New York Mayor Adams announced on June 4 that due to concerns over the unsafe speeds of e-bikes and e-scooters ridden by delivery personnel on the streets, a city-wide speed limit of 15 miles per hour will be imposed to reduce the risk of accidents.
The city government plans to officially announce the new regulations this week and solicit public opinions within five working days. The enforcement details are expected to be finalized by the end of July at the earliest. The specific penalties for speeding violations have not been clearly outlined by the city government.
The new speed limit policy will apply to all e-bikes, e-scooters, and commercial pedal-assist bicycles, aligning with the existing regulations for standing e-scooters. This regulation is in line with the standards of many cities in the European Union.
Two weeks before the mayor’s announcement of the new regulations, a 3-year-old girl in South Williamsburg, Brooklyn, was allegedly struck by a delivery person riding an e-bike on a bicycle lane, sparking backlash from the local community. The local Jewish community has repeatedly called for the city government to enhance the management of e-bikes.
New York City Transportation Commissioner Rodriguez stated that while most people comply with traffic safety regulations, the city government is taking stricter measures to reduce the potential risks of accidents.
In addition to the speed limit, in order to more effectively regulate the rapidly growing delivery industry, Adams urged the city council to expedite the review of a bill proposed by the city government last October. The bill requires delivery platforms such as DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub to obtain permits for their delivery personnel and establish a new “Department of Sustainable Delivery” to oversee delivery applications, enforce speed limits, and ensure the safety of delivery personnel.
The bill has been pending for over 9 months without being introduced or holding any public hearings. The city government has previously held multiple meetings with transportation advocacy groups, restaurant industry operators, and delivery platform application companies. Adams emphasized that only through legislative authorization can the city government, similar to the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC), effectively oversee the delivery industry, requiring platforms to track delivery personnel’s driving speeds and routes to ensure compliance with traffic regulations.
Due to legislative obstacles, enforcement mainly relies on existing law enforcement personnel. Since April, the New York City police have intensified enforcement against e-bike violations, with some delivery personnel not only fined but also issued criminal summonses. They criticize the current enforcement methods as causing unrest, but New York City Police Commissioner Tisch responded that the current enforcement measures are aimed at ensuring traffic safety.
The new speed limit regulations will be enforced by the Department of Transportation and enforcement agencies. If the city council passes the new bill in the future, delivery platforms will face additional regulatory requirements.