By Ann Cooper
“You’re not looking!” I chided my friend from Washington, D.C. who came to the city Memorial Day weekend. I was reminding her of the lesson I’d given the day before, on how to navigate New York City streets on foot in the era of electric bikes, electric scooters, and mopeds. Crossing a street: look both ways, several times, before stepping out, even when the light is clearly signaling it’s safe to walk. On the sidewalk: never assume you’re safe just because you’re not in the street; an unseen, unheard “micromobility” vehicle could whiz by you from the rear at any moment, its driver offering no warning whatsoever.
Feeling responsible for an out-of-town friend’s safety made me acutely aware of just how much city pedestrians have had to adjust their habits since the advent of e-bikes and e-scooters. And so I was not surprised to see that the Rag story generating the most comments this week (80 in the first day) was Tuesday’s exclusive revealing the city has quietly extended for another year a pilot program that allows e-bikes and e-scooters in city parks – including, of course, Central Park and Riverside Park.
General outrage was the theme of the day, with some readers seeking to prove their point by offering personal observations of riders flouting traffic rules in the parks.
Mom
In Central Park on Saturday – a lovely sunny day so the park was packed.
Trying to cross the park roadway was a major issue.
Bicycles are supposed to stop at the red light to allow people to cross – but zero bicycles (pedal and e) stopped.
Bicyclists just kept going….And there were multiple bicyclists on various footpaths although they are not allowed – bicyclists are supposed to dismount on footpaths.
Rachel
This is insane. On Sunday, I was by Cherry Hill and the grey citibikes (ebikes) were on pedestrian paths. Not only are bikes not stopping at lights, they’re now also ALL over ped paths, and a ton of tourists barely know how to brake those super heavy “bikes”
Pamela Greitzer-Manasse, the Upper West Side musician who was left disabled after a moped driver knocked her down near Lincoln Center in 2022, alluded to her accident in denouncing the pilot program extension.
Pam Manasse
This is the worst news of the year!! The parks will continue to be even more dangerous now. What is the mayor and Parks Dept looking at? Don’t they see what I do? These vehicles are creating more lawless and dangerous behavior. How many more kids playing, people walking, sitting, strolling, walking their dogs will be hit before something changes? What does the mayor see? Does he walk the park daily? Because I do and am terrified of being hit… AGAIN!
One comment summed it up, briefly and vividly.
Rob
E-bikes have turned the city into the Wild, Wild West.
But if pedestrians are navigating a Wild, Wild West, who is to blame? A few readers pointed fingers at Mayor Adams, others at the NGO Transportation Alternatives. One suggested a more shadowy force.
Simone
Does the mafia control e-bikes? Why does no-one want to regulate them? They are terrifying everyone, setting buildings on fire that kill residents, and big chain stores continue to sell uncertified batteries, breaking the law openly.
Such unity of opinion on a public policy issue – the need to regulate micromobility vehicles – is relatively rare for Rag commenters. Our story about Governor Kathy Hochul’s shock decision to scrap congestion pricing, for example, prompted dozens of comments, rehashing for the umpteenth time the argument that the plan was brilliant – unless it was actually crazy.
Almost as rare as unity are helpful suggestions for how to channel outrage into civic action.
Bloom Carol
My fellow New Yorkers, please join EVSA, the E-Vehicle Safety Alliance. It’s a grassroots organization that lobbies our local and state officials to enact legislation (including licensing) for all e-vehicles. It is growing in numbers and increasing in clout. The more of us band together in an organized way, the better our chances of pressuring the politicians to hear our complaints. EVSA has already instructed its members as to who and how to reach about this latest assault on safety and common sense and what to say in a voicemail or email. You’ll find it on NYCEVSA.org.
For the record, the Rag takes no position on EVSA’s agenda. We do, though, firmly believe in civic engagement as an effective, peaceful means for airing debate and working to solve civic problems.
Subscribe to West Side Rag’s FREE email newsletter here.
Ooof. If only there were a mechanism to put new people in charge every so often so that the needs of various groups could be addressed from time to time..
TERM LIMITS!!!!
Hi. Thank you for writing article. NYC-EVSA has only one agenda; safety for all through accountability. A big part of this is passing legislation that requires registration:license plates for all e-vehicles. Consequences shape behavior. There is currently no consideration of consequence because thete IS no consequence for the egregious riding of e-vehicles.. Riders take no accountability, nor does Citibike, delivery apps or the city. We have 80 victims in EVSA, a group that Pam Manasse and I founded together, in hopes that nobody else had to suffer the same pain and loss that Pam has. For 1 1/2 years we have fought, along with our wonderful members, to get legislation passed for common-sense regulation of e-vehicles. It shouldn’t be this hard but we are up against the wealthy bike lobby (Transportation Alternatives) agenda and legislators that would rather listen to them over the majority of New Yorkers. TA’s solution is that more ‘ infrastructure’-wider bike lanes: more bike lanes/ will solve this crisis. False. No additional bike lane or wider bike lane will ever stop a rider from speeding through a red light. Only changing behavior will solve this horrible crisis in our streets, which has greatly damaged our quality of life. We wouid rather the consequence for this behavior be a fine than a death or seriously injured pedestrian, cyclist or e-bike rider. There should be nothing controversial about our agenda for life saving common sense solutions. Safety is paramount and we have a right to it. And, I will add that e-vehicles do not belong in our parks, the only oasis left to escape this madness.
I second that emotion.
Amen
A few things.
1. I am a cyclist and no I don’t always stop at stop signs/red lights when on streets and/or cycling paths. However, I always slow down and always give way to pedestrians. I only go through the stop signs/red lights if no one is crossing.
2. As a cyclist, the Citibikes have completely taken the joy out of cycling in the city. For starters, they are being used more by tourists and/or reckless younger city residents. The tourists are just as bad as the kids. They ride side by side in large groups and make it difficult to pass. They ride on the opposite side of the road. And they basically just don’t follow cycling rules. I thought the original intent of Citibikes was for residents to get from one place to another, not for tourists or kids to go joy riding.
3. Point #s also applies to scooters (in terms of the riders being reckless and taking the joy out of cycling for me in the city.)
A) I am a cyclist that acknowledges I don’t follow the rules.
B) The CitiBikers are breaking the rules, and it’s gotta stop!
I am also not happy with how many tourists recklessly use CitiBikes. But to be fair, you must also note that they are helping to financially support this program – someone who comes in and uses a bike for a day or two is probably paying a lot more than a New Yorker with a season pass. So they are keeping your costs down and making it cost effective to have more bikes and locations.
There should be more policing of illegal bikers. Those who are going the wrong way, going to fast on sidewalks, etc. I once got a ticket for a subway violation (going between cars – who knew?) and charged a fine. Do the same to those who violate biking regulations – it does not require a bike or e-bike to be registered to do this. Very simple.
Let me reiterate, you are NEVER allowed to ride a bike on any sidewalk. Youi must follow all the rules of the road. Pedestrians first.
Forget about going “too fast on sidewalks.” Bikes ARE NOT ALLOWED on sidewalks for anyone over age 13.
The prohibition against walking between subway cars has been in effect for many years now and is clearly detailed on stickers on every door. I don’t agree with the policy but it’s there in plain view.
Biking in the city was a breeze 15 years ago, tourists on bikes and delivery e-bikes ruined biking in the city. Back when it was just us crazies and bike messengers there was sort of an organized madness to maneuvering traffic on a bike and it worked. I hate to say it but the bike lanes in the city make it more difficult to get around, but they do provide you with some legal protection if you get hit by a car. You also used to have a nice local delivery guy who worked for the restaurant and only covered 10 or so blocks before the app revolution.
I couldn’t disagree more. This is revisionist history. Cycling was not a breeze 15 years ago. I was afraid to ride on Columbus or Amsterdam because they were high-speed raceways for cars. All we had was the Greenway and the parks, and Central Park still had cars. Cycling in NYC is infinitely better now than 15 years ago. That’s why there are so many of us.
There are a lot of “shoulds” re NYC these days. And they’re not being done because some rich guy who has politicians in his pocket doesn’t want them done. Oh, wait, sorry … rich guys, plural, and all genders included.
Is govt virtuous in, say, a gated community in a Republican-run state like Florida? Maybe that’s where I oughta relocate.
Just emoting.
Can someone Explain what the reasoning is for not requiring licensing and insurance for E vehicles.
Because it will discourage their use and provide another law for the NYPD to selectively enforce. Neither seems like a very smart move in a city that’s trying to discourage driving (and that just lost congestion pricing for the time being) and is trying to promote equity.
Because many sensible policy changes are resisted because of an overdetermined fear that they will target various underprivileged or ethnic groups.
E vehicles are only part of the problem. There are also all the mopeds and small motorcycles and one wheels also use the greenway and bike paths, and ALL of these vehicles ignore signage in Riverside Park directing them to walk their bikes if they venture into the pedestrian promenade. It is just totally lawless.
And where does all this supply of bikes come from? Consumer demand – for those of you too lazy to get out of your apartment and pick up your own damn takeout or go to a grocery store. You – consumers – are driving much of this. So stop complaining about the problem you’re causing and look in the mirror to think twice about how you are contributing to it.
Look in the mirror? I’m a consumer who picks up my own “own damn takout” and I go to a grocery store, at the risk described in this article and in these comments. But I’m a consumer, yes. And I order my cat food and toilet paper online, so it’s my fault that when I walk the streets or go to the park, I risk my limbs and my life? You, Purgatory, are a problem, not me, when you blame the victim.
Pretty tone-deaf comment. If you order take out, you’re lazy? SMH.
Oh, please. Stop with the self-righteous blame game and consider your neighbors. Consider the mobility-challenged and the elderly, for whom Fresh Direct (which doesn’t use bicycles) is a boon. Consider the working families for whom ordering a pizza is a treat after a long day on the job. Complain instead about the lack of regulation for two-wheeled vehicles, electrified or otherwise, and the lack of enforcement of what puny rules exist (“walk your bike” signs in the parks – hah). And complain about the lack of leadership that has permitted the situation to grow out of control. If you are so intent on picking up your own “damned takeout,” feel free, but please don’t feel free to criticize your fellow Upper West Siders for their choices.
And yet all of these examples were able to make a go of it for decades before big tech delivery apps.
Yes! Not to mention the restaurants that held on throughout Covid due to delivery, and like it or not the jobs it provides for these delivery drivers
No restaurants “held on throughout Covid due to delivery.” They held on because of the dining sheds and pick ups. The current food-delivery insanity really only took hold in 2022, two years into the pandemic. Further, these delivery apps often take up to a 30% cut and harm these restaurants more than anything.
This is indeed a concern, and it seems to reflect a general cultural degradation of social discipline. In addition to the totally unrestrained bikes and e-bikes (and sometimes motor scooters), which make crossings hazardous and unpredictable, there are now appreciable numbers of pedestrians in the streets, where cars should be. And, although a certain amount of crossing when it’s safe against the lights is ok, there are lots of pedestrians who are just weaving through the traffic, whether at corners or in the middle of blocks, often emerging from between parked cars, where they are hard to see. It’s not the mayor’s fault. It’s our fault. And the police should give lots more tickets.
Something needs to be done to stop this. Maybe something as simple as picking corners at random each day and stopping bikers that do not obey traffic laws and ticketing them. No id – take away the bike for an hour. And since they are not used as they should be, remove some of the bike lanes which will 1 – give back some parking and 2 – relieve some of the congestion caused by the removal of a traffic lane. One I think should go anyway is the one on CPW which is still dangerous with the bike lane needing to be crossed for bus stops. And bikes are exercise. Is it that much of a problem to use the downtown lane on Columbus and Uptown on Amsterdam.
Who drew up the plan to have bus stop be part of bike lanes ? Poor city planning at least attach to bus red stop 🛑 sign that juts out when the bus is picking up passengers I can’t tell you how often pedestrians stepping into the bus entering a bus due to city planning almost get hit by bikes .
Has anyone checked records of campaign contributions to city council members, the mayor or anyone else with a say? Is it possible that there is a lobby of e-bike manufacturers and other special interests (rechargeable e-bike battery companies?) that are entertaining and contributing to our elected officials? Something has to account for political action that otherwise makes absolutely no sense!
It’s well known that Mark Gorton, a billionaire behind TransAlt, and other owners of businesses that use/exploit deliveristas, capture the fealty of our mayor and other pols. Normal people in neighborhoods count for zero.
To Joanne: I stopped reading your comment after point #1. Read it again yourself and imagine you’re not you: would you trust a bike rider who doesn’t stop at red lights and stop signs but says she “slows down”? If someone doesn’t see you stop, how will they know that you’re even going to slow down? Do you shout out “I’m headed straight toward you, but don’t worry, I’m going to slow down!”?
Maybe change your habits a bit and obey the rules of the road.
I am in agreement, works, pedestrians rid openly and fast on the sidewalks, how do we protect ourselves?
Ebikes! Get rid of them. Driving south on broadway at 72nd, i was hemmed in by ebikes on my right and left, forcing me to straddle both lanes at 71st. I couldnt see the bikes on my right, and as i attempted to shift lanes to turn on 70th, I had to stop in the center of the road to let them pass. Is there a bike lane on Broadway heading south? This is a busy intersection, and dangerous for cars,bikes and pedestrians
Thank you so much for writing this. It is a much needed conversation. The more we voice the more people who make , change, and enforce laws will hear!
Just reading more comments… as New Yorkers we don’t need to blame each other. New York should be a place where we can walk and yes ride as safely as possible and still get our food delivered!!
The bike lanes on Columbus and Amsterdam Avenues should be moved so as to be on the outside of the restaurant extensions and those extensions should be moved so as to be up against the sidewalks where the green bike lanes are.Crossing those bike lanes is extremely dangerous
I stepped off my building’s stoop and was almost hit by a young woman riding a Citibike fast on the sidewalk. I yelled, “Ride in the street!” and pointed to the street. Was ignored, of course.
What exercise is there to be gained by riding an e-bike or e-scooter? All it takes is button pressing. One doesn’t pedal, doesn’t strengthen one’s abs or quads on an e-bike. I used to bike to help keep physically fit. IMHO, that’s how the Central Park throughfares ought to be used. What health advantage is there to be gained by letting a battery replace your muscle-driven efforts? I really don’t want to risk biking there any longer. Except for official reasons, hydrocarbon-powered vehicles are prohibited from using the park. The same rule should hold for battery-powered ones.
When was it decided that bicycles were to be used only for exercise? Most cyclists just need a way to get around.
I would imagine that for SOME, it’s not about exercise, but rather, necessity.
Necessity? How did people survive without e-bikes before they came into existence?
They are not necessary.
LOL. Is that a serious comment? Scooters are never needed? I mean, life expectancy has doubled in the last 100 years, but I guess that didn’t cross your mind?
What we have to do is insist that e-vehicle riders obey traffic laws. They should be licensed, they should wear ID, like a bib with an id no. and they should be ticketed just like cars. All we get from the bikers is mourning for dead bikers. We feel the same way about walkers.
Pedestrian and subway and bus rider here .
There needs to be much more support and love for buses.
People new to NYC may not realize that grocery stores and restaurants actually delivered before before e-bikes and UberEats.
Restaurants and pizza places delivered locally, typically within 20 blocks.
Grocery stores delivered too.
People walked and cooked too….
Just a few years ago….
Oh. Please. Give me a break. It’s not the cyclists or scooters that are the danger. It’s the pedestrians! You walk in the bike lane. You cross against the light. You cross in the middle of the block – both young and old. Take some personal responsibility. I’m all for enforcing the traffic laws, but enforce them equally and ticket the pedestrian scofflaws too!
Could you point to the statistics of how many cyclists, scooter riders and cars drivers that have been injured by people walking into them?
Actually, I’m solely a pedestrian and currently nursing a broken ankle — but in defense of pedal bike riders, the e-bikes are terrorizing them in the bike lanes.
Laws to need to change YESTERDAY. The consequences for e-bike riders and riders of mopeds, bicycles need to be severely upgraded. The lack of respect from all of these riders is a disgrace. I have no sympathy for any one of them getting injured. Sorry.
So much for New York City being a great place to grow old. I’m somewhat spry at 60 and feel like I don’t stand a chance with the throngs of selfish, distracted and stupid riders. I can’t imagine how scary it must be for someone with mobility challenges! A super sad state of affairs.
I am terrified. I was terrified before I broke my ankle and now it is really insane.
Citi bikes in Barcelona have LICENCE PLATES!
Ebikes are basically motorcycles. The vehicles must be registered and users must be licensed. Everyone needs to pass a test for a driver’s license – why should these potentially lethal vehicles be exempt? A simple “rules of the road” text and a computer generated license would suffice. Escalating fines for riding on sidewalks, riding the wrong way, and going through red lights with a seizure on the third offense (or an ejection from the Citibike program). That would improve pedestrian safety and be a source of income for the city.
Who does control Registration on motorized and non motorized vehicles in this town..?..Hmmm? Follow the money..,As for pedestrians scofflaws?..You cant fine them if they,re DEAD..
Speaking of Citibikes, I recently went to the Moynahan train station using a cab. Normally, I would go to via subway but I had multiple suitcases and could not handle them on the subway stairs. I was astonished to find that the area in front of the Moynahan building is entirely devoted to Citibikes. This is the location directly in front of the station on 8th Avenue, which is directly across the street from Penn Station. So you have people going to Penn station and to Moynahan, and people streaming out of both places all the time. Traffic seems to be backed up in that area — trucks, buses, cabs — and I cannot fathom the thinking (if any) behind placing a long string of Citibikes right there. Who comes to Moynahan or Penn Station by bicycle and who among those exiting those places wants to get on a bike in that traffic mess? Certainly, no one with luggage or packages. And yet, that prime space for a taxi stand, for people exiting taxis and seeking taxis, is entirely occupied by a block long string of Citibikes. Maybe there is an explanation but i cannot imagine a worse allocation of space in a highly congested place for both people and vehicles. It strikes me as pure stupidity with, once again, our elected representatives no where to be seen and not heard from.
It’s not hard to imagine that the throngs of people who commute in & out of Penn Station via subways, NJT, & LIRR use those Citibike facilities in both directions. Not everyone has luggage or packages.
At this time (3:30PM), the Citibike location across the street from Penn Station has 3 bikes and 81 empty docks available. So it looks like people are using those bikes.
It kind of is hard to imagine though. Who bikes to the train? If you are a train commuter you are probably taking an MTA train to Penn for your connection.
Really? 3 bikes and 81 empty docks, for a total of 84 docks, means bikes are being used by commuters who arrive at, and leave via, Penn Station? Okay, you posted this on a Sunday. Please report on the situation weekday mornings and late afternoons and maybe your assertion that “throngs of people who commute” via Amtrak, LIRR and MetroNorth are using Citibikes for the Manhattan leg of their commute is even a smidge credible.
After 2,240 skydives, I’m convinced that I’m going to die by being hit by an electric bicycle. Looking twice each way while crossing a bike lane when you have the light is not enough, people.
Has the Rag ever done an article, or even an interview, with the delivery workers? I would love to hear their perspective about what changes we could make to actually fix the problem instead of the one millionth comment complaining about them without offering any solutions.
https://www.westsiderag.com/2024/04/25/a-new-app-policy-on-tipping-erodes-what-deliveristas-gained-with-minimum-wage
Like every other media outlet, the West Side Rag should take a position on the e-bike, moped, and other electric vehicle issue, and all traffic issues. Every other media outlet has an editorial board that determines the political and social views of the newspaper or magazine or radio or TV station. There used to be a Fairness Doctrine in broadcasting that called for point-counterpoint, but the Fairness Doctrine bit the dust decades ago when broadcasting was deregulated. Print media had no such mandate. Why not take a stand?
Not sure where most of the commenters have been seeing these mythical tourists. 99% of the close calls I have seen in Central Park have not been caused by citi bikes, but rather by MAMILs – the perpetually angry 50-something middle managers LARPing like they are in the Tour de France.
Can someone please translate this?