New York City Council held a hearing on Wednesday (September 30) regarding the safety of micro-mobility vehicles such as electric bicycles and electric scooters. This session saw a record number of 23 legislative proposals being discussed, covering areas such as enhancing enforcement, regulating responsibilities of delivery platforms, restricting high-speed electric bicycles, and improving street safety measures.
The hearing was jointly organized by the City Council’s Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure, Consumer and Worker Protection, and Public Safety. The Council stated that the proposals would focus on the three major directions of “safety, accountability, and regulation,” aiming to improve the usage environment of micro-mobility vehicles in New York City.
Before the hearing, City Council Speaker, along with several council members, held a press conference at City Hall to introduce the legislative directions. The Speaker expressed concerns over the lack of proper safety measures and enforcement leading to numerous injuries and fatalities involving electric bicycles and scooters in New York. She remarked that the current situation is unacceptable and besides reviewing the proposed bills, the Council will also assess the effectiveness of existing laws and their enforcement.
According to Council data, the use of electric bicycles has been steadily increasing in recent years. In the first six months of 2026, a total of 738 electric bicycle riders were injured, and 13 fatalities were reported, higher than the same period in 2025 which recorded 601 injuries and 10 fatalities. Currently, it’s estimated that around 65,000 delivery workers in the city use electric bicycles or other micro-mobility vehicles for food delivery and package transportation, constituting approximately 40% of the traffic from such vehicles.
Regulating the delivery industry is one of the key focuses of the proposed legislation. The measures include requiring delivery service providers to obtain licenses from the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP), verifying the registration status of the motorized scooters used by delivery workers, and enhancing companies’ responsibility for delivery safety. The Council aims to safeguard the working needs of delivery workers while increasing the safety responsibilities of businesses and platforms.
Regulating high-speed electric bicycles is also a major concern for the council members. According to New York State classifications, a Class 2 electric bicycle has a motor assist speed of up to 20 miles per hour, while a Class 3 allows up to 25 miles per hour. Any vehicle with a motor speed exceeding 25 miles per hour, be it electric bicycles or other micro-mobility vehicles, will not be legally sold or used in New York City. Some proposals seek further restrictions on the sale and rental of Class 3 electric bicycles.
In addition to vehicle regulations, the Council also discussed improving accident statistics related to electric bicycles and other micro-mobility vehicles, as well as enhancing road safety education and bicycle lane infrastructure. The Council stated that the hearing gathered opinions from city agencies, delivery workers, electric bicycle users, and pedestrians, and these insights will serve as vital considerations for the Council’s future legislative actions.