New York City Mayor Mamdani announced on August 5th that the city government has issued a ban on 42 online retailers, requiring them to immediately stop selling electric bicycles (referred to as e-bikes) and electric scooters that exceed speed limits, weight limits, or do not comply with safety regulations in New York City. Retailers who continue to sell these prohibited devices after receiving the order may face fines of up to $2,000 per transaction.
Retailers who received the order to cease sales include Amazon, Best Buy, Target, and Walmart. Mamdani stated that these companies must comply with the order by August 18th, or else they will face penalties.
The city government stated that these retailers were selling products that do not meet the legally required speed, weight, or safety standards to consumers in all 175 postal codes in the city through online channels. Just last week, an illegal e-bike of this kind resulted in the death of a 17-year-old.
According to New York City laws, stand-up electric scooters weighing over 100 pounds or capable of exceeding 20 miles per hour, e-bikes equipped with motors exceeding 750 watts or capable of exceeding 25 miles per hour, and seatless light motorcycles without valid Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) are all prohibited from being sold or operated on the roads. The illegal vehicles found on the streets may be confiscated.
Data released by the city government showed that between 2017 and 2025, illegal high-speed e-bikes were involved in the deaths of 45 riders, accounting for 54% of e-bike rider fatalities during the same period; illegal high-speed stand-up electric scooters were involved in the deaths of 14 riders, representing 52% of similar fatalities.
Mamdani emphasized that these deaths are not unavoidable tragedies but preventable losses of life. He warned online retailers that if they continue to sell dangerous illegal vehicles in New York City, the city government will hold them accountable.
Transportation Commissioner Flynn stated that legal electric mobility devices remain a good choice for citizens’ transportation, but illegal vehicles that are faster and heavier pose a threat to riders and other road users.
On August 4th, the New York City Council announced that it would hold a comprehensive hearing on e-bike and electric scooter safety on September 30th, reviewing around 17 related bills and policy proposals. Data released by the City Council showed that there have been over 500 e-bike collision incidents citywide this year, a 31.7% increase compared to the same period last year.
Council Speaker Menin stated that New York City already has relevant laws in place, but enforcement is not adequate. The Council will review the enforcement of existing laws and consider what additional provisions are needed.
Proposed solutions include banning the sale or rental of specific high-speed e-bikes, requiring food delivery platforms to obtain city permits, verifying the registration of light motorcycles used by delivery workers, enhancing platform transparency, and studying measures such as vehicle registration, insurance, trade-in programs, and road safety improvements. Among them, Council Member Hudson’s Bill No. 244 proposes to ban the sale or rental of specific high-speed e-bikes, with violators facing fines of up to $2,000.
The mayor has issued the ban on 42 online retailers based on existing laws, while the City Council will further review the overall regulatory system through the hearing.
Ligia Guallpa, Executive Director of the Worker’s Justice Project and co-founder of Los Deliveristas Unidos, expressed that many food delivery workers rely on e-bikes and light motorcycles for their livelihood, yet they face a chaotic online market where illegal and unsafe vehicles are sometimes more accessible. She supports the city government holding retailers accountable at the point of sale and calls for assistance in providing delivery workers with safe, legal, and affordable transportation options.