E-Bike Registration Won’t Make Our Streets Safer
Read our letter to the New York City Council
“Transportation Alternatives supports serious legislation to make our streets safe for everybody who uses them and we are ready to partner with the Council on legislation that makes it easier, safer, and more affordable to ride bikes, including e-bikes, and e-scooters.”
Right now, a bill has been proposed in the City Council that would require the licensing and registration of e-bikes, e-scooters, and other legal motorized vehicles.
Transportation Alternatives opposes Intro 0758-2022, sponsored by Council Member Robert Holden. Here’s why:
Licenses and registration puts an unnecessary burden on bike and scooter riders.
A registration requirement would be a costly and inefficient program that would not achieve the intended goal.
Bikes and scooters are nowhere near as dangerous as cars are in the event of a crash, and are most often the victims of crashes caused by cars and trucks. 2023 alone has seen near record high cyclist deaths.
Licenses and registration are a distraction from proven safety measures.
A licensing and registration system would have high administrative costs to the Department of Transportation. DOT should be prioritizing implementing the legal mandates of the NYC Streets Plan, which is behind schedule. The NYC Streets Plan requires DOT to build safe streets infrastructure across New York City, which is actually proven to keep people safe.
Licenses and registration will not be enforced equitably.
If passed, the bill could lead to additional unnecessary stops of cyclists and e-micromobility riders by police, and unequal enforcement by police officers on riders. In 2022, 90% of tickets issued by NYPD for riding on the sidewalk were given to people of color.
We should be building streets that use design to slow people down, protecting pedestrians and bike riders from cars and trucks. By creating “self-enforcing streets,” the City of New York can keep people safe 24/7, without relying on armed police.
Licenses and registration are anti-climate.
As we fight the climate emergency, and with congestion pricing on the horizon, we must incentivize New Yorkers to adopt sustainable and active transportation methods. This bill would make it harder for New Yorkers to choose e-bikes and e-scooters, placing further burdens on riders in transit deserts who require a bike or scooter to get around.
Finally, the bill has many unanswered questions.
For example, the bill specifically requires a license plate to denote whether a device is for commercial or personal use. What would this mean for those who use their devices for work? Would someone need to buy separate e-micromobility devices for personal or business use?
Would Citi Bike riders be required to obtain a license?
Statement by Transportation Alternatives on Council Bill Intro 758-2022
Transportation Alternatives strongly opposes Intro 0758-2022, sponsored by Council Member Robert Holden, which would create a significant burden on bike and e-scooter riders. This bill would require all e-bikes, including pedal-assist Citi Bikes and cargo bikes, to be licensed and registered, deterring New Yorkers from embracing sustainable transit modes at a critical point in the climate fight, and putting delivery workers at risk of ticketing and arrest.
Bikes, including electric bikes, and e-scooters are nowhere near as dangerous as cars, and riders are most often the victims of crashes. This year alone has seen a near 40-year record high for cyclist deaths. Correctly addressing street safety in New York requires we follow the data with evidenced-based solutions. Safe street infrastructure — such as protected bike lanes and expanded sidewalks — are proven to keep all road users safe, including pedestrians and other motorists. A new licensing and registration system would have high administrative costs, taking time, money, and attention away from implementing urgent traffic safety improvements that are already overdue and underfunded, without making people safer.
If passed, the bill would also lead to additional unnecessary police stops of cyclists and e-micromobility users and create unequal enforcement by police officers on riders. Instead of wasting time and money by registering bikes, the City of New York must build “self-enforcing streets,” which use design to slow speeds and protect all New Yorkers with infrastructure such as daylighting, raised crosswalks, bulb-outs, and accessible curb ramps.
As we fight the climate emergency — and with congestion pricing on the horizon — we should make it easier for New Yorkers to choose sustainable transportation. This bill would do the opposite by placing further burdens on riders in transit deserts who require an e-bike or e-scooter to get around.
This bill also does nothing to address the serious challenges associated with unlicensed mopeds driving in bike lanes. Mopeds are already required to be licensed. Instead of presenting solutions to address the issue at hand, the bill conflates mopeds with e-bikes. The chilling effect this will pose to bike riders is severe. Rather than target workers and bike riders, the Council should consider measures that address the selling of unlicensed mopeds. This includes regulating moped sellers to require license and registration documentation at the point of sale, and ensuring moped riders know what is legally required of them as they make a purchase. Sellers should also provide information regarding riding laws to prevent instances of riding in bike lanes, and the City of New York should conduct proactive outreach to rider communities in multiple languages.
Finally, the legislation also raises multiple unanswered questions: For example, the bill specifically requires a license plate to denote whether a device is for commercial or personal use. What would this mean for those who use their devices for work? Would someone need to buy separate e-micromobility devices for personal or business use?
Transportation Alternatives supports serious legislation to make our streets safe for everybody who uses them and we are ready to partner with the Council on legislation that makes it easier, safer, and more affordable to ride bikes, including e-bikes, and e-scooters. This legislation is a distraction.
