Over 100 cyclists, victims of e-vehicle collisions and supporters gathered outside Central Park on Wednesday to demand an end to a program that welcomes e-bike riding in city parks.
The group called on the City Council to pass Intro 0060, a public safety bill that would prohibit e-vehicles from entering NYC parks in all the boroughs. Group members said e-vehicles do not belong in city parks and cited multiple collisions that resulted in bicycle and e-bike riders and pedestrians getting hurt.
The group held signs with messages opposing e-bike riding in parks and chanted, “No e-bikes in our parks!” as cars and trucks drove by, honking seemingly in support of the rally, along traffic-laden 5th Avenue.
“Parks are for recreation, not transportation,” said Janet Schroeder, co-founder of the NYC e-vehicle Safety Alliance (EVSA). “We have over 200 cyclists in EVSA, and many who have been seriously injured by e-bikes, as well as many pedestrians.”
Intro 0060 would end a program the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation started in 2023 that opened up park drives and greenways to e-bikes and scooters.
Tales of woe
Sanja Vohl of Manhattan said she was struck by a speeding e-bike driver in June 2024 as she and her husband were crossing a busy street near Herald Square in Midtown. The couple suffered severe injuries as a result of the incident.
“Both of us were hit at the same time by one e-bike,” she said. “My husband has traumatic brain injury, bleeding on his brain, had a broken cheekbone, broken leg and trauma for life.”
He was unconscious for five days, 10 days in intensive care, and has still not fully recovered, she explained. Meanwhile, Sanja herself sustained a broken nose and injuries to her shoulder and foot.
“I’m scared to be outside,” she explained. “We are trying to find a way to regulate e-vehicles. They are breaking the law. Many are not following any rules of traffic,” she said. “
Many avid cyclists said they support laws that combat reckless e-vehicle driving, whether in a park or streets.
Avery, who lives in Brooklyn, said she loves biking, but was shaken after she was hurt in a collision in Lower Manhattan.
“I was riding my bike on a protected bike lane on the Allen Street bike path and a delivery e-biker caused me to crash by cutting me off and falling right in front of me,” she explained. “I fell on my hand and I needed four stitches and sprained my tendon. And i was about 20 feet south of the intersection at Grand Street where it would’ve been easy for him to have passed me without crashing.”
She added that the collision hurt her wallet, too.
“It was costly for me because I ended up with two emergency room visits and it’s my hand so I wasn’t really taking any chances” she said. “All in all it was like $1,000 in medical bills for me.”
At the scene of the collision, Avery said she asked for driver’s information but he refused to give it and biked off.
Queens City Council Member Vickie Paladino is the sponsor of Intro 0060, which would prohibit the operation of electric scooters and bicycles with electric assist in any park manned by the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation.
So far, 19 city council members have signed the bill, including Bob Holden of Queens, who also attended the Wednesday rally.
“Our parks are an oasis. We shouldn’t have to worry about e-vehicles there,” the council member said. “It’s bad enough we have them on the streets of NYC. They are out of control. It’s the wild west here.”
amNewYork contacted the city Parks Department for comment on this story and is awaiting a response.
Meanwhile, Schroeder of EVSA provided a breakdown of the injuries sustained by members in EVSA. They include 22 skull fractures, 16 traumatic brain injuries, paralysis, 37 broken ribs, four broken hips, vision loss, severe lacerations, PTSD and “hundreds” of broken bones.
“Allowing e-vehicles in our parks is antithetical to Central Park’s mission statement, which states, ‘ Central Park is a sanctuary from the pace and pressures of city life, enhancing the enjoyment and well-being of all.’ This is a major quality of life issue,” Schroeder explained.
