NEW YORK – Ahead of a major oversight hearing, New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin and Council Members highlighted the record-number of legislative items planned to be heard, while emphasizing the importance of enhancing the safety of travel using powered micromobility devices. Wednesday’s hearing, held jointly by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, the Committee on Consumer and Worker Protection, and the Committee on Public Safety, is examining the use of small transportation devices with limited power and speed, in New York City, and reviewing 23 pieces of legislation with proposals for making city streets safer for pedestrians, riders, passengers and drivers alike.
The proposed legislation ranges from strengthening enforcement measures to requiring licensing for delivery services, as well as phasing out the sale and usage of Class III e-bikes—which have motors that have the capacity to exceed 25 miles per hour.
A recording of today’s press conference can be found here.
“We have an unacceptable situation where too many New Yorkers are being killed or injured due to E-bikes and E-scooters without the proper safeguards and enforcement. The Council will examine a record 23 legislative proposals to make our streets safer for all New Yorkers, and will also evaluate whether current laws are working and being properly enforced,” said City Council Speaker Julie Menin. “Today’s hearing gives us the opportunity to hear from city agencies, delivery workers, recreational e-bike users, and pedestrians alike. What we hear from them will directly inform the package of legislation this Council moves forward.”
Since 2020, use of micromobility devices has grown significantly, with approximately 680,000 adult New Yorkers reporting to have regularly used a bicycle at least several times a month in the last year. This increase can be attributed to the proliferation of delivery services sparked by the COVID pandemic, as well as the passage and adoption of Local Laws 72 and 73, which expanded authorization for e-bikes and e-scooters to operate on city streets. A 2024 report published by the NYC Comptroller’s Office found that e-bikes, e-scooters, and mopeds accounted for roughly 4.5% of all pedestrian injuries from 2020-2023. According to city data, the first six months of 2026 saw 738 injuries and 13 fatalities of e-bike riders, compared to 601 injuries and 10 fatalities over the same period in 2025.
An estimated 65,000 delivery workers use e-bikes/micromobility devices to make deliveries across the city, making up roughly 40% of micromobility traffic. Current law requires that individuals using motorized micromobility devices for commercial purposes comply with additional operational requirements – to be enforced by the New York Police Department (NYPD) and the Department of Transportation (DOT) – including carrying identification cards while making deliveries, wearing a helmet and reflective apparel, and completing a safety course administered by DOT. Businesses utilizing motorized micromobility devices for commercial purposes must issue each of its operators a unique identification card and provide safety equipment for both operators and vehicles. This hearing will question representatives from the NYPD and DOT on the enforcement of these requirements.
E-bikes, e-scooters, and pedal-assist commercial bicycles are subject to a fifteen mile per hour speed limit throughout New York City, enforced by the NYPD. This operating speed limit is distinct from the maximum motor-assisted speeds used to classify e-bikes under New York State Law: Class II e-bikes may provide motor assistance up to 20 mph, while Class III e-bikes may provide motor assistance up to 25 mph. Any e-bike or micromobility device whose motor can reach a speed greater than twenty-five miles per hour is not legal to be sold or operated in New York City. The sale of motorized micromobility devices is regulated by the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, and the New York City Fire Department. Legislation proposed in this hearing seeks to further regulate the rental and sale of Class III devices.
“Everyone deserves safer streets, whether they are walking or biking. With an increase in e-bike collisions of over 30% so far this year, we cannot wait to take action,” said Majority Leader Shaun Abreu, Chair of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. “Today, we will hear from a range of New Yorkers who have been impacted by micromobility safety and consider legislation that will tackle the issue. That starts with holding delivery apps accountable, getting dangerous and illegal devices off our streets through new enforcement tools, and helping riders move to safer bikes with a rebate program. Combined with safer infrastructure, we will save lives.”
“I am happy under the leadership of Speaker Menin we are having a comprehensive hearing on e-bike safety today,” said Council Member Harvey Epstein, Chair of the Committee on Consumer and Worker Protection. “We need to come up with short and long term solutions that protect New Yorkers’ safety and support a critical mode of transportation. Just two weeks ago, a teenager was killed in my district after being hit by a truck while riding an e-bike, a devastating event that occurs far too often across our city. It is time to work collaboratively to ensure the safety of every New Yorker.”
“Micromobility devices provide significant benefits to our communities,” said Council Member Oswald Feliz, Chair of the Committee on Public Safety. “They expand transportation options, reduce congestion, and make daily commuting more convenient. We must do everything to encourage their use. At the same time, we must take steps to ensure these devices are used responsibly. This includes ensuring that riders comply with traffic laws, use legal devices, and travel at safe speeds. I look forward to today’s hearing and discussing steps we can take to ensure our laws are effective in helping us achieve this goal.”
“This hearing is an important opportunity with all stakeholders to talk about how we keep pedestrians, cyclists, and workers safe on increasingly crowded streets,” said Council Member Gale Brewer. “We need rules and accountability at every level. Delivery apps dictate how this work gets done, and they need to take responsibility for how their decisions impact worker and street safety.”
“As the delivery industry has grown, the City needs to make sure the companies driving it are held to clear standards,” said Council Member Lynn Schulman. “My legislation, Int. 950, would require delivery services to obtain a license from the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, giving the City greater oversight of an industry that plays an increasingly important role in our daily lives. We need accountability at every level to make our streets safer for everyone.”
“We’ve seen a rise in injuries and deaths associated with high-speed e-bikes and mopeds on New York City streets in recent years,” said Council Member Lincoln Restler. “Delivery companies currently incentivize drivers to deliver their goods as quickly as possible, regardless of how they get where they’re going and what vehicle they are using. I’ve introduced legislation to ensure delivery apps verify moped registration, and to track driver routes and report when they drive the wrong way down one-way streets and on the sidewalk so that we’re prioritizing safety. I’m grateful to Speaker Menin and Chair Shaun Abreu for supporting this effort to make our streets safer for all New Yorkers.”
“New York has a serious street safety problem, and there is no single solution,” said Council Member Virginia Maloney. “We need stronger enforcement of the laws already on the books, the tools to get illegal high-powered devices off our streets, greater accountability for the companies shaping how e-bikes are used, and safer street design. This comprehensive package recognizes that each of those pieces matter. My Look Up bill adds another tool by bringing simple, proven pedestrian safety cues to 500 intersections across the city, including 200 near schools. This bill, paired with meaningful enforcement and accountability, will help build a safer street environment where pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers can move through our city safely and confidently.”
“To keep everyone safe, we all need to follow the rules of the road while using e-bikes,” said Council Member Shahana Hanif. “Intro 214 will put those rules directly in front of people using Citi Bikes and other shared micromobility before they ride. This is about education, not punishment—giving cyclists the tools they need to share our streets safely with pedestrians, drivers, and other cyclists. I’m so grateful to Good Neighbors of Park Slope who worked with our office to develop this idea to make our community safer, together.”
“It is only September and already 20 cyclists have been killed on our streets,” said Council Member Julie Won. “This is double the number of fatalities compared to this point last year. Bike lanes are meant to protect riders, not be a place where riders die. After two cyclists died in a head-on collision in the Queensboro Bridge bike lane this summer, DOT added rumble strips, new markings, and signage to make the Queensboro Bridge bike lane safer. Intro 1066 takes this approach citywide, requiring DOT to install traffic calming measures in at least 50 bike lanes, study their impact, and report these findings back to the public. We cannot wait for the next fatality before having safer bike lanes.”
“New Yorkers deserve to know where and how micromobility crashes are happening across our city,” said Council Member Vicki Paladino. “Intro. 1052 would require better reporting on e-bike, e-scooter, and other micromobility crashes, including the device involved, when and where the crash occurred, and whether injuries or fatalities resulted. Data alone is not enough. We also need meaningful accountability through proper licensing and registration of these devices and their operators. Law enforcement and city agencies need the tools to identify devices and enforce the law. Intro. 1052 is an important step toward transparency, but we must also address licensing, registration, and accountability to make our streets safer and ensure our laws can be enforced.”
“The Council’s e-bike safety package takes an important step toward making our streets safer. My legislation in this package would stop the sale and rental of Class 3 e-bikes and, after a two-year implementation period, phase out their use while giving current riders—especially delivery workers—time and options to transition,” said Council Member Crystal Hudson. “Safer streets require both accountability and a real commitment to the workers whose lives are most at risk when we do not implement safer streets. I hope we can take these initiatives further by passing legislation to hold apps that encourage dangerous practices accountable and investing in better infrastructure, charging stations, protected bike lanes, and accountability. I look forward to working with my colleagues to continue this advocacy.”
“E-bikes and scooters are essential transportation and a source of livelihood for thousands of New Yorkers, even as unauthorized, high-speed devices raise real safety concerns,” said Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers. “That’s why my two pieces of legislation being heard today bring accountability and oversight to these vehicles and their enforcement. Introduction 110 holds the businesses that profit from delivery accountable for their workers’ safety, and Introduction 787 brings transparency to traffic enforcement. We can protect the New Yorkers who depend on these vehicles and make our streets safer at the same time.”