After New Jersey passed legislation requiring e-bikes to be registered and riders licensed, some advocates are calling for New York City to do the same, while others say that would impose a new burden without addressing key issues.
Supporters of registration and licensing say it will be easier to use cameras to capture license plates and impose fines, and that accountability will improve safety.
Critics argue it will create a bureaucracy and burden on those with e-bikes, including many immigrants doing deliveries, increasing costs and compliance, while not addressing many issues related to safety.
The question of whether to register and license e-bikes and riders was the main topic at Manhattan Community Board 7’s recent Public Safety Task Force Meeting.
The licensing legislation is named for Prescilla Loke, a pedestrian killed in Manhattan when she was hit by a rider on a pedal-assisted bike. Additional legislation would ban e-bikes from parks.
“We are not anti e-vehicle, but we are pro safety,” said Janet Shroeder, who leads the New York City Vehicle Safety Alliance and supports registration and licensing. “E-bikes are not bicycles. They weigh 50 to 100 pounds. They break more slowly. They go faster. They’re often ridden on autopilot.”
Amy Gillenson, a cyclist concerned about e-bikes, also supports licensing. “If they’re issued tickets, they’re going to begin changing behavior,” she said. “I don’t enjoy riding in the city anymore, especially riding in the park
But Ken Coughlin, chair of the CB7 Transportation Committee and a Transportation Alternatives Board Member, believes licensing all e-bike riders, including “deliveristas,” goes too far, imposing fees and other costs.
“I have no problem with prominent license plates being on Citi Bikes,” he said, although he opposes licensing all e-bikes.
Exiting New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy signed New Jersey’s e-bike law following several accidents just before leaving office. Incoming Gov. Mikie Sherrill put a 90-day pause on implementing this and a wide range of legislation.
“The dramatic increase in the use of e-bikes has created greater dangers for their operators, other motorists and pedestrians,” New Jersey Senate President Scutari (D-Union/Somerset) said in a written statement. “Requiring registration and licensing will improve their safe use and having them insured will protect those injured in accidents.”
Coughlin. However, believes everybody should modify behavior, including pedestrians, cyclists and e-bike riders to boost safety.
He pointed to one person, often cited by those seeking to regulate e-bikes, who was hit by a moped that already should be licensed. A crossing guard said another pedestrian should have stopped and did not have right of way. Another was hit crossing mid-block, rather than at a crosswalk.
“She did cross at mid-block,” Schroeder said, calling this “victim blaming,” noting e-cyclists also must be careful. “So let’s blame her.”
Coughlin believes sometimes e-cyclists are blamed when others take actions that can lead to accidents. “The implication with all these tragedies is the cyclist is to blame,” Coughlin said.
Delivery companies may encourage speed, Schroeder said, so customers get their food faster. “They incentivize riders to go as fast as possible,” she said.
“It affects people with disabilities and older New Yorkers,” Schroeder added. “Why don’t’ we think about that? They are the people most often hit.”
Schroeder said better enforcing existing rules, such as speed limits, would help, along with licensing.
“There’s a lot of speeding,” Schroeder said. “Running lights, riding all over the sidewalk with impunity.”
She said most collisions, even involving injury, are not reported, including some where police cite potential issues. “They’re supposed to write up every single crash,” Schroeder said. “But they’re not.”
Schroeder said her group has more than 1,500 members, including 119 injured, with 20 brain injuries, nearly 40 with broken ribs and many others.
She said only eight of more than 100 of her group’s injured in accidents have reports, although she added many more tried, and riders remained on the scene in only six cases.
“This lack of reporting is critical,” Schroeder said. “Consequences are what shapes behavior and there have been no consequences for mowing down pedestrians and leaving the scene of the crash.”
Coughlin said he was hit by someone riding a Citi e-bike, noting these bikes and riders can be identified. “If I had made note of the time when I was hit, they could have found the guy,” he added.
He believes widespread registration and licensing could lead to new difficulties for deliveristas concerned about contact with police.
“This isn’t about involving police,” Schroeder said. “This is about registering people to their homes, getting a ticket sent to them that they have to pay.”
Barbara Adler, co-chair of CB7’s Parks Committee, supports action she believes will improve safety.
“New Jersey just passed a rule that all e-vehicles have to be licensed and have a registration,” she said.” I hope we will follow very shortly behind.”
Coughlin believes making delivery workers responsible for licensing and insurance will only create more problems.
“What makes you think that licensing bikes would make it easier to solve?” he said, noting many hit-and-run car accidents remain unsolved.
