By Alex Maroño Porto
Few issues touch a more sensitive nerve with Upper West Siders than the proliferation of micromobility vehicles. That’s the clunky, catch-all term for the e-bikes, e-scooters, and mopeds that spin up and down UWS streets, bike lanes, and sidewalks. If you think there are a lot more of them these days, you’re right. When the pandemic popularized alternatives to crowded public transportation, US imports of electric bikes nearly tripled between 2019 and 2021, according to the Light Electric Vehicle Association, a retail trade group. And while e-bikes were just 20% of the Citi Bike fleet in 2020, they were used for 40% of all the fleet’s rides in that first pandemic year.
Deliveristas navigate on e-bikes to bring food to our tables, students head to class on motorized scooters, and the occasional business-suited professional can be seen heading to the office on a battery-powered Citi Bike. For many who navigate the city on foot, these riders can be a scourge when they ignore traffic signals or drive (illegally) in pedestrian sidewalk space, at speeds far exceeding the pedestrians.
“The issue is that e-bikes and mopeds often go the wrong way,” City Councilmember Gale Brewer, who represents the Upper West Side, said in a phone interview with the Rag. “They are on the sidewalk sometimes, and they’re going too fast,” she said. “It’s very hard to know, if you’re a pedestrian, how many places to look, and people are afraid of getting hit.”
Besides the threats to pedestrians, riders are also vulnerable, particularly those who rely on e-bikes for their work making food deliveries. A 2022 Department of Consumer and Worker Protection report found 26 delivery workers had died in vehicle crashes in the city since 2020, making it one of the city’s deadliest jobs. Three of four people killed while riding Citi Bikes this year —Jaydan McLaurin, Malcom Livesey and Sarah Schick— were on e-bikes, and all told, e-bikes were involved in 12 deadly collisions in the first half of 2023, according to the Daily News.
As accidents and collisions involving micromobility vehicles grow increasingly common, there are also calls for increased regulation of a transportation sector that is currently governed by few rules.
What exactly are the laws regulating electric micromobility vehicles in New York, and what ideas are being promoted to improve greater safety? The West Side Rag explores this issue.
What are micromobility vehicles?
Three types of electric micromobility devices are legal in New York state: electric bikes, electric scooters, and mopeds.
Here’s the dry, bureaucratic description of an e-bike, as defined by New York State’s Vehicle and Traffic Law: a “bicycle with electric assist” that is “no more than thirty-six inches wide and has an electric motor of less than seven hundred fifty watts, equipped with operable pedals.” Within that definition are three categories of e-bikes. Class 1 bikes require some pedaling for the electric motor to work while class 2 and 3 are completely electric-powered (but equipped with operable pedals). The law says class 1 and 2 bikes can go no faster than 20 miles per hour, while class 3 (legal only in the city) can go up to 25 miles per hour.
So that’s the law. In reality, riders often exceed the speed limits. It’s relatively easy to override “governors” put on by manufacturers to limit speed, and when The New York Times recently asked federal regulators how they might close this loophole, it was clear no solution is yet at hand.
The other legal micromobility vehicles are electric scooters: devices “weighing less than one hundred pounds” with handlebars, floorboard, or a seat, and powered by an electric motor with a maximum speed of 20 miles per hour; and limited use motorcycles, or mopeds, which have two or three wheels and a seat or saddle for the operator.
How are they currently regulated in New York City and state?
No license or registration is required to operate any of the three classes of e-bikes, but people “under 16 are not permitted to operate” them, a public information spokesperson for the New York Police Department told the Rag by email. Helmets are recommended for all by the city’s transportation department. But they are only required for 16- and 17-year-olds on class 1 and 2 e-bikes, while helmets are mandatory for everyone riding a class 3 bike. All e-bikes are legal to ride in bike lanes and on streets with speed limits of no more than 30 miles per hour.
The rules for e-scooters are similar: they require no registration or license, can’t be ridden by anyone under 16, require a helmet if you are 16 or 17, and can be ridden in bike lanes and on the street — at no more than 15 miles per hour.
Unlike the other micromobility vehicles, mopeds must be registered, and those who operate them must have a driver’s license (a motorcycle license is required for class A mopeds, which can go up to 40 miles per hour). Helmets are required for some mopeds, and they are not legal to ride in bike lanes.
It’s illegal to ride any of these vehicles on the sidewalk, but as pedestrians know, it happens with frequency. There were 20 criminal court summonses in New York City for “bicycle on sidewalk” in the first quarter of 2022, according to data from the NYPD, while 258 summonses were issued during the same period of 2023.
What proposals are there to increase safety for both e-vehicle riders and pedestrians?
Several regulatory changes are under consideration in the New York state legislature. One proposal, co-sponsored by State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal, whose district includes most of the Upper West Side, would require registration and licensing for e-bikes used for commercial purposes. “We need to license e-bikes that are being used by commercial delivery apps [such as Grubhub and UberEats] so we can use license plates readers and an enforcement mechanism,” Hoylman-Sigal said in a recent interview. In an email to the Rag, Hoylman-Sigal said the delivery apps should bear responsibility for registration, because “delivery apps encourage reckless behavior by pushing their drivers to maximize delivery numbers rather than operate safely.”
Hoylman-Sigal and Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal are also cosponsors of a bill that would require delivery companies to offer insurance that would cover deliveristas when they are involved in accidents, as well as one that would increase penalties for an e-vehicle rider who leaves the scene of an accident – making it a crime equivalent to a car driver in a hit and run.
E-vehicle registration has been a top priority for the E-Vehicle Safety Alliance, a community group lobbying for more stringent regulation. But alliance co-founder Janet Schroeder says Hoylman-Sigal’s proposal to register e-vehicles used for commercial purposes doesn’t go far enough. “It doesn’t include registration for all e-vehicles,” Schroeder wrote in an email to the Rag. “Why should some e-vehicle riders be held more accountable than others?”
The alliance prefers a proposal pending in the city council, sponsored by Councilmember Robert Holden, which would require all e-bikes and e-scooters to be registered and display a license plate. “We encourage all city council members to sign this bill,” wrote Schroeder in an email. “After all, absolutely nothing is more important than our safety.”
How are other states regulating e-vehicles?
Some states are more restrictive than New York regarding the use of e-scooters and e-bikes. In New Jersey, for example, class 3 e-bikes are considered motorized bicycles, which requires them to be registered and carry a license plate at the rear. Those operating them must have a driver’s license. Hawaii goes even further, categorizing any electric bike as a “low-speed electric bicycle” and requiring it to be registered with the state.
Other states, including Kentucky and Montana, are more permissive than New York, allowing e-bikes to run on sidewalks as long as (according to the Kentucky legislation) cyclists “slow to the speed of an ordinary walk where pedestrians are present or reasonably expected to be present.”
What about other countries?
Outside of the United States, the most high profile regulatory step was taken this month when Paris became one of the first places to ban rented e-scooters. The ban, endorsed in a public referendum in April, took effect in September. It only applies to the approximately 15,000 e-scooters managed by rental companies; privately-owned trottinettes remain legal. Pedestrian and rider safety were the key issues in Paris; police there said that “motorized personal mobility devices” were involved in 408 accidents in 2022, causing three deaths and 459 injuries – up more than 28 percent over the previous year.
For Janet Schroeder, from E-Vehicle Safety Alliance, the Parisian move offers a roadmap for New York City. “These stand up-scooters didn’t work for their city and the people voted them out. That is exactly how it should be,” she wrote in an email. In her opinion, Paris’ stricter regulations are ensuring the well-being of the city’s citizens. “Paris has strict laws about licensing and registration for all e-vehicles. They are prioritizing safety above all and for all.”
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Zero enforcement of current bike rules and regulations. Adams at the town hall last night said bikes and mopeds are a common complaint citywide yet offered no solutions to this awful and dangerous quality of life issue. There is no concern for the safety of New Yorkers. No accountability for elected officials. In all my years in nyc I’ve never seen such a failure in addressing a growing menace. From Adams to Brewer to the officers, they all throw their hands up. For shame.
Looks like summons for sidewalk riding has gone up tenfold since last year? Seems like enforcement is getting better
Agree, the current rules already prohibit speeding/riding on sidewalks/etc, NYPD just has no appetite to enforce the rules and ticket offenders.
If you could ticket the company they work for you’d see a huge decline
While we always had a problem with reckless pedal bike riders, we had literally none of these electric vehicles four years ago. This is all a new and deadly thing for NYC, and there has to be a quickly instituted resolution or the City will be completely overrun. The only possible enforcement is through fines issued via license plate numbers. I have No sympathy for people who whine about fines. Don’t want a fine? Don’t break the law.
Yesterday, I saw a rider of a REGISTERED moped flip his license plate up so that a camera could not read it. NYPD needs to do more than just fine them based on cameras catching license plates. They need to stop every motorcycle not registered and give them one warning to register. Any motorcycle that is registered but has a blocked plate should be immediately confiscated. They block their plates to avoid having to pay fines. But if there are more severe consequences for avoiding the fines, they will stop blocking their plates and avoid fines by not breaking the law. You would think this was common sense. NYPD should put out a big press release that they are going to commit 2,000 officers to this focus for the month of October. Register your mopeds before October. Then go after them full force. It would take one month to slam down hard and then the 2,000 officers can be reduced down to a much smaller number to just keep it going.
Right here, in a nutshell, is the solution!
Good article. New laws and regulations are not much use without enforcement. Come to think of it, just enforcing the laws and regs we have would be a big first step. For more info, see the previous article, also good, on traffic safety.
How splendid of Ms. Brewer torecognize that people are “afraid to be hit”! Words are cheap and political courage is in short supply. If the NYC political claque wanted to take even the smallest of steps to promote pedestrian safety it is within their wheelhouse to do so. And lets be very frank. The NYC restaurant industry and CitiBike is largely responsible for the pedestrain saftey issues confronting New Yorkers.
Add bicycle lobby Transportation Alternatives here too as they are part of the Citibike-restaurant sector and also a significant partner to DOT
Why do so many guys on e-vehicles wear balaclavas? I don’t get it.
The other night I was almost run over by a deliverista riding on the sidewalk right past the entrance to my building.
No face, no case
There is as much regulation of this as there is regarding the proliferation of shops illegally selling marijuana products. But undoubtedly, we’ll just keep electing the same people. . .
It might help if the police got out of their cars once in awhile.
My understanding is that it is illegal to smoke weed in the part. Go check out Riverside. It’s hard to catch a breath without that waft.
If a vehicle is not 100% powered by human effort, it doesn’t belong on any greenways or park drives. And if s electric in any way that allows it to exceed the speed of a regular pedestrian, it doesn’t belong either. Of course this excludes wheelchairs and other assistive devices, which I’m sure aren’t zipping around at excessive rates of speed.
Also, motorized vehicles going through red lights has to go the way of the dodo. The red lights are not a “serving suggestion”. They need to be heeded and violators need to be held accountable. Why is this such a colossal problem?
Enforcement would help, too. Lots of lip service from the elected officials, lots of flapping of gums and nodding of heads, but where’s the enforcement?
This whole situation vexes me and infuriates me, to say the absolute least.
Given that virtually no bike rider has ever recognized a red light — other than to speed through it — why should you think e-bikes & other motorized e-vehicles should behave any differently? (The very few times I’ve seen bike riders respect a red light always cause me to remark upon it.) However, my experience, FWIW, is that it’s ONLY deliveristas who more than occasionally obey red lights & slow down for pedestrians. I doubt I could be the only UWSer who has noticed this difference in behavior.
Bike riders need to stop for lights if pedestrians are present or there is cross traffic present. As a vulnerable road user, it is safer for cyclists to go through a red light at an empty intersection than it is to go through the intersection on the green with cars. If drivers were more careful, this wouldn’t be an issue.
When I am out on my bike, which is often, the only “close calls” I have with pedestrians are when pedestrians step out into the bike lane or the street without looking. And I am talking about when I have the light. Over the course of a ride, I see more pedestrians endangering cyclists by not respecting the law than cyclists endangering pedestrians. So perspective makes a big difference. But I am not excusing bad cyclist behavior and I strongly believe that strong enforcement is needed. But NYPD always goes after low hanging fruit wether or not it will have an effect on the situation. Prime example: I saw an officer on RSD stop a cyclists for going through an empty red light and wrote him a ticket. While he was writing that ticket, a guy on a motor scooter came past and a pedestrian had to jump clear to avoid the collision. The officer could not stop the motor scooter driver because he was busy writing the ticket for the cyclist. But which of the two should have been stopped by the single cop (can’t say both) and given a ticket? Unless you are going to have enough officers to stop every single infraction, the police need to focus their attention on the actual cause of the danger. The ticket issued in this case will do nothing to advance public safety. Had the officer ignored the cyclist going safely through the empty intersection, instead of a single ticket for the red light, the officer could have written: operation of an unregistered vehicle, failure to yield to a pedestrian with the right of way, failure to stop at the traffic light, and possibly even reckless driving. And if the driver did not have a driver’s license, that would have been a fourth or fifth infraction. But the safe, albeit against the letter of the law, behavior was punished while the quite real risk to life and limb was ignored.
Let’s say everything you say here makes sense. I’m not fully convinced of that. I see no answer to the obvious question: Why can’t obeying “the letter of the law” be the default behavior? Why must violating the letter of the law be the default?
Because the single officer making traffic stops is not going to get everyone to follow the letter of the law. If anything, the traffic stop will change the behavior of the person stopped, but this won’t trickle out to others. Just like on the highway, when driver pass a police car with a driver pulled over, they slow down while in sight of the cop, then speed right back up to where they were before. But the driver who got the ticket will stay within the speed limit once they drive off. So, in the same vein, a trooper watching the highway, who cannot pull over every driver going over the speed limit (letter of the law), does not pull over drivers who are within 10mph of the speed limit and only pull over those who are doing greater than 10mph over. There are far fewer drivers going more than 10mph over, but a cop doesn’t have to sit out there that long before they see one. Same thing with our NYPD officers and bicycle/e-bike/moped riders. I’d rather see every unsafe rider get pulled over and get tickets than see the NYPD pull over the first “law breaker” they see and many unsafe riders go past with impunity. Cops can only pull one person over at a time.
More dedicated space to e-vehicles, more access for commercial vehices and the removal of mostly single-driver cars from our streets will solve 99% of the issues. Give the streets back to the people and get rid of the stinky gas guzzling vehicles.
There is no practical difference between class 2 and 3 e-bikes and mopeds. Any vehicle capable of 20 mph and which does not need to be pedaled should be registered, with plates, and insured.
And bike lanes were conceived, designed and built for bikes. Any vehicle that does not need to be pedaled should be banned from them. Why? Because the motorized vehicles endanger bike riders and discourage us from riding, and because the lanes are so close to the curb and sidewalk that a rider losing control endangers pedestrians.
Agree. All “self-propelled” or “pedal-assist” vehices should require and license and registration. CityBike has these gray “pedal-assist” bikes that do 30mph! No one ever wears a helmet and they fly past all us old-school pedal bikes. Not good.
Citibikes have a top speed of 18mph. Above that, there is no motor assist and it is all pedals. The e-bike pedals are all but useless above 18mph because the gearing is too easy, so you cannot get higher speed. The only way to hit higher is to have gravity pull you down a slope. But the bikes can sustain 18mph in situation, like going up hill, that some on “old-school pedal bikes” can have a problem maintaining, depending on their fitness level. Bu, while the bikes are speed limited to 18mph, they accelerate from a stop faster than most regular cyclists are able to accelerate, which adds to the illusion of speed. It also eliminates a huge argument cyclists use to avoid stopping at lights.
Is there some way that a police officer can tell what category the offending e-bike belongs?. They all look alike. And why not require that they have bells and lights so that pedestrians have at least a chance of seeing what hit them before they’re taken to hospital. And how about a little common sense education for the operators? Black is “New York Chic”. It also makes the riders invisible to motorists and pedestrians at night.
Informative article. One possibility for lack of enforcement: the police are no longer on foot. They stay in their patrol cars, making it difficult or impossible to stop an electric scooter. Occasionally they round up illegal scooters or bikes, but usually they are parked.
I wonder what the cops are really doing. I have been mugged twice – no follow up. I had my apartment robbed once, not a single phone call. What do they do, and this is a really serious question. When I was in a car accident about 8 years ago (it was my fault unfortunately I got confused by the lights exiting the west side highway headed toward broadway, at night. Didn’t help that the person I hit did not have his lights on.) I was treated like a criminal I was never so scared in my entire life.
A related issue – starting in 2022, an uptick in the number of teenagers-high school students using Citibike including ebikes.
They also ignore traffic rules, endangering themselves and pedestrians.
And not uncommon to see them doubled-up with friends sitting in the basket
Really dangerous.
BTW not hard to get a student Metrocard
I have no confidence that this matter will be solved no matter what regulations are passed, unfortunately. The sidewalks are seriously unsafe, bike lanes are a mess etc. etc. etc. People say ‘it’s a nice day you should go outside’ and I am like ‘why?’
It’s not safe. Sit in strauss park – give it ten mins before you get smoked out, biked out. It’s sad.
Been home for several weeks b/c of a broken collarbone, surgery. Finally braved going to Riverside park (middle level) and now there’s this thing about not putting leashes on dogs. So now it’s the bikes, the smokers, the wandering dogs, more things to be worried about. Suddenly it’s not just the cars if you can believe that twist of fate.
It’s very sad to say the least. At least I have a decent apartment so it’s not such a big deal to stay home.
What’s up with all the unleashed dogs?
In the park, on the sidewalk, in Starbucks….
People new to NYC who don’t know?
A new “thing’?
I’ve lived adjacent to Riverside Park for 36 years, & walk there daily, & there have always been unleashed dogs. There’s nothing at all new about it: It’s never made any sense, especially given the number of free-range dog runs available. For that matter, there’s no less abandoned dog poop now than in past years. But, all that said, I think the great majority of dog people (like myself) keep their pets on leash AND pick up their poop. I have no idea how to successfully deal w/ the minority scofflaws.
Yes, It was a rude awakening to see the changes this summer. It seems that with the seasons you can say ‘well this didn’t happen last spring/summer’ and it seems like these changes are coming way too fast. It’s sad for me, as I get older and thought that I could always stay here but…it’s yukky now. I was disappointed at the non-leashed dog owners who felt so entitled to do so, challenging the rules that keep everyone safe. It’s that arrogance all around us that is the real problem. Arrogance. The bikers on the sidewalk, the smokers on the sidewalks, parks, the litterers… It’s the arrogance of disobedience and this rebellion or maybe without enforcement people make their own rules? We are unruled!!! WHAT DO YOU THINK IS GOING TO HAPPEN…
Great photos Daniel Krieger ! Those school kids – no helmets, in traffic – I have seen them or their friends in the neighborhood. Hope their parents see this, and have a chance to at least holler before they are visiting their formerly healthy offspring in the head trauma wards or worse.
I’ve frequently been shocked by courteous riders of late, stopping at lights, crosswalks and even – amazing- on a Park Drive. So we can hope that culture spreads. But yes, prompt and serious enforcement needed, for the doofus on his phone going the wrong way down Amsterdam and cutting across both bike and pedestrian lanes…who can put a good person in hospital or graveyard, as we sadly know.
I often thank the people who stop. Chances are they double as pedestrians.
I also wave a thank-you to the riders of motorized bikes, mostly delivery people, who stop for lights and at corners to let pedestrians pass. It may seem excessive, like thanking the bus driver when I exit, since “it’s just their job,” but I think it adds a note of badly-needed civility to the transaction, and an acknowledgement that they are doing the right thing. (On the other hand, I have been known to shout obscenities and wave my cane at the clueless “civilians” riding CitiBikes three abreast on the sidewalk.)
The chirping of moped alarms needs to be banned.
Why isn’t Gale supportive? Is it wrong for e-bikes to have some sort of accountability. If you get hit by one, you would want to be able to know who was responsible, but instead, it’s just tough luck? Registration may actually cause the e-bikers to stop riding wildly on West Side Streets and sidewalks. That would mark a serious upgrade to our quality of life. I just feel like those of us cognizant of our aging and mobility challenges are treated like second-class citizens in deference to bike lobbyists and food apps that don’t represent the actual people that live here.
Gale Brewer is out of touch, a person on a Citi ebike rode through a red stop lite yesterday afternoon and barely missed me as I was walking across Columbus with the walking sign in my favor.
With no enforcement riders flaunt the laws and people get hurt while the bikers and scooters ride off into the sunset.
Gale Brewer is probably afraid of Mark Gorton and Peter Frischauf among other well heeled donors. They put up Sara Lind against her in 2021 and ensured Gale lost the Jim Owles club endorsement. Notice Sara Lind wasn’t reappointed to CB7 this year.
Yes great photos Daniel Krieger, who has written 3 extensive articles about this lawlessness and dangerous city we now are faced with everyday.
Hoping politicians like Gale Brewer will put her signature where it will do good on Bob Holden’s bill for license, registration, and insurance for All e-vehicles!!
These are necessary in densely populated cities like New York. They just need rules and helmets and cannot go fast. Europe seems to have no problems with these.
No one in Europe has unregulated scooters and motorbikes like NYC. In fact most developing countries have better regulation!
There is no justification for saying these vehicles are necessary—absolutely none. Many cities in Europe have none of these vehicles. My family and I lived on the UWS for decades without needing this swarm of e-bikes. If you read the article, you would know that voters in Paris just struck a blow for the safety of all over the quest for cheaper, more convenient deliveries. It may stun you to learn that every restaurant in the UWS that has delivery capabilities also allows a person to walk in and obtain take out food. Try it sometime—but beware of the speeding, law-defying e-vehicles!
Actually Europe does. France just instituted a ban. It reads so in the article.
The longer this idiocy is allowed to persist, the more the dangerous conduct becomes ingrained. It has spread from one type of vehicle to another. Lately, cars are now ignoring the traffic lights — I have experienced this three times in the last 2 weeks. Twice on Broadway and once on West 59th Street and 6th Avenue. Why should car drivers adhere to the traffic laws when they see widespread violations with no enforcement, when the police are present and do nothing? The motorcyclists are in a rush, the scooter drivers are too, and no doubt the car and truck drivers would prefer not to have to stop. In the meanwhile, the pedestrians are increasingly put at risk, and that particularly includes people with disabilities who have hearing, sight and mobility issues, and who can no longer rely on the traffic lights to move off the curb safely and into the street. I cannot understand the failure of the police to enforce the existing laws, and the failure of our elected and appointed officials to require the police to do that. Do they prefer that we get injured or that there be fisticuffs out in the street? Surely, there is a politician who would like to get elected to a more important position who is ready to take this matter up. That person is virtually guaranteed of victory regardless of the opponent.
Shout out to photographer Daniel Krieger, able to capture the motion with enough clarity to note which of the riders is grossly flaunting the laws.
NYC DOT 30 day comment period for cargo assist bikes began Aug 14.
https://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/pr2023/pedal-assist-cargo-bikes.shtml
Use this opportunity to be heard re registration, insurance and accountability for observing traffic and safety laws.
Thank you for this. My wife and I left our comments, & I hope many others will do so as well.
License all bikes for a small fee. Educate people about bike safety.
Many leisure riders on e bikes go much slower than those on analog bikes or those riders in parks that think they are riding in the Tour de France. They are a real menace to pedestrians and are allowed to ride on greenways and in parks. To me that makes no sense. A bike is a bike. Any speeding bike is a dangerous thing.
I think that delivery e bike riders pose a different issue. They are pressed for time to make a living. If we could all relax and wait 10 more minutes for our seamless meal deliveries they might be able to slow down. Or if they were paid a more livable wage the delivery riders might be able to slow down and ride more safely for all.
No Gail, the basic issue is speed by throttle e-bikes and running reds, sometimes going the wrong way or a combination of speed with driving illegally on the sidewalk is added to the mix.
You are next to totally uninformed on this subject to have made the statement quoted.
All e-machines that are not registered (so Revel or Teslas say) need to be speed limited to 12 MPH.
And then they and their operators are to obey traffic laws, or risk immediate seizure of the machines and destruction of the machines if the steep fine is not paid within 60 days.
WE HAVE CAMERAS EVDERYWHERDE NO EXCUSE NOT TO ENFORCE RULES. COPS CAN BE AT LARGE BUILDINGS AND ENFORCE LAWS AS DRIVERS COME TO DELIVER.
NYC seems incapable of trying even to solve its problems. from the migrant crisis to petty and not petty crime, countless illegal pot stores, the bike fiasco, most citizens want these to end and yet it doesn’t and there’s no solution. because solution really is more enforcement by police and that has become just not possible in today’s political climate.
in he las 18 months or so, NYPD sent cops to stations where fare evaders were most prevalent to try and deal with a huge surge in evaders.
What happened? AG James sued NYPD claiming this had a disparate impact on people of color people and was illegal. how can you operate a city where the state AG sues city police for putting more cops where the crime is? same issue will plague any real effort to curb any of the problems we now face including the e-bike/motorcycle problem.
This is what people voted for. Why are they complaining?
Why is there no mention of traffic lights? Bikes and motorcycles pay no attention to them or to pedestrians crossing the street. Are they supposed to stop or not?
Interesting that the graphic states max speed of 30mph, yet the speed limit is 25. Seems like a contradiction?
I’ve been riding motorcycles all my life. To do that I had to take a training class, register my bike, wear a helment, carry insurance and have a drivers license with a MD qualification.
The fact that these people are driving motorized vehicles at at least 20 – 30 miles an hour with no regulation or license, is outrageous.
This situation needs to be brought under control immediately. These rules need to be changed to be consistent with all other motorized two wheel vehicles.
The current situation from a public heath and safely perspective is asinine.
This is one of the key issues that will be addressed at the 20th Precinct’s Build the Block Sector B meeting on Wednesday, September 13. Come and comment where it will have impact.
For meeting specifics send an email to : buildtheblocksectorb@gmail.com
Unlikely.
The laws are well known, the NYPD, including the 20, ignores them.
I ride an electric scooter. I try to be courteous and safety-conscious, but I also don’t always stop at red lights, just like I sometimes jaywalk. If there are no cars coming, I’m going to carefully look around and then ride through, just like I wouldn’t stand at an empty intersection and wait for the light to change before walking across. We can use some common sense here.
I notice that all of these complaints apply to human-powered bikes too. They often don’t follow the rules of the road, they ride on the sidewalk, they go very fast, they injure and kill pedestrians. Why are we singling out e-vehicles?
I’m all for registration, safety classes, helmet laws, and limiting speeds to 10-15 mph. But let’s be honest, we’re not going to get rid of all e-vehicles, just like we’re not going to get rid of regular bikes. The genie is out of the bottle.
What we *should* be doing (but won’t) is radically cutting down on the degree to which this city is built around cars. We need a LOT more protected bike lanes, a lot fewer cars on the road, a lot more pedestrian areas where no cars are allowed, etc. Why are we so up in arms about this when cars killed 255 people in this city last year, HALF of which were pedestrians?
as a bike rider, I agree that regular riders could be more cautious.
that said, e-bikes are evidently what’s causing the deaths and serious injuries in large part because that’s what the delivery guys are riding/driving .
e-bikes are heavier, tend to be bigger and hit with a lot more force than a regular bike. they also have higher top speeds and more importantly higher average speeds. I can hit 22 MPH on my bike flat, but only for a sprint.. I usually cruise at around 10-12 MPH, and every e-bike zooms by at about 18 mph which is way above average for bikes in the city. higher speed= more distance to stop, lower margin of error and harder impact. my bike weighs 21 pounds. an e-bike version of my bike weighs 39 pounds, and most e-bikes are heavier –average e-bike weight is 55 lbs.
as for cars, people need cars. solution is to enforce the law. Copenhagen and Amsterdam have plenty of cars, and bike lanes with their own light and smartly designed streets.
Ryan,
Sorry but IMO there is something really wrong when bus and subway fares go up and essential bus and subway service keeps going down – and yet the bicycle community thinks more funds should be poured into expanding the bicycle infrastructure.
well, increasingly more New Yorkers are riding bicycles. that is par of the problem for bus and subway fare: fewer riders (WFH contribute tot hat also).
Maybe there wouldn’t be increases in bike ridership if the subways and buses provided better service without raising the fares. One can take a Citibike eBike for less than a subway/bus fare on a short trip. The MTA is notoriously incompetent and the poster child for waste, fraud, and abuse in managing their funds.
Cyclists know what they are doing is wrong but they don’t care. I agree with some Strict rules that will make it possible for them to be held accountable but the KEY will be enforcement! I don’t see the Mayor of Swag doing that.
And advice for UWS pedestrians: Carry a walking stick or rolled-up umbrella when you are out walking. When held horizontally (in front or behind), they may cause reckless bikers to exercise a little caution.
Excellent article! A needed summary and a real public service. WSR is a treasure. Please continue to keep us posted on how we as pedestrians and bicyclists can have a voice in the regulations being considered.
Unless the Police Commissioner tells the Precinct Captains to Strictly Enforce existing Vehicle and Traffic Laws, additional legislation will be disregarded by the Bicyclists and their Lobbyists. Take the illegal vehicles off of the streets.
We need to crack down on all these scofflaws. And dammit, why is my dinner delivery taking so long! Yesterday, I had to wait 30 minutes to get my Instacart delivery. It’s all going to hell in an ebike handbasket.
Deliveries are no quicker today than they were 20 years ago. Don’t blame people getting deliveries, please.
There is a VERY simple solution to all of this. BAN ALL ELECTRIC BIKES AND MOPEDS.
I agree with Paul and others who think only non motorized bicycles should be allowed in bike lanes and required to obey traffic signals. They should have neon colored identifying markers and not be allowed after dark unless they have lights. All other motorized vehicles should be on our roadway required to be registered under the owners name thusly having clearly visible plates. Enforcement cameras, police and meter attendants will be better able to do their jobs. Speed limit in NYC is 25 mph and should be strictly enforced for every vehicle. None including old fashioned bicycles should be permitted on sidewalks or walkways. If nothing is done and we don’t feel safer we might consider joining the Safety Alliance. It shouldn’t be that hard if we hit violators in the pocketbook. Fines could triple or more with repeat offences
It is truly “dodge” city out there. It is WAY past time for ALL electric vehicles – of any and all types – to be licensed, registered and insured. And since a law is only as good as the enforcement “teeth” it is given, there must be active and even massive enforcement, including fines that get higher with each infraction, and the confiscation of e-vehicles if warranted.
Anyone who has eyes has seen that, for e-riders of all types – from simple e-bikes to full-on scooters – traffic lights are now entirely “optional”; almost no e-rider stops at a red signal anymore. This is not an exaggeration.
And riding against one–way traffic is rampant, as are illegal right turns on red (in fact, turns in any direction at any time!), and riding on the sidewalk – even full-sized scooters!
It is absolute madness and must be reined in. EVERY SINGLE ELECTRIC VEHICLE – bike, moped, scooter, etc. – MUST be licensed, registered and insured. Period.
Absolutely with you, Ian! (“Dodge” city, extra points.)
It’s simple: Vote republican. The city needs conservatism. Order. Law. Discipline. Respect. Enough with liberalism. Enough with caos. Enough with lawlessness. There is way too much tolerance with everything here. It’s really hard to justify paying high taxes with what you get in exchange. I want a city where police officers are respected and are eager to protect the population. New York used to be a role model city to the world. Now it’s essentially a joke. The city will come back. It always does. I have hope.
Urge those concerned about e-bikes on sidewalks to engage and have your voice heard. A new NYC Rules Amendment enabling cargo-bike sidewalk deliveries is underway and it’s up to all of us to stop it-if we can. Public comments and a Sept 13th 10AM on-line public hearing will allow New York residents to weigh in and express their opinions
NYC DOT is planning to redefine the term “bicycle” to include all pedal assist e-bikes and cargo e-bikes as long as 10′ and as wide as 4′ and have as many as 4 wheels. Allowed on sidewalks too.
The virtual “hearing” is 10:00 on 9/13.
https://www.cb8m.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/DOT-Proposed-Rule-Pedal-Assist-Commercial-Bicycles.pdf
If you can, at the very least-please submit your comment & title it “Pedal Assist Commercial Bicycles” (deadline is 9/13/23) to
rules@dot.nyc.gov or
https://rules.cityofnewyork.us/
Just this evening walking three blocks from the subway, on every single block and intersection there were numerous “regular” bicyclists, Citibikers, and ebikes – and all going through red lights, some going the wrong way and some ignoring bike lanes.
Multiple near hits of pedestrians.
Multiple bikers almost crashing into each other.
All were healthy looking guys.
Apparently too much for them to adhere to traffic rules.
Too onerous for them to walk, bus or subway.
The entitlement is unbelievable.
BTW the car and truck drivers all obeyed teh law, stopped at red lights, waited for pedestrians at turns.
I agree – and the anger against car owners is utterly hysterical…..
It is not just the daily stress and worry about dodging Citibike, ebike etc – but also that the City keeps implementing changes to make things better for bicyclists!
At the same time the City ignores pedestrians and bus and subway riders.
For example the City is making bike lanes (8th Ave, 10th Ave) wider and planning to officially allow more e-commerce cargo delivery bikes!
Congestion Pricing won’t lower bus and subway fares but the bicycle lobby is pushing the City to add more bike lanes with fewer vehicles.
A lot of those “E Bikes” are motorcycles! Gas powered motorcycles. They’re on the bicycle paths, sidewalks, going the wrong way in traffic, and, of course, helmetless. I see them on the Hudson River Bikeway going at least 30 MPH. Once you start letting E vehicles get away with murder it’s a slippery slope to worse.
I commute on the Hudson River greenway every single day. I ride a normal un-motorized bike. Rain or shine. There is 100% a huge difference between an e-bike and any class of moped. Mopeds should not be allowed on greenways, their size and rate of acceleration and steering controls are completely different from e-bikes. I have noticed they have become more and more prominent the past few months.
I have no issue at all with e-bikes, specifically the delivery folks that use them for their lively hood. The mopeds should not be in bike lanes. The hover boards and electric skateboards are usually used as someone’s eclectic leisure activity, not really for commuting. Sometimes they are annoying but whatever.