New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced on the 7th that the New York City Department of Transportation plans to hire 45 law enforcement officers dedicated to cracking down on improper behaviors of delivery riders on electric bikes and mopeds to strengthen road safety and protect the rights of pedestrians and delivery workers.
According to the latest $116 billion fiscal year 2026 budget passed by the city government and city council, the Department of Transportation will establish a new unit called the Department of Sustainable Delivery (DSD) and recruit 45 new “peace officers” specifically trained to issue traffic violation tickets to delivery personnel engaged in dangerous driving behaviors, as well as enforce violations by businesses. These officers will not be armed and their roles will complement the existing traffic enforcement work of the New York City Police Department, focusing specifically on enforcement and advocacy in delivery hotspots.
The unit is expected to be formally deployed in 2028, as stated by the city government, and the enforcement officers involved will not be armed.
Mayor Eric Adams stated in the announcement, “The newly established Department of Sustainable Delivery is another important measure we are taking to protect the rights of delivery workers, ensure pedestrian safety, and hold delivery platform companies accountable. These companies set unrealistic work requirements for delivery workers, putting residents at potential risk.”
This move is seen as one of the latest policies adopted by Adams in his reelection campaign related to street safety issues. Previously, he had imposed a speed limit of 15 miles per hour for electric bikes and made adjustments to a section of Bedford Avenue in Brooklyn in response to some residents’ dissatisfaction with protected bike lanes, although city government data showed that the measure had improved safety.
Adams also called on the city council to pass legislation granting the Department of Sustainable Delivery more power to penalize delivery platform companies for violations of riding behavior, rather than solely targeting individual delivery workers.
However, some city council members have expressed concerns about the new policy. City Council spokesperson Mara Davis told the media that there are always concerns about policies that could potentially lead to discriminatory enforcement against delivery workers or immigrant communities. The city council is still in discussions with advocacy groups and constructive members of the city government to seek solutions that balance electric bike safety, sustainable delivery, and street safety.