New York Could Legalize E-Bikes, E-Scooters This Week

NEW YORK — Getting around New York City on two wheels could soon get a lot faster. The state Legislature is expected to vote this week on a bill that would legalize electric bicycles and scooters across New York.

The state Senate and Assembly have reached a deal on legalization and lawmakers are expected to vote on the measure Wednesday, the final day of this year's legislative session, according to a spokesperson for the Senate's Democratic majority.

An amended version of the bill, sponsored by state Sen. Jessica Ramos and Assembly Member Nily Rozic, was filed over the weekend. It would legalize the use of three types of e-bikes within the city: Throttle-powered and pedal-assist bikes with top speeds of 20 MPH, and throttle-powered bikes that go as fast as 25 MPH. The latter kind would remain illegal outside the five boroughs.

E-scooters with top speeds of 20 MPH would also eventually be legalized across the state. Cities could set up scooter-sharing programs like those that have proven popular in San Francisco, Nashville and elsewhere — but they would be barred from operating in Manhattan.

The bill's passage would be a victory for the city's delivery workers, who have faced hefty fines for riding e-bikes on the job, and for scooter-sharing companies eager to break into the likely lucrative New York market.

"We are just one step away from better transportation options for New Yorkers — and there is momentum to cross the finish line," said Phil Jones, the senior director of East Coast government relations and strategic parterships at Lime, which offers shared bikes and scooters in dozens of U.S. markets.

The latest version of the bill would make e-bikes and scooters legal to ride on public roads and establish rules for their use. For example, no one younger than 16 could ride an e-bike or scooter, and they would be banned from sidewalks and the Hudson River greenway.

The legislation would also give local governments latitude to further regulate the vehicles or bar them from being ridden within their borders. An outright ban seems unlikely in the city, as the City Council floated legislation to legalize e-bikes and scooters last fall.

While New Yorkers would be able to ride privately owned scooters in Manhattan, carving the borough out of scooter-sharing programs is an apparent attempt to appease state Sen. Liz Krueger, an Upper East Side Democrat who has reportedly expressed concerns about the presence of e-bikes.

"She feels that in Manhattan in particular, we're already overcrowded in the sidewalks, the bike lanes, and the streets, and the situation is different in other localities," Krueger spokesperson Justin Flagg told Gothamist in a story published last week.

Legalization has backing from Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who previously proposed allowing local governments to legalize e-bikes and scooters on their own. "I understand the traffic concerns and you’d need safety precautions but I think it’s a good idea," the Democratic governor said in a Monday morning radio interview.

Mayor Bill de Blasio's administration also supports the measure despite his crackdown on the throttle-powered e-bikes popular with delivery workers. Advocates say those workers, many of whom are immigrants, have borne the brunt of the enforcement, which can come with a fine of up to $500 and confiscation of one's bike.

"We appreciate this commonsense legislation that clarifies the rules around e-bikes on our streets," de Blasio spokesperson Seth Stein said in a statement. "Safety for everyone on our roads is our priority, and we look forward to working with legislators and communities as we develop plans to implement the new law."