New York City’s electric bicycles speed limit of 15 miles to be implemented in mid-October.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced on September 24 that starting on October 24 this year, the speed limit for electric bicycles and electric scooters on city streets will be capped at 15 miles per hour (approximately 24 kilometers per hour). This new regulation is in line with the existing standards for standing electric scooters and aligns with the regulations in many cities in the European Union.

The city government stated that this measure aims to enhance public safety and address the traffic order and pedestrian safety issues brought about by the recent surge in the number of electric bicycles. According to data from the Department of Transportation (DOT), there have been 623 collisions involving electric bicycles in the city so far this year, an increase from the 455 recorded during the same period last year, but still significantly lower than the number of accidents involving cars (12,727) and traditional bicycles (3,245).

Adams emphasized that this measure is intended to “allow New Yorkers to navigate the streets more safely, whether they are walking, driving, or riding electric bicycles.” Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez added that the city government is also advancing the expansion of protected bike lane networks and ensuring the safety of transportation users through education and infrastructure improvements.

During the planning process, the city government sought public feedback and received about 900 responses. Some residents complained about violations and dangerous behaviors by electric bike riders, such as running red lights or riding on sidewalks, while others pointed out that compared to electric bicycles, cars pose a greater threat to pedestrians and cyclists.

Critics, including some transportation advocacy groups and representatives of delivery workers, expressed concerns that the new regulations could impact delivery workers who rely on electric bicycles for their livelihood, and could potentially increase enforcement disputes. Some have advocated for more comprehensive management measures, such as licensing requirements, educational training, and insurance mandates, but the DOT responded that such measures are beyond the scope of this law amendment.

Furthermore, the regulation cites last year’s “Sammy’s Law” as the legal basis. Originally intended to allow the city government to reduce speed limits from 25 miles to 20 miles on certain streets, the law’s namesake, Amy Cohen, who lost her son in a traffic accident caused by a driver in 2013, criticized Adams for focusing on bicycles rather than the more threatening cars.

The city government has not yet clarified the penalties for violating the regulations, and transportation advocacy groups still have questions regarding whether fines or criminal summonses will be issued. The New York City Police Department began stepping up enforcement of traffic violations by electric bicycles last month, moving from issuing citations to issuing criminal summonses.

One of the most affected businesses is the bike-sharing platform Citi Bike, owned by Lyft. In response to a request from the city government in June, the company reduced the maximum speed of its approximately 15,000 electric bicycles from 18 miles to 15 miles per hour, thereby becoming the first to comply with the new regulations.