Text and Photos By Daniel Krieger
On a recent evening, several dozen members of the E-Vehicle Safety Alliance gathered on the corner of West 88th Street and Columbus Avenue for the group’s first in-person get-together. They had turned out in pursuit of their mission to advocate for street safety at a monthly meeting of the West Side Democrats at Goddard Riverside Community Center that was devoted to the issue.
Carol Van Deusen, a vice president of the West Side Dems, kicked things off by explaining that the danger of e-vehicles (e-bikes, e-scooters, mopeds, etc.) was something that club members and especially the “electeds” needed to hear about.
The group had invited police officials, State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal, Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal, Councilmember Gale Brewer and others, but thirty minutes in, none of the “electeds” had yet arrived. A woman in the audience asked why no one seemed to be solving the problem of e-vehicles and pedestrian safety. Attendees offered various theories, blaming it on the delivery app companies, the city’s Department of Transportation, the bike lobby, and local politicians. “We have zero support from elected officials,” declared one man, right before Sen. Hoylman-Sigal arrived and promptly expressed his support.
“We can’t have our sidewalks be unsafe,” said Hoylman-Sigal. “The issue of e-bikes is the number one constituent complaint that we get in my Senate office. Your voices are being heard and I share your concern.” Part of the issue, he said, stems from a lack of police enforcement of existing laws. Hoylman-Sigal said he is working on legislation that addresses issues contributing to the safety problem – including a bill to increase penalties for e-vehicle hit and runs and another that requires food delivery app companies to have insurance. The senator said Rosenthal has introduced these same bills in the State Assembly. Another proposal, not yet introduced, would require licensing and registration of e-bikes used for commercial purposes.
“It’s going to require a campaign from all of us to advance it,” said Hoylman-Sigal. “Councilmember Brewer told me, ‘you guys have to do something about this in Albany. This is out of control.’ We agree and this is a step forward,” he said, inviting comments from the audience.
“I beg you not to leave out privately owned e-bikes” from licensing requirements, said one woman, while several others in the audience agreed. Someone suggested licensing all bicycles, but Hoylman-Sigal, a cyclist himself, said that would be going too far. Another woman asked if there’s a way to just get people to follow the traffic laws that already exist and are supposed to be enforced by police.
“We are victims and potential victims,” said Janet Schroeder, a co-founder of the E-Vehicle Safety Alliance. “We refuse to accept or live with what’s happening on the streets.” She explained that the group of nearly 100 includes 15 victims of e-vehicle recklessness. Several had come to share how disruptive, costly, painful, and traumatic their experiences had been.
Karen Sughrue, a longtime Upper West Sider, said she was hit last summer on Broadway by an e-skateboarder who ran a red light and then fled the scene. “My injuries have mostly healed,” she told the group, “but I get very nervous crossing the street.”
After the meeting, Sughrue told the Rag she had come “because of what happened to me, but I am also just concerned about the decline of the quality of life here in the city because of this problem. The resentment about this issue has really been bubbling beneath the surface and needs an outlet, and that’s what Janet is tapping into.”
The alliance presented the draft of a seven-point plan; the point that got the most enthusiastic endorsement was a call to cancel the recently launched NYC Parks Electric Micromobility Pilot program, which allows e-bikes and e-scooters to use park drives and greenways — paved, off-road paths for cyclists and pedestrians — and is part of Mayor Adams’ “Charge Safe, Ride Safe: Electric Micromobility Action Plan.”
Sen. Hoylman-Sigal praised the group’s engagement. “Bills begin with ideas and community activation, and that’s what we’re seeing tonight,” he said, urging the group to build a movement that could help get bills passed in Albany – and to press for enforcement of them.
“We can pass all the laws we want,” said Assemblymember Rosenthal, who arrived at the end of the meeting. “But if there’s no enforcement, what’s the use?”
Why are the proposed rules for e-bikes stricter than the ones we have for cars?
Because cars aren’t doing 20 mph on sidewalks!
Let’s start with cars have licenses on them. They are easy to ticket if they break a law— if they break a law — they can even get points against their license… Let’s start there. Let’s make it equal right from the beginning.. License the E-Bikes. You can’t even make a legitimate comparison when there is no way to even make the bikes accountable because they are not tagged.. Let’s begin with equality right there — there are no cars FLYING one after another through their red lights. period. And, we have had some pretty good enforcement over the years at the 65/67 th street park crossings .. If a car made a turn when it was not suppose to— there used to be a cop sitting right there!!!’ And, a license number to grab.. And, with cameras license numbers are grabbed by cameras all over the US.. including our toll booths. If you go through a toll booth and don’t pay.. A ticket is sent to your house by merely a camera grabbing your license number! You can’t begin to compare cars to E-Bikes.. There are no CONSEQUENCES for E-bikes or bikes for that matter to follow ANY rules.. As far as enforcement mentioned by council member —- just confiscate a few bikes and some fines and have apps have insurance .. You just watch — there will be a need for less effort to enforce once you lay down the consequences and an identification process for All bikes.!!!
You don’t have to not do anything if you merely jump to argue enforcement before you even try to set up consequences. The mere ideas of real consequences is going to work! !!!! You will have effortless enforcement whenE- bikes like cars have a fear of losing their transportation or job. You will need very little enforcement when they no they will be identified and have consequences … WITH NO STATED CONSEQUENCES… you give carte blanche to the METAL OPERATORS ..
There is a reasonably simple solution. There has to be a downside to riding on the sidewalk. The vast majority of the cyclists on the sidewalk are delivering something. It used to be they were considered independent contractors so you could only ticket them and they simply would ignore the ticket. Now most of the delivery is being handled by large corporations (Grubhub, etc.) Have a regulation that all these employees of the delivery services must identify themselves as to who they work for and now you have someone with deep pockets to go after for the fines. I did an informal survey recently by going into a whole bunch of businesses who used delivery services and asking if they ever told their deliverers not to ride on the sidewalk. No one answered in the affirmative. When they start paying the fines I’m sure they will take an interest in their riders. Not only that, the city can raise some money.
Josh,
While vehicles are inherently more dangerous, most drivers obey the law.
In contrast most bicyclists/ebikers/skateboarders ignore laws – they go through red lights, buz pedestrians
Cars break the law constantly. Nearly every driver will roll through stop signs or drive faster than speed limits.
Sorry but this is nonsense. Cars constantly run lights as they are changing and park illegally blocking bike lanes etc all over NYC.
Cars don’t ride on sidewalks.
“Cars constantly run lights as they are changing…”
Yup, that does happen. And with the proliferation of red light cameras, more and more drivers are being caught and fined. But compare that to bicyclists and operators of e-vehicles that ignore red lights through the entire cycle of the light (not just as it’s changing), go the wrong way down one-way streets, ride on the sidewalk and are difficult to apprehend because they’re virtually all unregistered.
See the difference?
You know who really ignores red lights? Pedestrians.
During a short walk north on the West Side of Broadway today, I encountered a couple dozen UWSiders ignoring red lights while crossing 73rd, 74th, 75th and 76th Streets.
Easily 90 percent crossed against red lights when no cars were coming.
Just like many bike riders do.
That is a false statement Josh P!
Car speed limit in NY is 25mls per hr these bikes can go up to 40 and do not follow any laws that cars do follow. Bikes are following no traffic laws! I know Bcse I was was hit by a moped who was riding illegally on the sidewalk and am partially paralyzed now!
so if u see some crazy woman screaming
on the sidewslk “no bicycles on the sidewalk” it’s ME. I’ve been doling it for months hoping to make it bettet
I’ve been doing it for years and everyone thinks I’m nuts.
Kudos Michael. Maybe we’ll make it better. MORE people shout get off our sidewalks. How many people have been
injured!! How sad.
This is the quintessential “whataboutism” that has become gaslighting for every group in this city and btw country for those unwilling to take responsibility for the harm they cause. They are so concerned about pushing their own agenda that they have become bullies.
Cars ARE regulated! E-bikes, scooters, mopeds, bikes are not! One must take a driver’s test AND PASS IT to get a license. A car is registered and insured or it is illegal to drive! So much for the comparison which is nonsense.
What it means is I want to get rid of your cars and leave only mass transit, Citibikes and ride share companies no matter how essential your car is to your life and your livelihood. Well then, how nice of you! What a capture by corporate entities of our public streets and sidewalks with lobbyists paying off our elected leaders.
The Biker Bros have had an absolute free for all on our streets and sidewalks for a long time now. Absolutely no regulation and in so many cases no respect for those who are walking on a sidewalk or crossing with the light. As there is no reporting of all the injuries groups like NYC-EVSA had victims testify who have been severely injured by those same bikes on sidewalks, on streets and on the loop in Central Park. A six year old was just critically injured in a park by a 14 year old on a Moped! That child has severe brain damage!
We say ENOUGH!! If our elected leaders can leave their own voters and tax-payers in such unnecessary dangerous conditions on our streets and sidewalks, then it’s clear. We will vote them out! Enough!
Totally! Agree with everything you said: it’s is factual. Can’t erase FACTS! Even years ago the CP Loop was dangerous — a woman was killed there by a biker!!! I was walking through the park and there were lots of cops for a period of time—- after her death the cops were monitoring the bike traffic.. However; that monitoring did not last long.
I am so sorry for the child and equally upset by teenagers or anyone on a moped .. So very upsetting! I had a friend who was hit years ago and had initial brain damage —- he was a Juilliard grad.. He lost his memory — he was very fortunate to have regained his memory of playing the piano…
What a wild crazy park we have with metal flying everywhere and pedestrians feeling the freeze / flight/ run impulses throughout one’s body every time they take their life into their hands when trying to cross the streets in the park with the flying metals not stopping for one light .. Very sad.. Far from relaxing and far from recreational for pedestrians. 😥
Sean, if you remember the situation fully with the woman killed in CP, you will remember that it was the woman who was at fault for crossing against the light with a group of other pedestrians crossing against the light. The cyclist had tried to avoid the group but was not fully able to do so.
That being said, as a cyclist myself, I am firmly in the camp of increased enforcement of any vehicle operator causing a safety situation for pedestrians. However, in what little enforcement we do see, it is poorly targeted because the police tend to pull over the easiest to catch rather than the actual dangerous behavior. I have seen police stop and ticket a cyclist for going through an empty intersection on a red light, and while they are issuing the ticket, another cyclist goes through the same intersection with pedestrians in the crosswalk having to dodge the oncoming bike. The ticket in this case does nothing to increase safety. Enforcement needs to focus on behaviors that are actually dangerous so you are catching the people who are behaving dangerously.
Also, there is a lot of focus on how “all” cyclists run red lights, etc. This is first and foremost a false perception. Studies have found that drivers and cyclists have a statistically similar rate of infractions. Also, a lot of people misunderstand the law. For example, a cyclist moving through an intersection when there is a red light but a walk signal (leading pedestrian intervals) is not running a red light but is legally proceeding through the intersection. Additionally, people often state the “fact” that pedestrians ALWAYS have the right of way, which is also legally untrue.
Lastly, what really gets me is the push for a law for licensing e-bikes. Not because I think it is wrong, but because the law is already there for the ones we all have the biggest complaints about. Every vehicle with a motor (gas or electric) that does not have pedals is REQUIRED to be licensed and insured. But no one is enforcing this law! So who cares if we have more laws. If this one isn’t being enforced, why would anything else be?
I see the enforcement issue as not being sexy to the police. They want the glorified arrests. Motor vehicles of all kinds have the greatest percentage of deaths and injuries to New Yorkers, far higher than assaults with or without weapons. But the gun arrest is sexy. The motor vehicle ticket for failure to yield to a pedestrian is a punishment for the police officer.
Susan,
It is my impression that the bicycle advocates are not not concerned with mass transit.
Their priority is bikes
This isn’t a discussion about cars! Why is it that we cannot have a discussion about cycling or e-bike safety without someone yelling. Cars! People must be licenses to drive a car. Cars don’t ride on the side walk. Cars must have insurance and be registered.
This is a discussion about e-bikes and either vehicles that refuse to follow any rules and now the city wants them on walking trails all over the park. Enough is enohg. Pedestrians are the ultimate in eco friendly …no gasoline and no exploding batteries. Its time pedestrians got some protection.
YES! Enough is really enough. NYC went from the most walkable to the least walkable in three years.
Manay many more people are seriously injured or killed by cars & trucks.
Cars aren’t allowed to drive down the Riverside Park greenways or through the middle of Central Park. They are also licensed and registered. It’s called accountability.
They are not stricter. However, we do not have cars riding on the sidewalk, regularly going the wrong way on a one way street. Cars have to be registered, drivers must have insurance and driver’s licenses.
“5. Emobility devices with no plate, paper plate, or altered plates are confiscated.”
We do not confiscate cars with defaced license plates. They’re everywhere!
Actually, we do. Remove the plate from your car, or hang a fake or altered license plate on it and park it on a public street. It’ll be towed within a few hours.
Ha! That’s a good one! I wish that were the case, but not even close. Why not find one (you won’t have to go more than 1 block) and sit out there an watch.
But the problem is not the ones that are parked on the street with fake/altered plates. The problems are the ones that are MOVING on the streets.
FYI – when I had a paper plate when I bought my car, it was about to expire and I hadn’t gotten my metal ones from the DMV (pandemic issues) and I asked a traffic agent about it, he said they (parking enforcement) do not ticket out of state paper plates for expiration or defacement, etc. He said that is only done by police officers.
there is an agenda involved. The west side rag is clearly a part of it. How many articles have they written with respect to e-vehicles relative to actual automobiles and trucks ? the answer to this question should make it very clear. it is important for young people to go to these town hall like events to ensure that the voice of a select loud minority does not drown out our rights . this is clearly designed to make the lives of working class riders a hassle in favor of a small but loud group of people.
The Rag has actually shown itself to be very strongly in favor of street safety including cycling. It is only in the comments section where there is an obvious skew against cyclists.
Apparently you didn’t read the article. Brad Hoylman said this e-bike problem is the #1 constituent complaint in his office! The Majority are those who can no longer walk in their community without having to avoid getting hit by e-bikes, or actually getting hit! There were young people at the meeting who in fact had been hit. This group is anything but small.
AG,
Parent of young people here.
We all walk, take the bus and subway
We are not a small group. Where do you walk?? I repeat I was hit head on by a moped who was riding on the sidewalk. Fathers day a little 6 yr old boy was hit by a moped and like me he also suffered a traumatic brain injury.
I am permanently paralyzed from this and lost my ability to walk or tide any bike ever again.
Guess what young people – generations have used leg power to pedal bikes. It provided good cardiovascular exercise. It helped keep us thin.
Apparently physical exertion is now obsolete.
As a young person (early 30s) who got hit by an ebike and spoke at this meeting, all my friends have been discussing the chaos that has become the UWS and particularly crossing Amsterdam or Columbus. And no, this isn’t designed to make the lives of working class people a “hassle”. The same e-devices all exist in Paris and are registered, licensed and insured. And yet, I’ve never heard of the French being anti working people.
You are correct, there is an agenda, and it is sidewalk safety for pedestrians, who, unlike the cyclists and e-bikers who use the sidewalks, are not sitting atop a potentially deadly missile while they walk.
No one has the right to drive an illegal vehicle
The “agenda” seems very clear: try to limit the number of people being injured or worse by e-vehicles. Why would anyone oppose that?
no one opposes it. the problem is that the impact of ebikes versus the impact of cars realistically on the lives and deaths and injuries caused to people, with the limited resources the city has for enforcement should be focused on the things that actually kill and injure people much more frequently.
Deflect to cars when e-micromobility vehicles get called out. At the end of the day, the ban cars agenda isn’t going to work unless you undo ALL the sprawl that has happened since the dawn of the 20th century, including NYC outer boros. Cars and other motor vehicles allow people to travel where MTA services can’t. Bikes, scooters, not so much.
Micromobility isn’t as useful as cars in terms of going long distances and mainly benefits an exploitative app industry and a culture of those in their 20s and 30s living the Sex and the City lifestyle who won’t leave their home to order food or shop.
Ban them all, NOW. I was almost hit again just yesterday by a large moped going the wrong way down the street. If I am not careful when I cross the street, I would not make it a single day without getting hit. BAN THEM. Banning them is the only way this problem is going away.
RE: If I am not careful when I cross the street, I would not make it a single day without getting hit.
Are you yearning for a future when you won’t have to be careful crossing the street in New York? I agree that there are too many careless riders, and I think some of these ideas (esp. registration) may be good ones, but the street has always been dangerous and pedestrians must be responsible too.
I love how many of your desires were shot down by the ONLY senator that decided to show up. Kudos on them for not giving attention to reactionary , irrational and hateful people. I never had an issue riding my scooter anywhere in Manhattan but the upper west side. Ask yourself this, why is it that the Upper West side is the only neighborhood in Manhattan so energetic towards getting rid of e-vehicles. Almost on a daily basis someone from the upper west side has to say something to me while im riding my scooter. Sometimes Im 20 feet away from someone and they exaggerate my speed and our distance. I had to respond to one, “IM NOWHERE NEAR YOU”. this issue is so aggravating. I WILL NOT go through any kind of process of licensing and insuring because a minority wants it.
Are you kidding…. Do you drive thru the city????
The bikes, moped, e-bikes are everywhere!!!
ITS NOT a minority….ridiculous…
Maybe YOU a follow safety rules, but MANY MANY do not! It’s dangerous
I get it. I have been yelled at numerous times for “running a red light” while I am biking through a green light and the person yelling at me is jaywalking. That being said, the number of, mostly young teenagers/twentysomethings riding Fly E-bike mopeds (both has and electric powered) that have truly close calls with pedestrians and yell at the pedestrians is ridiculous. Yesterday, I was crossing Amsterdam and one of those guys cursed out an older guy in a walker crossing the bike lane, with the walk signal, while the rider was going in the wrong direction! So, A.G., as long as you are riding your scooter safely, I have no problem with you. Welcome to the UWS. But if you are one who tries to thread the needle through pedestrians in the crosswalk who have the light in their favor, then I do have a problem with you. Or anyone else who does the same thing. I won’t pretend I do t go through red lights on my bike, but a pedestrian with the right of way will never have to break step, even just out of fear, when I go by.
Actually, both senators attended, and Sen. Hoylman did not shoot down the requests AT ALL, but affirmed the issue of safeguarding pedestrians from speeding e-bikes as a priority for himself as well as for Council Member Brewer. If you are getting yelled at on the UWS on a daily basis, it seems you must be doing something wrong in a zone with busy and complex intersections combining crosstown streets and criss-crossing boulevards, one-way streets, dining shed zones that obscure bike lanes. Add to that a dense population of families with young children, older people, students, disabled individuals and many others. If you are indeed following the rules, you should have nothing to fear and the new regulations will protect you as well.
You will if it becomes a law, or risk confiscation of your scooter.
it’s not a minority — if you are doing everyting legal— stopping at lights etc then you should not be afraid to register anything — unless you are one of them breaking the rules.. If you are not breaking the rules — then register as a car has to! And, it’s not just the UWS … BUT there are lots of bike lanes on the West side. It’s a mess in the 30, 40, 5O, —- i tried to walk home from my church .. it was like a freakn circus trying to get to the UWS .. without getting hurt … Are you serious????
You must be doing something to get those daily reactions – I ride a Citi bike and roadbike and no one has ever said a word to me – but then I give way to pedestrians and don’t ride fast at people in the crosswalk
People are getting levelled daily, do you understand that? I have seen two people out flat on the street, heads covered in blood, unable to move, waiting for the ambulance in the past month alone. I am hit almost everyday. Do you think they would allow this nonsense in ANY sane city in this world? Tokyo, Amsterdam, Rome, etc? There probably no place in this world that allows 250 pound mopeds and ebikes to be flying 3 feet in front of people, unregistered and unlicensed. Reading your reply, its seems very likely that you don’t have any children walking around here or parents. People are getting killed by these things and its out of hand. But I guess there is always someone that has to disagree. Bottom line is that since enforcement is impractical, even with registration, you will soon see all cities ban electric bikes soon. NYC however, where you can’t even buy pepper spray to protect yourself without paperwork and identification and registration, will probably be the last place on earth.
This is simply incorrect. Amsterdam (and the Netherlands and Europe as a whole) are very open to micromobility. Amsterdam and a lot of European downtowns are mostly car free in fact to encourage other ways to get around. Inform yourself properly before commenting.
Imagine a bratty car owner going ” I WILL NOT go through any kind of process of licensing and insuring it”.
It’s not a minority anywhere but maybe in your head. Oh btw, since you’re denigrating the UWS, Paris has banned scooters and Italy is about to.
No, Paris banned *rental* scooters, which is not the same thing at all.
Sadly my experience is that “regular” bicyclists particularly Citibikers are the most menacing to pedestrians – routinely going the wrong way, going through red lights, ignoring bike lanes.
And often cursing any pedestrian who cautions them.
Wow.
Many of those Citi bikes are electric (or pedelecs, which still go fast). Problem w those is people are always looking at their phones for the next drop off spot. And they tend not to be dedocated cyclists which usually are more conscientious.
Two City Bike ebikes were on the sidewalk going to wrong way on Broadway in the 80s and they were dinging their bell at pedestrians in the way. REALLY??? Get off the sidewalk.
Almost was hit by a woman speed racing behind Pier-i on Saturday. I’m crossing at the established crosswalk when this group appeared, blew thru the crosswalk with four clearly visible stop signs. When I continued walking, this creep screams at me to get out of her way. Honestly, I wanted to give her a push as she sped by, but I didn’t want to lower myself to their level. They should be heavily fined. That will speak to them.
I’ll take a close look next time I’m through but I am aware of no octagonal stop signs there. A clear crosswalk and yield to pedestrian signage, for sure, absolutely.
Nobody should be blasting through there in any case when there is any sort of pedestrian busy-ness that’s obviously apparent.
Absolutely no stop signs here, just yield signs. On the soft bollards midlane nears several crosswalks, and there’s a mounted full size triangular yield sign facing south as well.
So yeah, there’s no expectation that bikes should stop here in the event that there are no pedestrians to yield to. As it should be really.
Yes, the road behind Pier I is one of the most dangerous one. It is not that visible to newcomers or visitors and any normal person would expect a bike to stop at the stop sign. Yet that are barrelling at all times, I don’t remember if I ever saw a bicyclist stop.
What they need there is a small, railway-style barrier that goes up and down when folks cross. In fact, that could be a solution at a number of dangerous crossings. I say this as a cyclist.
At last. Shame only one rep showed up. Electric mopeds etc a nightmare – and now promoted in the park…?
Two showed up. New York State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal and New York State Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal.
Rosenthal barely made it. But when you run unopposed in every election, caring about your constituents isnt that important
Electric mopeds are specifically excluded from the Parks pilot!
“Part of the issue, [Hoylman] said, stems from a lack of police enforcement of existing laws. ” Pick your complaint about life on the Upper West Side these days, and that’s the answer: everything in drug stores under lock and key because of shoplifting; pot smoking on every side street; turnstile jumping on subways and passengers simply ignoring the fare box on buses. Even, it seems to me, an increase in the number of people not picking up after their dogs.
The decision by the Police to stop enforcing the laws has made clear to everyone that they can do anything that they want, and with impunity. Put simply, there’s no one to say “no”, so why not?
“We can pass all the laws we want,” said Assemblymember Rosenthal, who arrived at the end of the meeting. “But if there’s no enforcement, what’s the use?”
Exactly.
I do hope the members of this group make appearances each and every month at the precinct community council meetings for 20th, 24th, and Central Park NYPD. Cops need “encouragement” to make stops and issue tickets to drivers of all sorts.
No, not exactly. The police did NOT make the decision. The decision to back off quality of life was demanded by the NYC Council, starting around 2012 and going forward. First, stop and frisk was declared unConstitutional. Then a whole slate of anti-police legislation was passed, including a bill that is law that says a cop cannot touch the diaphragm region of a perp’s body when making an arrest. Want to point out where that might be? Want to rein in a fighting perp and not touch his body? Good luck with that. If the perp expires, the cop (or civilian) faces 20 to life. Exactly how would a cop on foot stop a 30 mph e-bike? They can’t stop a 20 mph peddle bike without getting maimed. It was the NYC COUNCIL who demanded cops lay off quality of life, including turnstile jumping. That’s fact.
So why bother having an expensive police force that is the size of some countries’
armies.
How about we start simple and easy: give tickets and/or confiscate mopeds in the bike lanes. This issue is pervasive, and yet, it’s obvious nothing is being done about it. Yes, the rampant misuse of e-bikes is insane, and extremely disheartening/dangerous. I’d love to see basically ANY enforcement, but the police are just useless on this matter.
I have a car, an ebike, and use mass transit. I think anything with a motor on it should be registered with plates and you should have to have a drivers license and insurance. But let’s also get real with all the cars with fake plates and BS placards. Agree 1000% no one should be riding on the sidewalks. Getting the cars and motorcycles out of the bike lanes would be a good start.
BAN e-bikes, motorcycles and mopeds form the CENTRAL PARK LOOP! They often speed and do not watch out for pedestrians or others on the path! Very dangerous!
Sadly I use the park to cross to my doctors on the East side.. It’s a flight/freeze high vigilant walk
to try to safely just walk across the park — there is absolutely no where for pedestrians to walk and do so relaxed.. Our nervous systems are in threat mode …
The loop is, like, 3% of the total area of the park. There are even archways to cross under it quite a number of places to avoid crossing it at grade.
I certainly agree that enforcement against bikes or ebikes or whatever using footpaths is reasonable, especially against anyone doing it at speed. (Except for that funny path just south of the 96th street transverse which is a bikes-allowed cross-park route.)
One glaring omission from the Alliance’s goals….speed limits. If e-vehicles of any type are to be allowed in bike lanes, they should not be CAPABLE of traveling faster than 12 mph . All others belong in the street.
Kudos to licensing for ALL motorized vehicles. How else can rules be enforced.
But if there are no cops arresting anyone what difference would that make? …Sad.
Agreed. There are supposed to be throttle speed limiters on all e-bikes (20-25 mph depending on the class of bike) but it seems very easy override the limiter (many youtube videos about this). Perhaps require e-bikes to pass annual speed limiter inspections, and make it a crime (confiscate bike?) to ride a bike with a de-activated limiter.
https://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/bicyclists/ebikes.shtml
The state is never going to require a license, registration and insurance for electric bikes and it shouldn’t. The whole thing is silly. There are plenty of laws already in place, you just have to enforce them.
I’m in 1000% agreement with this effort to create regulations around where e-bikes and scooters can be operated, along with speed limits and vehicle registration. These are potentially hazardous vehicles that are operated without any accountability. I also find the Mayor’s plan to allow them in our parks particularly offensive. It completely undermines the quality of experience for park goers. E-bikes and scooters have plenty of paved roadway to use. Keep them out of our parks!!
Do you feel comfortable riding in the road with a 2 tonne death machine with limited visibiltiy next to or behind you?
This is not the only issue where Mayor Adams is “offensive!” Just sayin’.
“…a bill to increase penalties for e-vehicle hit and runs?” What about penalties for those going the wrong way in one way bike lanes? These bans need to cast a much wider net and the police department needs to be told to enforce them. $500 is too low!
New version for your consideration:
One glaring omission from the Alliance’s goals….speed limits. Currently Class 1 (pedal assist) e-bikes are allowed to travel 20mph in bike lanes. That’s too fast for the safety of pedestrians and bicyclists. They travel silently and appear suddenly being not so easy to spot with their motionless operators. Any motorized vehicle CAPABLE of exceeding 12 mph belongs in the street. Kudos to licensing for ALL motorized vehicles. How else can rules be enforced?
They want Sammy’s Law but e-bikes and e-scooters will be immune to the consequences of violating lower speed limits and the de facto driving ban Sammy’s Law will provide.
What a misguided effort.
Why? Why is it misguided to want public safety on our sidewalks. hey — it won’t be misguided if you are hit, maimed, killed or better yet SUED.
Why does the article claim e skateboards are illegal even though the police tell me they are not.
They are illegal on the sidewalk, and they are not legal in the street. So, maybe in a skateboard park they are legal, other wise that cop was mistaken.
E-bikes, non e-bikes must have bells or horns to let pedestrians know they’re approaching from behind
I gave up long before electrics took over. Already too many cyclists rode on sidewalks and didn’t give a damn when you called them out for it. I actually expect that I’ll be killed by one of these idiots.
Statistically you are much more likely to be killed a by a car – just saying
This is not a discussion about cars. It’s also about the ABILITY to walk on the sidewalk or cross a street. Statistically, you are MORE likely to get hit by a e-bike on the sidewalk.
What the police need to do is station an officer at random corners along Broadway and Amsterdam and Columbus avenues to issue summonses to any operator of any motor vehicle that goes through a red light, goes against traffic, rides on the sidewalk or commits any other moving violation. Then maybe the word will get out that the cops will actually enforcing the traffic laws.
It’s not just ebikes. What about the packs of lawless dirt bike and atv riders, thugs who brazenly and recklessly roam the streets with impunity? Again, politicians and some fellow citizens here spend too much time defending the criminals than protecting the law abiding. Enough is enough, even for long time liberal uwsiders like myself.
Just Sunday I saw a father riding his kids around Astoria Park with a little gas-powered four-wheel ATV on the pedestrian pathways no less. The kid (five maybe) was driving. 10 minutes later, two little girls were driving it with no adult. I think most of the laws are already there, it’s just that the cops don’t want to enforce them.
Nothing about this group appears to be anti bike. Just pro safety. Why is it so impossible for cyclists to adhere to street and pedestrian safety? Why all the excuses? Imagine the conversation if cyclists just followed laws that were already in place? Rode the correct direction? Stayed off the sidewalks (those older than 12 years of age)? Stopped at lights and allowed pedestrians to cross streets? Didn’t cut off cars? Why is it so hard?
It’s hard for them? Why? Listen up Citi council! Any boundary must have a consequence if it’s broken. If there are no said consequences there is anarchy .. I see when just a cop car pulls up to a light in the park— all the bikes stop.. Right at the bottom of the hill in strawberry fields .. At the bottom where the bikes come flying. Using cop cars to just observe helps.. I saw it with my own eyes! All the cop had to do was be visible with his car!!!! They get a pension from our city, they can at least drive around… it helps … And, we tax payers pay way too much city tax to have this circus going on!!!!
am all for several NYPD to have bike cops riding the loop, issuing summonses…all…day…long!
where do scooters factor in to the safety argument?
So in other words, nothing is being done to remedy the problem.
Occasionally a car runs a red light. Occasionally an e-vehicle stops at a red light.
Occasionally a pedestrian stops at a red light when there is no traffic coming to cause danger.
I see cars running reds and parking illegally daily.
What good are new laws if they are not enforced? We need the help of our elected officials to pressure the police to ticket all traffic violations. (Its just my thing, but I would include gratuitous horn blaring in that!)
You can’t put the toothpaste back in the tube. Delivery guys depend on them, Some people love them other’s hate them. The NYPD is a toothless tiger, Cops are not willing to risk their careers to enforce laws that will never be prosecuted. New Yorkers made their bed so sleep tight.
oh stop! Just as with any group of people there are good and bad! I am kind of tired of this excuse! Cops have power when all they do is drive their cop car… Let’s begin there and license e-vehicles .. You won’t need lots of enforcement —- Why? wants the delivery guys have identification of them and vehicles are registered that will be a deterrent in and of itself.. There will always be someone to break a law!!! But, there will be less of them much less if they even know they can be identified by numbers and licenses. You watch .. No one wants to loose their lively hood — their income or their vehicle.. When they know that it’s possible because they are identified .. You watch how that in and by itself will deter… No one want to think that they might lose their job or even the slightest possibility of losing it or their vehicle … You watch how their accountability grows all by itself ….
This enforcement issue is to muddy the waters so NO ONE DOES ANYTHING … how convenient for those focusing on enforcing. — Just focus on identification and licensing .. You watch how it works!!!!’ There will be lots less offenders … Just the idea of possibility will change this circus we are enduring! So, i say city council! Don’t muddy waters with enforcing! Begin with accountability by identification …
We have lost control of the situation. No one considered the consequences. The ebikes, scooters and mopeds do NOT follow the rules of the road. They never stop at red lights, they go against traffic and they go onto the sidewalks. Pedestrians are in danger especially when they have the light to walk, cars stop but the mopeds, motorcycles scooters and ebikes continue through Is this being green ?
I stop at red lights. I don’t go against traffic, and I don’t ride on the sidewalks. The issue isn’t the e-vehicles, it’s the idiots that are on them.
In my experience, and I ride Citi Bikes frequently, e-bike riders do stop at red lights … if there is traffic coming thru the side streets or pedestrians crossing in front of them with the light.
Rarely see e-bikes motoring on sidewalks.
Do agree that crossing Amsterdam or Columbus on foot thru bike lanes is dicey..You better look both ways. Twice.
Please don’t use “never” — it is untrue and undermines efforts to resolve.
You could say that there are so many that they are endangering our lives every minute we are outside walking. This would be a true statement. I walk every day every where. There are very few that stop period !!
All e-vehicles should be licensed with a license plate on the back! Also, I’m pretty certain it is illegal for e-vehicles and even regular bicycles to ride on the sidewalk. No one enforces anything, but with a license plate, the offenders could be photographed and reported. It’s a start.
yes! the licensing itself is a first level deterrent !!!
Thank you for your work on this issue. There have been too many close calls for many of us UWSiders. We must find a way to make crossing the street easy and safe for all of us. Careful riding can be fine as long as the bikers understand the pedestrian has rights too.
I was at the meeting and applaud what this group is doing. But the real culprits are the Lance Armstrong wannabes and the stupid people as I saw yesterday running red light with his child on the back seat.
this is not agenda driven no hidden agendas here. these “bikes” can come out of nowhere even if diligent . they can go in wrong direction or cut on sidewalk as a shortcut. I’ve had a few close calls seniors are particularly venerable . At the very least they should not be allowed on sidewalks with deep fines. AND please lets not mix apples and oranges…this is a discussion about the menace of e bikes and the such NOT cars! thank you
I do not see any repercussions for those who travel against the One-Way laws. So many times, on foot and while in a car, I’ve witnessed bikes riding in the wrong direction, as well as going through traffic lights!
They think they are above the laws bc they are on a bike. No wonder there are so many accidents!!!
Enforcement enforcement enforcement. Period. And thank you to the elected officials who consistently show up, shame on those who don’t.
Wonder if there is a relationship between e-commerce (merchandise purchased outside the community or food delivered), micro-e-vehicles (pedestrian aversion), and the shuttering of of so many stores in the lower-UWS (Century21, BedBathBeyond, BestBuy, GraciousHome, Loews)? If so, then the commercial real estate industry should be examining this issue closely.
The bike lobby Transportation Alternatives has consistently fought restrictions on bicycles
And parking spots.
As an urban bicyclist, not a sport rider or racer, I am terrified by the eBikes in the bike lanes. I was hit last year by a bike traveling at great speed and went down hard. I will. never forget the impact. Fortunately, after X-rays and doctor visit, there was no more damage than being bloodied and bruised. I’m cautious and my neck works better than ever because always looking left and right behind me because of the paranoia of eBikes. There is no policing so don’t see resolution. The path along the river clearly says in many places further downtown “no electric vehicles”, yet there are not only eBikes, but motorcycles. I ride up to the GWB often on our path along the river. Motorcycles. So not just eBikes and electric scooters and other one wheeled electrified vehicles but many that travel at great speeds. Time is money for the delivery people so they are all over that but not safe for the rest of us who want to enjoy the bike lanes and paths without fear. More often I choose to ride with the cars; less scary. Crazy it should be that way.
Y’all want the laws enforced? Like ticketing every jaywalker on the UWS? Ebikes are awesome you should all get one and your comments will be much different. The pedestrians jaywalking in Central Park should all be arrested lol. Don’t believe anything the politicians tell you and spend your time doing something more productive. Ebikes only do 20 mph. Yes cracking down on the crazies is always a good idea but y’all wanna throw out the baby with the bath water. What anger! Sad.
Ebikes are not the only issue. wreaking havoc..this weekend I was nearly run down 3 separate times by electric and gas motor scooters riding wrong direction on cross street sidewalks and veering on and off street on the UWS!
Many are DMV licensed gas scooters and choose tor un rampant with complete and utter disregard. We need a citywide crackdown on all of these delivery vehicles or more pedestrians will be injured and killed!
My block is 70 percent covered in scaffolding. E bikes are always riding down the sidewalk from one end to the other. I am always looking over my shoulder to make sure there is not a bike coming. I walk close to the side because there is very little room for both of us to maneuver. The other day I was at the beginning of the block & an e bike came racing down the sidewalk going at least 25 miles an hour. Fortunately I did not move an inch to the right or I would probably be in the hospital right now. We should not have to live like this constantly looking over our shoulder on the sidewalk! When is the NYPD d]going to start enforcing the laws? How many people have to get injured or killed before something is done about this?
Can we take a hard look at all this pressure on delivery workers? Really? There are burrito emergencies where it is life or death? What about all the delivery workers huddled along Amsterdam most days with nothing to do? Its the apps and lobbyists who have convinced you the city can’t run right without delivery workers. Did you ever recall anyone complaining to you that deliveries were a problem before Trans Alt told you it was a huge problem? We’ve been had.
Totally agree with these goals! It’s time elected officials actually do something about the danger that motorbikes and e-bikes pose to the public. And who approved the motorbike in the park pilot, literally worst idea ever.
Between the fires caused by their batteries, the entitled behavior of their riders and the complete lack of regulation. E-conveyances are a menace that is bad and getting worse. How many people have to be hurt or killed before the government steps in to do something. I think. the proposed rules presented here represent a bare minimum in terms of the regulation needed to reign in this chaos.
I agree with many other commenters that share my disgust at the “whataboutism” that proponents of the technology use as a deflection/redirection tactic. The topic here is E-machines. Take some accountability and stop making weak excuses for the havoc you cause.
Ahhh…as crimes rages out of control, e-bikes menace our streets and threaten public safety…our mayor and elected officials focus on the really important issues facing everyone…cracking down on the 100 or so NYC pizza ovens, which will have a dramatic effect on the environment. Given the lack of turnout at the current city council elections, expect nothing better.
One partial solution is simple. Do away with the current multi-classification of motorcycles. In other words, all bikes with motors (electric or otherwise) shall be subject to registration, inspection and insurance requirements that apply to all other motor vehicles. And bar them from operating in “bicycle” lanes. Violators will be subject to summary confiscation.
Can we all just FINALLY stop wasting our time? Licensing will do NOTHING. Everyone will use false plates. 80% of the people who are on these bikes probably are not even citizens or legally in the country. There is no enforcement of any laws, so nobody will take any regulation seriously. Last weekend, on Columbus, 5 cops were all talking with another cop in a police car. They were all joking. The police car was parked in a parking spot in between the bike lane and the street (another brilliant NYC idea!!). An e-bike flew immediately past them, against the light AND going the wrong way and almost hit me. I asked the police if they saw the guy and they all said “no”. Believe me, the only to handle this is not by slopping on more regulations and increasing our taxes, issuing tickets that will never be paid and hiring people to go after people who don’t pay tickets, etc. The only way to deal with this is to BAN electric 2 wheel vehicles altogether as many cities are now in the process of doing. These bikes are all over the place and there are too many of them. You cannot regulate mosquitos.
The people claiming here (or at the meeting) that the “nefarious bike lobby” just wants chaos on the streets, it’s just, I don’t know how to begin to address that. Completely risible, it’s not even just wrong.
It reminds me of the Republican demagogues who insist that the Democratic Party is in favor of completely open borders with Mexico/Latin America and wants to enforce no immigration laws whatsoever.
“The nefarious bike lobby” like Shin Fein says all the right things, insists they are political blah, blah, blah. The actual individual riders are in great numbers (not 100%) believers that bikes should own the streets and sidewalks, that the rules don’t apply to them and that whatever inconvenience or danger caused to children drivers, pedestrians or animals is the price of modernity. Cyclists are like soccer players that exaggerate what they perceive as “fouls”, I can’t possibly ride up that hill at the boat basin, the alternate path is too remote, too hot, too dark or whatever chaff they throw up which boils down to we will cycle where we want, when we want, at any speed we want.
Name three major victories that transportation alternatives has scored strictly for pedestrians.
Omg, does everything need to become politicized? People are getting flattened left and right by these bikes/mopeds and now this too has to become a woke vs GOP issue? The same thing happened to COVID and masks. Even masks became political. No wonder why nothing can ever get done in this country for the benefit of the country’s citizens. Most of us want nothing to do with this politicization.
Normally at the office but today visiting a relative in the hospital.
Speechless seeing all the tons of Citibikers, racing bikers, upright scooters, food delivery ebikes and vespa/mopeds – all going through red lights, many going the wrong way, many not using bike lanes
Of special note:
Was nearly hit by 2 different Citibikers.
A teenager on Citibike with a friend sitting in the basket.
“Civilian” bicyclist with “Vision” Zero helmet riding on the sidewalk and smoking pot.
Man on moped/vespa with child about 9 – without a helmet.
Two ebikers nearly collided with each other.
Folks should be riding the subway
What’s needed is enforcement, not new rules.
Everything dangerous vehicles do is ALREADY illegal.
Problem is most perps are broke delivery guys so what’s the point of fining them, and there’s no political will for any thing more. Any uptick in arrests etc will result in instant rebuke by progressive pols for targeting disadvantaged new yorkers.
Broke delivery guys?
I’ll call them hard-working souls trying to make a living by doing a tough, needed, dangerous, not well remunerated job.
Disappointing that Assemblymember Rosenthal comes to this space with a defeatist mentality. We need fresh approaches to regulating ebikes that are revenue neutral or revenue positive. We can fund enforcement. Licensing fees that fund cameras that fine bad behavior. Confiscated ebikes get sold automatically – maybe charter a flight down to Florida?
I was almost hit today while crossing 42nd street at 10th Ave. A delivery driver on an e-bike, identified with Gettir logo on vest and bike, drove down the middle (xx) non traffic lane and went through the red light, crossed over 10th Ave and went the wrong way against traffic and light, south on 10th. He did not see me crossing the street but luckily I saw him coming and stopped as he drove through the red light, ignoring my yells for him to stop 🛑 something has to be done !
They are horrible and rude to pedestrians. They drive fast on the sidewalks and ignore any rules or rights of the pedestrian. I would like for this group to expand support to the midtown west area – we need better enforcement of the laws!
Why is cracking down on regular bikes too much? There is not a day that goes by that I don’t have to jump out of the way of cyclists running red lights. And the restaurant sheds make it worse because they cut down on visibility when crossing the street & you can’t hear the e-bikes coming until they are on top of you and they NEVER stop for red lights.
I think ALL BIKES, e-bikes and regular bikes should have to be registered and have license plates that can be read by the same red light camera that ticket cars. That is NOT too much to ask cyclists. Unfortunately there are no politicians willing to stand up to the bike lobby which has way too much power in this city. Pedestrians need to organize to fight back.
There are a few issues with registration of regular bikes:
1: locales around who have tried it found that it was not cost effective and have mostly abandoned the practice. The cost of administration outpaced the money taken in from fees. The DMV is subsidized by state funds and is not self sufficient.
2: one of the largest groups of people who use bicycles for transportation are those who cannot afford a car or even public transportation. While licensing fees would not affect me greatly as a middle class citizen, there would be a great detrimental effect to the majority of those who need to use their bike for work and/or transportation.
3: license plates that will safely fit on bicycles are not large enough to be read by bystanders. Whether a camera could read them or not, I could not say. If you attached a motorcycle sized license plate to the back of my bike, it would interfere with my ability to pedal. Some bikes probably could hold it, but a standard road bike would not be able to safely attach it. License plates on pedal bicycles will also cause a difference in the bike’s aerodynamics. This can affect the handling of the bike, as in safety to the rider, as well as just making it harder for the rider to travel the same distance. License plates on cars and motorcycles do not make it harder for the driver/rider to move. While this last issue is an inconvenience that will not have a big effect on short distances, it can actually add up to big differences over long distances.
4: bicycles do not trigger cameras. Red light cameras operate by magnetic sensors buried in the road. Bicycles are made out of aluminum and/or carbon fiber and there is not enough magnetic metal in the bike to trigger the sensors. Contrary to popular belief, pedal bicycles, even those with electric motors, will not pass a speed camera at 36+ mph, so speed cameras will not be issuing tickets to cyclists. The mopeds that can and will trigger a speed camera are already legally required to be registered.
5: at what point must a person be licensed to ride a bike? So we require 4 year olds to have a learner’s permit and then they need a license once the training wheels come off? Roller bladers and skateboarders are also required to ride in the street and obey traffic laws. Do they need to be licensed too? If not, why not? What about electric wheel chairs? Many electric wheel chairs can reach the same speeds my next door neighbor can on his bike. He can only ride very slowly, but is still riding a bike.
So, let’s drop the whole license and registration thing with bicycles. It’s not going to happen, and if for some poorly thought out reason it does, it will not be useful or sustainable. Let’s get into the real world and work on truly useful tools and ideas to curb dangerous behavior with vehicles. It is not just about enforcement, which needs to be both increased and intelligently applied. It is also about street design. Bike lanes are great, but not good enough for cyclists or pedestrians. A proper bike lane should be well separated from both cars and pedestrians to limit the interactions with both. Limited interactions means limited chances of bad behavior. Instead of timing lights for motor vehicles, time the lights for bicycles. By providing what is known as the “green wave,” cyclists will be more inclined to stop at red lights knowing that if they wait for the green, they will actually have a long series of greens ahead, rather than a lot of starting and stopping, which is tough on a cyclist. Statistics actually show that allowing cyclists to proceed through red lights when the intersection is clear is actually safer for ALL road users. This ticketing just any cyclist for “running a red light” is not going to add to anyone’s safety. What we need is robust and targeted enforcement of failure to yield. This enforcement, paired with very high fines and bicycle confiscation if fines are not paid, would actually change behavior in a way that will make all of us safer. The police also need to heavily enforce the licensing and registration requirements of the mopeds that are already required to be. They also need to focus a lot of enforcement on those aforementioned vehicles being ridden on sidewalks, in bike lanes, and on greenways. All of these places they are not allowed to be ridden and a ticket would be the same as for a car being driven in the same location, including points on the license.
There are ways to fix our problems and make life safer for all of us. But they are not as easy, or as cheap, as many think. But it can be done. We just need buy in from everyone since it takes all of us to keep each other safe.
None of your “arguments” make any sense. Can’t afford a license? Walk. Can’t fit on the bike? Resize it. At what age? The age it is legal to ride in the street, 15. Enforcement when crime is rampant is not possible. Since that isn’t possible, let’s make it easier. LICENSE PLATES CAN HAPPEN AND HAVE TO HAPPEN. SO DOES INSURANCE. There are more pedestrians than bike riders. Our public transportation is also in jeopardy from the number of bikes. Stop the excuse factory. Save pedestrians AND public transportation by reining in bikes.
NYC-EVSA. An organization for safety of pedestrians and cyclists too. Join.
Des,
Yes.
Regular cyclists (Citibike, racing bicyclists etc ) constantly run red lights, go the wrong way and are incredibly nasty to any pedestrian who dares to call out.
I feel sorry for the food delivery workers and while many ignore traffic laws, I have never seen any curse at pedestrians the way “regular” cyclists do.
I have been plenty cursed at by delivery people! Just had it happen on Wednesday when I asked a deliverista why he was riding on the sidewalk I was walking on. He screamed at me “Shut up”! I asked again and he screamed the same. I said you’re not supposed to ride on the sidewalk to which he screamed “Go F- Yourself”! Well instead I took a photo of his bike which had a Grub Hub pack on the back and went to the police. I reported the building where this is constantly happening. I was told by the police if it happens again to immediately call 911. They also warned me to avoid getting into a conflict that could escalate. He said let the police handle it. As you order your deliveries from GrubHub and DoorDash understand that your delivery persons routinely ride on the sidewalk, through red lights endangering others and often become very aggressive if you should say anything to them.
We also having huge problems with pedestrians who’s eyes stick on their c-phone and ears shut off by ear gadgets, obliviously not paying attention while walking on public area.