Editor’s Note: An update has been added to this story to describe how the Parks Department survey was done.
By West Side Rag
New Yorkers are split on feelings of safety when it comes to a pilot program that allows electric vehicles on park drives and greenways throughout the five boroughs, including on the Upper West Side in Central Park and Riverside Park.
The New York City Department of Parks and Recreation recently shared survey results with West Side Rag related to the first year of the “NYC Parks Electric Micromobility Pilot,” which was launched by Mayor Eric Adams on June 20, 2023.
“Results showed perceptions of safety were relatively split with approximately 54 percent indicating that they generally feel safe and comfortable on park drives and greenways, compared to 45 percent feeling unsafe or uncomfortable,” reads the summary of the survey findings provided and conducted by the Parks Department. “Respondents noted that speeding vehicles — including bikes, e-bikes, and e-scooters — were the top safety concern.”
The survey, offered in English, Spanish, Chinese, and Bengali, was posted on the NYC Parks website, local organizations’ email lists, and signs placed at greenways and park drives across the city, according to the report. The report noted that the survey was “self-selecting rather than a random sample” and therefore “likely over represents users who are particularly interested in the issue.”
The pilot program was launched to specifically look at electric bike and electric scooter use within city parks’ greenways and drives. A park greenway is a designated path that is used for walking, jogging, rolling, stroller pushing, cycling, skating, and more.
A park drive, on the other hand, is a road inside a park that is used by authorized vehicles, as well as walkers, joggers, cyclists, and others.
The Parks Department received 5,826 responses from people across New York City for its survey of the pilot program, which it quietly extended earlier this summer to continue through May 31, 2025.
A total of 37 percent of the respondents live in Manhattan. Here is a breakdown of the ages of the survey respondents.
- 17 or younger: 1 percent
- 18 to 24 years: 2 percent
- 25 to 24 years: 17 percent
- 35 to 44 years: 25 percent
- 45-54 years: 19 percent
- 55 to 64 years: 17 percent
- 65 or older: 20 percent
Central Park was the second most visited park by the people who responded to the survey. Prospect Park was the most visited.
Central Park also had 506 mentions of safety concerns, which was the second most of any park in New York City.
Here’s how people who responded to the survey use the greenways or park drives.
The top concerns of respondents were as follows:
- Mopeds: 38 percent
- Bikes not yielding to pedestrians: 22 percent
- Speeding: 20 percent
Finally, here were the top activities on greenways and drives that people said made them feel unsafe.
- Speeding e-bikes or e-scooters: 79 percent
- Speeding mopeds: 77 percent
- Speeding bicycles: 70 percent
- Lack of rules enforcement: 56 percent
- People not paying attention to where they are going: 53 percent
- Trying to cross the greenways or park drives: 38 percent
- Crowding in the park: 24 percent
- Pavement conditions: 20 percent
- Not enough lighting: 12 percent
- The activities above do not concern me. Generally, I feel safe in the parks: 3 percent
“We will use the results of this survey to identify safety initiatives, design interventions, and public education campaigns to address the concerns voiced by park users, reduce conflict from competing uses, and ensure public safety,” wrote the Parks Department.
You can check out the full survey — HERE.
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I was hit by an e-bike while running in the park just last week. They have no business being around pedestrians and other bikers.
I am so sorry to hear this, Cat. Please join our group. http://www.nycevsa.org
How do you join? I went on the website, there is no “join us” button or “donate now”, etc.??
Car, Go on the site and hit “contact,” top right. It’s a wonderful organization trying to bring sanity and safety to us all.
Yeah right!
Mopeds were the biggest concern, great they are already illegal in the parks. If only NYPD could find it within themselves to do some enforcement….
Mopeds are a huge issue but there’s no way to enforce it. The police aren’t going to get into a high speed chase with them (which is inevitable) and risk loss of life.
spike strips -you do not need to chase
The NYPD claims to be the most sophisticated and skilled police force in the world. I refuse to accept that they cannot solve the moped problem without endangering the rest of us. Enforcement of laws that exist for our safety is their job.
They can’t. It has to be done through red light cameras. They can only confiscate parked bikes.
Once stopped the machines are easy to immobilize, the police should try it.
That’s why we must ban mopeds from city. And e bikes must have license plates. Cops can’t chase bikes. Cameras catch speeding cars, and cars that flee scene of accident- this should be the same for motorized vehicles. Tell your council people to sign Intro 0606 2024
for plates and registration of all e-vehicles.
You have to be able to enforce, otherwise what is the point of having rules against it. NYPD could start with confiscating parked mopeds that don’t have a license plate.
What a simple, straightforward solution UWS Dad. Let’s lobby for this 🙂
Crossing the park drive can be really hard when the park is busy. Because bikers/ebikers go fast, don’t stop at lights and often go the wrong direction, it can be hard to find a break to cross. Especially for kids, elderly and the visually impaired.
Bikes, Ebikes and Even Motorcycles are everywhere on the park footpaths. The park should be a place of peace. Pedestrians should not have to constantly duck and weave to avoid cyclists, or brace themselves when they hear one speeding up behind them. The same goes for the city sidewalks. Enforcement does not exist in any form.
100% agree Elgin93! Join us NYC E Vehicle Safety Alliance!
These public surveys and workshops that are done whether by DOT or Parks are inaccurate as they are overrun by responses from the bike lobby and their paid minions. We just saw this with congestion pricing. During the comment period it was overwhelmingly favored and yet actual polling showed that New Yorkers did not support it and by a wide margin. Recent workshops on curb use demonstrated the same with meetings populated with the same TA supported advocates with no connection to the neighborhoods showing up. Online it was even worse.
1. Make the Roadways in Central Park two-way
2. Ban all non-electric vehicles from the park. Ban all vehicles from pathways.
3. Set speed limits
4. Eliminate the CPW bike lane.
Also skewing the results is lumping together drives (roads) and greenways (paths) in one survey. But even accepting the skewing why is nobody alarmed that nearly 50% of park users feel unsafe? If 50% felt unsafe because of crime, we’d say that is completely unacceptable and something would be done.
I suspect the way the survey may have been worded, leading to desired results.
I couldn’t have said it better Bill!
The City is mostly doing e-surveys – many people have no idea that the surveys are being conducted.
Also people who don’t have reliable access to computers or are not comfortable doing surveys on phones etc are less likely to be answering the surveys.
But lobbying groups like Transportation Alternatives sure are aware and messaging their constituents to answer surveys.
Ballot initiative …great idea!!! Get it out of the grabs of the mayor, his hundreds of cronies, and the rich who, since money doesn’t matter to them, won’t go out and get their own food. The poor delivery riders are at the bottom of the foodchain.
Exactly Subway!
I didn’t partake in this survey Nor did most of the 900 members of NYC-EVSA-New York City E Vehicle Safety Alliance. . We were unaware of it. This is totally inaccurate. If you want the truth, have a ballot initiative. This is THE “top safety concern”. The bike lobby sits and waits for this survey. How highly powered was this study? 5000 people in ALL of NYC? Is that about 4% of our population ? That’ sounds about right. I speak to people hit or nearly hit in C Park nearly every single day. And, robberies are up 250% in Central Park and quite a few use mopeds as getaway vehicles and some use e bikes. Yep, mopeds are illegal in parks, but HEY- it’s a free for all now!
I spoke to upper west sider, Marilyn Levin, this morning, Walking in Central Park has always been her favorite activity. She is in her 70’s. . She was hit from behind by an e vehicle in Central Park. She was Knocked out- broke tibia and fibula in 5 places. The e-bike fled – OF COURSE. Crash NOT reported by NYPD.-as most are not. (3% of our 81 victim’s crashes were reported). She has been in rehab facility for 3 months. This is just one of countless stories of people seriously injured by e vehicles in our parks.
Our NYC Parks are for RECREATION not TRANSPORTATION.
The majority of New Yorkers do not want motorized vehicles in our parks. Intro 0606-2024 prohibits all e vehicles from our parks and must be passed. Parks are the ONLY oasis we have left to escape the terror of the e vehicle crisis in our streets.
Marilyn is a friend of mine. She’s been suffering the results of an e-bike hitting her in Central Park since mid April. She’s had multiple surgeries and faces a long recovery. I support the efforts of the NYC e-Vehicle Safety Alliance. Regulation and legislation is essential. No one should ever have to endure the pain and suffering Marilyn has had to deal with. Join nycevsa. We are all at risk.
Central Park is now a haven for bikers speeding on the roadways and even on pedestrian paths. The e-bike pilot, forced on the park without any public comment, must end. It has led to the 300% crime rise in Central Park, including attacks on the police. The mission of Central Park is to provide serenity in the city. It has become a dangerous unhappy place for many of us. A biker knocked out the two front teeth of one of my friends . Get e-bikes of all kinds (mopeds, etc, scooters) out of the park and enforce rules that keep bikes off pedestrian pathways. Thank you.
This is such a no brainer! What a ridiculous survey to conduct! How can you ask anyone, seriously, whether they think this group of lawless individuals, who ride on sidewalks, severely injuring and killing people, who ride the wrong way on one way streets, severely injuring and killing people, should be allowed anywhere near the last, possible vestige left of NYC, to have some peaceful time away from traffic and illegal marauders!
The problem is not NYPD’s unwillingness to enforce the laws but the NYC Council’s unwillingness to fund NYPD’s ability to enforce and the the unwillingness of both the NYC Council and the NYS Legislature to pass laws making the actual drivers of ebikes and mopeds identifiable and responsible for their actions.
Mopeds already need to be licensed and NYPD’s budget is up over $1bn in the last decade, how exactly do they need more funding to enforce these laws? Confiscating unlicensed mopeds would be pretty cheap.
The situation is similar in Jersey City, where I live, although I was told by several police officers that department policy is to not attempt to stop e-bike riders, moped riders, etc. They have been told to do nothing. It’s infuriating.
The problem is not NYPD’s unwillingness to enforce the laws but the NYC Council’s unwillingness to fund NYPD’s ability to enforce and the the unwillingness of both the NYC Council and the NYS Legislature to pass laws making the actual drivers of ebikes and mopeds identifiable and responsible for their actions.
CitiBike should be held responsible for renting to reckless drivers.
A car rental place would be liable if they operated that way.
Persons with multiple infractions should be barred from renting.
BILL NUMBERS ( they are similar so it can get confusing)
INTRO 0060-2024 PROHIBITS ALL E-VEHICLES FROM NYC PARKS
Intro 0060-2024 requiring all e vehicles to be registered.
As an elder, I am extremely wary walking while e-bikes and bikers in general are riding around me, about crossing any street or road, etc. Who is responding to these surveys? Companies who have a large, vested interest in deliveries? Why is this being allowed?
Not just who is responding. To whom were they actually sent? I never received this survey to fill out!
I certainly never had a chance to fill this survey out! I used to enjoy walking in the city, but no more. I have to keep my head on swivel with every step I take. Bikes and scooters are legally subject to all traffic laws, but because said laws are not being enforced, I rate Central Park and the rest of the city is very uncomfortable and unsafe. Bikes need to be registered, licensed and insured, and the cops need to have the people and equipment to enforce existing traffic laws. Most European cities don’t have this problem, because they enforce their traffic laws.
The overwhelming majority of sane people who want to enjoy their park do not want to constantly worry about being slammed by any e-vehicle with 1-2-3-4 wheels. The so-called pilot program was “quietly extended” because no one wants it but the politicians who are supported by TransAlt and Open Spaces don’t want to lose their $. The politicians are only interested in their own $upport and do not care about the safety and welfare of their constituents. stop the scamming— NO E-VEHICLES IN OUR PARKS!
Enforce the laws on the books and you won’t need new ones!
There are currently no laws requiring registration of e-bikes and e-vehicles. We need it to make violators accountable. Right now, they get away with mayhem and, yes, deaths caused by their recklessness.
E-bikes are a danger to both pedestrians AND motorists. The city knows this but has no idea how to handle it.
Ebikes are extremely dangerous. The riders pay no attention to pedestrians, sometimes injurying them, and even worse. They rule the streets and when they hit someone, most do not stop, and, since they are not licensed and registered, they get away, with no repurcussions. Ebikes and mopeds do not belong in parks. Parks are places where people visit to enjoy nature and relax. Ebikes do not belong in parks.
NYC could care less about dead pedestrians. My friend Merle Ratner was killed a few months ago when she was hit by a tow truck driver who made a left turn as she crossed on a green light on the Lower East Side. This guy had some 86 moving violations. He smashed her to bits. For this, he pled to a misdemeanor for failure to yield. He got a six-month suspended license. An attorney friend tried, in vain, to persuade the D.A. to escalate the charges. They don’t care about any kind of killers on wheels.
eBikes should be banned from Central Park, along with motor scooters, electric scooters and Onewheels. They are big enough menace on the city streets, with total disregard for traffic laws. They shouldn’t be allowed in the park, where people are trying to relax and exercise.
A heavy ebike with a 150-175 pound rider is a lethal weapon. I agree with other comments that NYPD enforcement is sadly lacking. They don’t belong in parks, where they’ve also created a new style of robbery. Not requiring a license and plate number is sheer madness.
1. Can someone define “greenway” for me, please. Does that term refer to all (formerly) pedestrian paths in the parks?
2. In my opinion, ALL e-vehicles must be banned from the parks.
3. Signs should be posted everywhere detailing the rules of the road within the parks.
4. There must be some reliable mechanism put in place to enforce those rules.
5. Walking in Central Park and Riverside Park is no longer either safe or pleasant.
This is a pathetic and not scientific poll and the results must have been by e-bike dealers. I have had a friend killed and several injured. This is BS. End E-bikes and motorbikes in NYC!!!
As a pedestrian, I’ve never felt less welcome in Central Park than since this “pilot” project began. Then it was surreptitiously extended for another year with little public notice. Is anyone really listening to the people here, or just to the Trans Alt lobbyists? Of course, no stats are provided from before this e-bike rampage when all you had to look out for were human-powered vehicles.
Please no e-bikes in park. Terrifying!
New York City has become dangerous for pedestrians, ruined by unruly mopeds, e-bikes and regular cyclists disregarding traffic safety regulations. This is UNACCEPTABLE.
“Feelings of Safety Split…”? I’m sure a real survey would have revealed the split to be between those who are somewhat uncomfortable and the rest who are scared to death. I run in Riverside Park in the early mornings and I can tell you that even at 5:30am, there are speed demons tearing up and down the drive. There is no such thing as a relaxing run — or walk, for that matter — in NYC, because you have to keep your head on a swivel if you want to get home in one piece.
I can imagine DoorDash, UberEats, GrubHub, et al, are leaning hard on Mayor Adams to cut them some slack when it comes to registering their vehicles at the point of sale, licensing all vehicles before they leave the dealer, and paying their deliveristas a living wage, so that they are not incentivized to speed and ignore traffic signs to make ends meet. But here’s what the PEOPLE want:
– NO ELECTRIC OR ELECTRIC-ASSIST VEHICLES IN PARKS OR ON THE SIDEWALKS.
– REGISTER AND LICENSE ALL ELECTRIC AND ELECTRIC-ASSIST VEHICLES.
– INCREASE THE PENALTY FOR LEAVING THE SCENE OF AN ACCIDENT.
– ENFORCE THE TRAFFIC LAWS.
Agree 100%. Have you joined EVSA yet? We’ve had it, and we are fighting the app-funded special interests, and we need your help!
Perfect comment. Sadly, it is too logical. Politicians are not logical; they are political.
E-Bikes, scooters and motorcycles have no business in our parks. If you have ever been to the Hudson River Park, walkers and runners have to compete with motorized mayhem on a continual basis. When will we start placing a priority on the safety of the public?
Hudson River Park and pretty much all of the greenway along the Hudson can easily be policed and made moped-free. Last week, I cycled past three park rangers who completely ignored all the mopeds on the path. They don’t even try. But if I were to relieve myself behind a tree or walk my dog off leash, I’m guaranteed to get ticketed. Our police department is useless.
Emphasis on ‘can be’. Parks officers have given up on enforcement. I’m a regular cyclist (no motor) and use the West Side path every day: have seen dozens of accidents on that path, most of which involve ebikes or electric citibikes. It’s a massive concern – and this isn’t NYPD. Even in parks where they are supposed to do enforcement (riverside, Central) those cops sit inside their SUVs and stare at their phones. Lack of funding, my foot. Try lack of impetus
Agree I see NYPD sitting in their cars on their phones all the time ignoring everything around them. I would like to see officers patrolling on bikes which would make them a lot more aware of their surroundings. I even occasionally see officers on horseback in the park which is beyond ridiculous – how they are supposed to do any enforcement on a horse is beyond me…
I know of no one who feels safe any longer in Central Park with vehicles speeding along even on pedestrian paths at 25-30 mph. The survey done by the Parks Dept. surveying less than 6000 people is not representative of those who use Central Park. It is an insult to those who do who are vehemently against motorized vehicles in our parks. That was why cars were banned there! Those cars stopped at lights-not the practice of e-vehicles or mopeds who have no regard for traffic laws. Why doesn’t the Parks Department speak to the people who have been run over and severely injured by e-vehicles in the park? I’ll take a guess. They are part of the Citibike, Lyft, Trans Alt, food delivery app, DOT monied organization who have thrown out common sense and replaced it with complete greed!
The city becomes less and less safe and livable each and every day because of private interests who run the show and ineffective and weak leaders. One is not even safe anymore in a restaurant from moped marauding thieves making off with diners’ jewelry. And people want to come here and buy mega expensive apartments where dining out is that risky?
How nice the city has thrown open its doors to the best inexpensive getaway vehicles probably in its history. The parks’ crime rates have risen dramatically since this “pilot” program allowed them into our sacred spaces.
Well said Susan! It’s all quite disheartening – I want to be part of the change that is needed – but not sure where to begin.
Join nycevsa.org and fight to change this blight on our parks and our streets and sidewalks!
E-Vehicle Safety Alliance The only grass roots organization in NYC fighting to get common sense regulation.
Thank you! I will.
You will be welcome and find like-minded people at nycevsa.org. This is the email address of the E-vehicle safety alliance.
You can be, wehstider! Please join us at https://www.nycevsa.org/
That’s a redefinition of “split”.
E-bikes, especially the throttle type, are widely detested by those who walk.
I cannot understand the rationale for motorized vehicles in the park- how are these better than cars? And motorized vehicles do not provide exercise- just danger! To pedestrians, to cyclists, and to runners. The entire idea is crazy. Take what makes streets dangerous and extend it to parks- just idiotic!
close to HALF those surveyed uncomfortable….not enough to take action ? Dah!
Phony results. 100% of pedestrians do not feel safe with electric bikes and mopeds ANYWHERE.
alandgail1029@verizon.net All personal electric vehicles (bikes, scoorter, momocycles, etc. do not belong in a park dedicated to safe and peaceful enjoyment.
Key words:
“Pilot Program” and “quietly extended.” They initiate pilot programs then quietly extend them over the public’s objections. Then they send surveys to a few (5,000!).
Electric vehicles do NOT belong in the parks. They are often riding in the wrong direction, do not stop at lights, and frequently ride on pedestrian pathways. The parks are supposed to be a sanctuary. We should be able to peacefully walk in the parks without worrying that an e-bike is going to run us down. Furthermore, all motorized vehicles should be licensed and registered so we have some way to report infractions. Tell your city council members to sign Intro 0606 2924.
I strongly question the methodology of this survey, and do not believe the results. Having seen a young woman come within an inch of getting hit by one of these e-bikes, and a young man behind me stating “I hate these bikes,” I do not believe this survey is reflecting the fact that the majority of New Yorkers hate what’s become of our streets in what was once a wonderful walking city, and certainly don’t want it now in our parks. A ballot initiative is long overdue.
I agree. The results of a survey are only as valid as its structure, the wording of the questions, the size of the sample and the method of selecting the respondents. Not to mention the prejudices of the survey sponsor. I’d call this one laughable if it weren’t about a topic that affects the lives of so many Park users.
No motorized vehicles of any kind should be allowed in the park and all motorized vehicles in the city should be registered, so that the police can issue tickets to the drivers, who don’t follow the traffic rules.
When the overwhelming majority of people say they are concerned about speeding e-biles, scooters and motor bikes, this seems contrary to the conclusion that people are split on the subject of safety and bikes in the park. If you group the somewhat comfortable responses with the uncomfortable, most people have some degree of apprehension of e-bikes and other assisted vehicles in the park.
You can’t group the ‘somewhat comfortable’ responses with the ‘uncomfortable’ responses. That would like grouping the ‘somewhat uncomfortable’ with the ‘comfortable’.
The ebike and motorized scooter situation in NYC, particularly Manhattan is 100% nightmare.
Literally every human being that I’ve chatted with on this subject, from UES to FiDi, from West to East sides considers the lawlessness of motorized bike drivers to be a deadly blight on our city.
Everyone from 6 year old elementary schoolers who can’t cross the streets without fearing for their lives to yellow cab drivers who bemoan the ebikers lack of licenses and registrations, to the seniors who feel like they are part of human target hunting as these license free ebikers threaten them on sidewalks and going against traffic and through red lights 24 hours a day 7 days a week.
We demand accountability!
Make it law to require license and registration for all motorized vehicles in NYC!
Is there any possibility a petition of many thousand could get this on a ballot? lots of us park lovers wanting to not be killed or maimed could organize and get signatures if the powerful need “data”.
Are the people who feel safe the ones on the bikes? I am in Riverside Park nearly everyday, and the e,-bikes are ridiculous
If they are among other bikers, who can ride as fast as them, I see no problem. The only issue is if they can harm pedestrians. But what about pedicabs?
Attn: Councilmember Gale Brewer
Your constituents on the UWS have commented overwhelmingly here that they want licensing and more enforcement of e-vehicles.
When are you going to listen to your constituents who put you into office?
Gale Brewer is not merely useless on this matter, but hostile. We need to vote her out of office.
It is not just those concerned about e-bikes she is hostile to. It is Muslims who have been unfairly profiled and targeted on the UWS she is not being helpful to as well.
Sean Sweeney:
Licensing for throttle e-bikes is NOT going to do much if the NYPD continues to not enforce the laws of the road for motor vehicles — e-mopeds/scooters included.
Also, a licensing law would have to come from the State, so contact Linda Rosenthal and explain that you will leave her space on the ballot blank come Nov., if she doesn’t doesn’t take real action and start rememberig that pedestrians are constituents too. She, and other UWS state lawmakers, have offered fake solutions for too many years now.
(Hoylman-Sigal is not up for re-election, and doesn’t pay attention to consituent emails, so he’s not a priotity for contacting.)
Hoylman-Sigal’s office is more responsive to issues than Gale Brewer.
One is in the State Senate, and one is a City Council member, I’ve had much better luck with Brewer’s office. And you seem to have not read my second paragraph.
Nor, in my comment, did I mention Gale Brewer anyway, you’ve confused her with AM Rosenthal, who usually responds to constituent emails, but not ones about e-bikes.
Speeding e-bikes or e-scooters
Speeding mopeds
Speeding bicycles
Lack of rules enforcement
THESE TWO-,WHEELED e-bikes or e-scooters, mopeds, bicycles should not be allowed in Central Park, or any park until all rules are followed.
Keep off the city sidewalks, stop at red lights
The above goes for cars which don’t follow either.
Isn’t it ironic cars are outlawed in the parks, only to have the same space overrun by e-bikes and motorized bikes going just as fast and able to cause the same amount of injury to pedestrians. And then do nothing about it. C+C Music Factory said it best in the 90s, “Things that make you go Hmmm,”
eBikes should be banned from Central Park, along with motor scooters, electric scooters and Onewheels. They are big enough menace on the city streets, with total disregard for traffic laws. They shouldn’t be allowed in the park, where people are trying to relax and exercise.
E-bikes or scooters should not be allowed in the park. Now the parks have become obstacle courses for pedestrians, runners, and non e-bike cyclists. Walking in the park is no longer relaxing or pleasant. What purpose do e-bikes serve in the parks. Please ban them. They’re already a hazard on the streets.
E-Vehicles have taken over Central Park, speeding, failure to dismount on pedestrian paths, enforcement non-existent, destroying the reason we, natives of the city, and tourists have, for countless years enjoyed the park as a sanctuary, nature pure and simple. No more! Dogging these vehicles for fear of being mowed down, our childrens’ safety, and even the safety of our dogs.
Mopeds, most certainly should be banned from the park.
What?! Come on Rag!
People are NOT SPLIT!
WHERE IS THE SURVEY? NOBODY ASKED ME AND I”M IN THE PARK CYCLING OR WALKING EVERY DAY.
The DOT IS lying. Evehicles do not belong in the Park or Greenways. People are not at peace. The park is for recreation and ease, not competing against ebikes and the hazard they pose.
Get EVEHICLES OUT NOW! THE MAYOR IS IGNORING THIS QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUE. Horrible leadership and irresponsible managing of this crisis.