E-Bike Licensing Act supersedes and improves upon Holden’s Intro. 606. Under the State bill, registration would be managed by the Department of Motor Vehicles, which already has the resources and systems in place.

Advocacy

• I was proud to co-sponsor the Symposium on Reimagining Micromobility Safety in NYC with Judge Zhuo Wang of Midtown Community Justice Center and State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal in May 2024. The expertise and thoughtfulness of all involved generated conversations and ideas that we look forward to exploring further. Please see the detailed report that came out of the Symposium here.
• I am advocating for the installation of battery kiosks where e-bike and e-scooter riders can exchange their depleted batteries with fully charged ones. The Brooklyn-based startup Popwheels is an example of this subscription-based model. I have asked FDNY to complete their review of this model as soon as possible.
• I convened the Upper West Side Micromobilty Taskforce with representatives from NYC E-Vehicle Safety Alliance, Workers Justice Project, CHEKPEDS, Transportation Alternatives, Open Plans, Community Boards 4 and 7, the Upper West Side Coalition, Block Associations, the Mayor’s Office, and other elected officials to discuss how we can work on solutions together. Getting opposing viewpoints to talk together is an accomplishment, and we are working on parking, street design, education and other practical solutions.
• I held an Oversight Hearing for the Committee on Oversight and Investigations on the New York City Streets Plan to expand the City’s biking, bus, and pedestrian safety infrastructure.
• I distributed safety literature in Spanish, French, and English to micromobility drivers along 8th, 9th, and 10th Avenues with the Workers Justice Project and CHEKPEDS. We focused on advising delivery workers to stay the sidewalks when riding any device, and delivery workers were very receptive.
• I held workshops at Upper West Side migrant shelters on acclimating to New York City and finding support. Part of the workshops focused on micromobility safety and regulations.
• I have contacted the NYPD to confiscate illegal mopeds from residential streets.
• I have received hundreds of letters regarding the problems with micromobility devices in parks, and have requested that the Parks Department address this very serious issue.
• I am exploring legislation that would require food delivery apps to use their existing GPS technology to crack down on drivers who violate traffic laws.

Press

• Ideas for Regulating E-Bikes, (WNYC’s Brian Lehrer Show, December 16, 2024)
• NYC must curb the e-bikes: Regulations should be on the delivery apps (New York Daily News, December 15, 2024)
• Gale Brewer: How to Stop the Next E-Bike-Caused Fire (my Op-Ed in New York Daily News, August 10, 2022)
• Gillibrand, Adams Push To Accelerate E-Bike Battery Safety Measures After Tragedies (THE CITY, July 22, 2024)
• NYC Council increases penalties for selling fire-causing e-bikes, passes street vendor reforms (Gothamist, February 28, 2024)
• ‘Welcome, Deliveristas — but Be Careful Out There’ is Message from Hell’s Kitchen Pols and Activists (W42ST, October 13, 2023)
• New York City Council Propose E-bike Charging Stations at Fire, Police Stations (FOX5 NY, March 14, 2023

Resources

• 21 Ways to Protect Pedestrians, Delivery workers, and Cyclists (report from our Symposium on Reimagining Micromobility Safety)
• Street Safety in the Era of Micromobility (Comptroller’s Office)
• Mayor’s Micromobility Action Plan (Mayor’s Office)
• Chart: E-Bikes & More (know the difference) (NYC DOT)
• Analyzing E-Bike Safety in New York City (State Assembly Member Alex Bores)
• My Microbility Safety Memo, linked and below