Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Central Park

Cheers, Jeers Greet First Day of City’s Pilot to Allow E-Bikes in Parks

Cops swarmed all over Central Park to spread the news of the first day of a pilot program to allow e-bikes to use park greenways where they had been banned.

Photos: Jonah Schwarz

Is this a bike jamboree or a crime scene? Actually, it depends on whom you ask.

On Tuesday, cops swarmed all over Central Park to inform cyclists and pedestrians of the first day of the city’s one-year pilot program to allow electric bikes to legally use park greenways and roadways where they had been banned in contradiction of state law.

The initiative is part of Mayor Adams’s “Charge Safe, Ride Safe” mobility plan, which finally legalized pedal-assist and some throttle-controlled electric bikes, plus e-scooters, on park drives and greenways such as the Central Park Loop, Prospect Park Loop, and city-controlled parts of the Hudson River Greenway (mopeds, electric skateboards, Segways, hoverboards, and one-wheels remain illegal). 

Cyclists, of course, were overjoyed to come out of the shadows.

One teenage deliverista, who gave the name Carlos, said he’ll now use the park roadways, which he avoided because of the risk of a ticket. Fellow delivery worker, Mohammed, 27, said the ban on using park drives and greenways had undermined his livelihood because he couldn’t make enough deliveries.

Now, he said, he can do his job without fear of breaking the law, which police have been enforcing sporadically. In all of 2022, the Central Park Precinct wrote just 341 tickets for violations that involved cyclists (though not all of the violations were written to illegal e-bike riders).

Of course, many park goers expressed concerns about e-bikes and e-scooters, despite very few incidents of crashes or injuries from electric bikes, according to city stats. (Click here for a map of the newly legal riding routes.)

“Many food delivery people who are on throttle e-bikes recklessly bike in the city,” said a young runner who gave the name Gabriella. “I’m afraid there will be more reckless high-speed e-bikes biking around the park.”

But she ultimately said she supports the pilot because she occasionally rides an e-scooter

Kevin James (left) and a friend enjoyed a legal electric ride.

Many beneficiaries of the pilot program were unaware that they could now use e-bikes and e-scooters legally. Kevin James, 18, said he was “more likely to use e-bikes in the park now” instead of going out of his way when using an e-bike.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

Will Indicted Mayor Adams’s Bid to Eliminate Parking Mandates Survive Council Review?

As the City Council review proccess begins, experts say it is crucial to keep getting rid of parking mandates in the City of Yes.

October 3, 2024

Room for Improvement: What New York’s Subway System Can Learn from Cities Around the World

New York’s subway was once an international model of modernity. But it's not anymore.

October 3, 2024

Stop Making Sense: TWU’s Head-Scratching Opposition to Congestion Pricing Doesn’t Add Up

Thanks in part to union sabotage, New Yorkers are staring into an abyss of impoverished transit.

October 3, 2024

Subway Elevators are Not Just a Nice Lift, But a Basic Civil Right

Accessibility is a must-have as cities compete to attract visitors and retain residents.

October 3, 2024

Thursday’s Headlines: Apples and Honey and Game 3 Edition

Sure, the Mets didn't win on Rosh Hashanah, but did we ever tell you about our favorite Mets-Rosh Hashanah story? Plus other news.

October 3, 2024
See all posts