The Common Council unanimously approved a resolution on Wednesday to create regulations addressing the operation of e-bikes, e-scooters, and other non-registerable motorized vehicles, with no residents coming forward to comment.
Council members had expressed concerns about news of e-bike injuries, which Police Chief Steven Abbott previously said has become reportable in the state as an accident category for police.
“We don’t want to hurt anybody’s mode of transportation, but we want to keep people safe,” said Margaret Lupo, 5th Ward alderman, last week.
John Craig, 1st Ward alderman, who sponsored the resolution, said, “If you’re riding 20 mph down a city walkway, and someone comes out of a building, they might get hit.”
The resolution is the beginning of a process to create a city law that establishes where e-transportation devices can be ridden and penalties for infractions. Abbott and corporation counsel David Blackley will work on the law, and change the city charter to introduce language to e-bikes, e-scooters, and other non-registerable motorized vehicles, which will be added to the document. A public hearing will be scheduled for the proposed law.
The resolution stated that e-bicycle riders have been observed operating on sidewalks, and that they will be restricted to streets with 30 mph speed limits or less. E-bikes will also be prohibited from city parks and pathways, unless expressly designated.
Three classes of e-bikes were established in the resolution: Class 1, pedal-assist only with a maximum speed of 20 mph; Class 2, throttle-assisted with a maximum speed of 20 mph; Class 3, throttle-assisted with a maximum speed of 25 mph, which are only legal in New York City.
E-bikes motors are limited to 750 watts in the resolution, and must have a front white light and a rear red light after sunset. No license, registration, or insurance is required in New York state.
City police are authorized to enforce the regulations with ticketing, impoundment, and fees, with the cost to be determined.