Adams administration officials pushed back against a bill seeking to license electric bicycles and motorized scooters during a contentious Council hearing on Wednesday, citing its potential to bring more enforcement against delivery workers in pursuit of traffic safety.
The bill sponsored by Councilmember Bob Holden and backed by dozens of his colleagues would require e-bikes and other motorized micromobility vehicles not subject to state licensing laws to be licensed and registered on the city level.
The bill is a response to a ballooning number of e-bikes and e-scooters in recent years after they were legalized in New York City and state. Holden and his supporters say the proliferation of the vehicles on sidewalks and streets has imperiled the safety of pedestrians and cyclists and argue the bill is a common-sense measure in the interest of public safety.
Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said the administration agreed with the bill’s logic, but raised concerns about potential unintended consequences. Delivery workers would bear the brunt of enforcement, he argued, echoing advocates’ worries. He also warned that a city-level licensing authority for these vehicles would weigh heavily on the agency’s resources — essentially creating a micro DMV in the city’s Department of Transportation.
“We agree with the intent, but we believe that mandating registration and licensing is not a solution,” Rodriguez said.
Holden said it was the city’s responsibility to protect residents against new dangers.
“Opponents of this bill have tried to make this about everything but traffic safety,” Holden said. “They deflected, exaggerated and even stirred racial unrest, claiming this bill will lead to unwarranted police stops, as if breaking traffic laws and endangering lives should somehow be excused or ignored.”
Rodriguez emphasized that the vast majority of traffic deaths this year involved cars and other large vehicles — 105 pedestrian fatalities, per his agency’s count. By contrast, he said six people died this year as a result of collisions with e-bikes, mopeds and stand-up scooters.
Still, city officials are under pressure to act.
“This is baloney. You’re taking transit and making it a racial issue?” said Councilmember Vickie Paladino. “Absolutely not. This is a safety issue.”
Also on the committee’s agenda was a separate resolution from Councilmember Gale Brewer, who is throwing her support behind a state bill that would limit licensing to commercially used e-bikes. The bill’s critics have argued that delivery workers are under immense pressure from their delivery app employers to get to their destinations as quickly as possible, often at the cost of their own safety.
“We have to be clear that if passed, the legislation would have a disparate impact on low-income individuals, people of color, and undocumented migrants,” Public Advocate Jumaane Williams said. “Undocumented immigrants might be reluctant to fill out applications to register their bicycles, but they might not be more reluctant to ride the bicycles.”