New York lawmakers trying to crack down on the sale of high-speed e-bikes with new bill
New York lawmakers announced a new bill Wednesday that would ban the sale of high-speed e-bikes.
State Sen. Kristen Gonzalez and Assemblymember Diana Moreno are targeting what are often called "e-motos," devices being sold as e-bikes and e-scooters but can go much faster than what's legal on city streets.
"It's a new term. So many of these vehicles are being marketed as e-bikes, which makes it sound like they're going 20 mph and below. But, again, anything that goes above that really should have its own definition," Gonzalez said.
The bill would prohibit retailers from selling certain devices capable of going more than 20 mph. Sellers could face civil penalties of up to $1,000 for prohibited sales, according to the legislation.
"The ability to fine retailers for selling them or marketing them as e-bikes will help us reduce the numbers that are getting onto our streets," Gonzalez said. "Every time we lose a neighbor, it's not just a senseless tragedy. It is, we know, a call to action because street safety is a responsibility that our state government holds, our local governments hold."
The location of Wednesday's announcement was also significant. The press conference was on the Queens side of the Queensboro Bridge where two people were killed back in May.
That crash happened on the bridge's bike lane, with one person on a bicycle and the other on an electric scooter that police said could go more than 50 mph.
The new legislation comes as Mayor Zohran Mamdani is also putting a new focus on micromobility as part of his 10-year Vision Zero Reimagined plan.
It includes reducing the speed limit to 15 mph near more schools, adding barriers at 1,000 intersections a year, and a crackdown on bad drivers who account for 40% of all traffic deaths, according to the mayor.
"I want to be very clear. If you are breaking the law repeatedly on our roads, you will not be allowed to drive in New York City," Mamdani said at a news conference Tuesday.
"I think one bill is not going to completely solve this problem, but we're really, really happy with this bill, in terms of doing what it set out to do," said Corey Hannigan, policy director for nonprofit Transportation Alternatives.
It's still unclear what actions the mayor is willing to take against the e-bikes, scooters and cyclists that clog the streets and sidewalks. In March, Mamdani stopped the NYPD from issuing them criminal summonses for low-level traffic offenses.
