Bicycling

Do Electric Bikes Belong in NYC?

In its most recent installment, the City Room bike column cites the apparently burgeoning popularity of electric bicycles. According to the story, "e-bikes" are favored by delivery workers, the elderly, and at least one 38-year-old Manhattan screenwriter. Thing is, it's illegal to ride them in the city:

By Brad Aaron

5:01 PM EDT on October 21, 2009

Photo: City Room

In its most recent installment, the City Room bike column cites the apparently burgeoning popularity of electric bicycles. According to the story, “e-bikes” are favored by delivery workers, the elderly, and at least one 38-year-old Manhattan screenwriter. Thing is, it’s illegal to ride them in the city:

[F]or the moment, electric bicycles occupy a nebulous legal lane on the road. Not quite a scooter, not quite a bike, e-bikes are considered “motor-assisted bicycles” under New York State law and are banned from state roads and city streets.

Sellers and riders are hoping state law will be amended soon, but is that a good idea? At the recent Upper East Bike forum, Council Member Daniel Garodnick said he is authoring a bill to increase penalties for riding motorized bikes on sidewalks, which he believes is occurring more often.

Weighing the possible pros (increased mobility for those who can’t ride regular bikes) and cons (potentially dangerous pedestrian conflicts), do motorized bikes capable of traveling 20 mph have a place in the city’s transportation mix? If so, where do they belong?

Brad Aaron

Brad Aaron began writing for Streetsblog in 2007, after years as a reporter, editor, and publisher in the alternative weekly business. Brad adopted New York's dysfunctional traffic justice system as his primary beat for Streetsblog. He lives in Manhattan.

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