UES Community Board Split On E-Bikes...Are They Mortally Dangerous Or Essential To Delivery Workers?

E-bikes have thoroughly infiltrated their way into New York City’s transportation networks. They’ve become a recreational mainstay with the uptake of CitiBikes, all while serving as a primary way of getting around for delivery service work alongside mopeds. Yet they have not been without their fair share of controversy. An e-bike shop in Chinatown suffered a catastrophic fire on June 20th that killed four people, after some of the lithium batteries that power the vehicles caught on fire. Elderly New York residents have also expressed latent fears about being seriously injured by speeding bikes or delivery workers.

At a virtual July 5th meeting of Community Board 8’s Transportation Committee, these concerns were on full display as older Upper East Siders expressed considerable vitriol about the culture shift towards e-bikes.

Andrew Fine, a member of the public, was blunt: “Obviously, we have a problem,” he began, adding that “since e-bikes were legalized by the city four years ago, they’ve completely run out of control. Everybody’s experienced getting hit by an e-bike, or swiped and nearly hit by an e-bike—we’re all basically victims or potential victims.” Calling the e-bike surge the “Wild West” and decrying e-bikes being permitted in Central Park (which he referred to “as our last oasis”), Fine proposed that a $500 fine should be levied for e-bikers that went on the sidewalk. A repeat offense would garner bike confiscation. He also wants e-bikers to get licensed, registered, and insured.

Kathy Brady, another public commenter, was even more irked by the e-bike craze. In an apparent reference to deliveristas being incentivized to make deliveries as quickly as possible, she said that “wealthy, powerful, politically connected apps like Lyft & GrubHub--who contribute a lot of money to our dear politicians–[and] are incentivizing these drivers to go as fast as they can!” Therefore, Brady believes accidents are more prone to happen. Her conclusion was that “New York is dying and is becoming unlivable. E-bikes are a big part of the problem.”

Dylan Geronimo Kennedy, a seemingly younger NYC resident, took a strikingly different tack. He claimed that “before we have a resolution on this, we need to have a better sense of how many injuries are actually coming from these e-bikes.” Pushing back against Andrew Fine’s earlier testimony that a “majority” of New Yorkers agree that e-bikes pose a threat, he noted that deliveristas form a sizable constituency in New York themselves. In a concession likely prompted by recent events, however, Kennedy admitted that he was “concerned about batteries...I do think there could be regulations for bike repair shops.” He also thought that a $500 fine would only be appropriate if it was also levied against car drivers.

Brennan Carley, another concerned citizen, appeared ready to straddle the e-bike divide. “My view is that TRUE e-bikes don’t need any additional regulation or licensing...other than the battery,” he said. Carley then suggested that e-bikes could perhaps be licensed before leaving the shop. The problem in his view, rather, was a lack of enforcement against lawless e-bike behavior by the NYPD, such as running red lights or going the wrong way down a one-way. Nonetheless, he also seemed to recognize that “safety issues” could arise if a police cruiser took off after an e-biker breaking street laws.

By and large, Community Board 8 members themselves seemed to want stronger licensing requirements for e-bikers. John McClement echoed Fine’s overall sense of doom when he exclaimed that “I don’t make a distinction between e-bikes and mopeds, to me they’re equally dangerous when I’m trying to cross the street. If you say anything to them, they curse at you.” He continued that “something really has to be done. I’m a senior citizen, I’m reasonably spry for my age, but I get frightened crossing First Avenue where the bike lanes are completely out of control!”

Michele Birnbaum wasn’t afraid to proclaim that she was “sick of the cycling community not accepting restrictions.” She also seemed enraged by Dylan Geronimo Kennedy’s relatively positive testimony in favor of e-bikes, which she appeared to reference by saying “don’t talk to me about cars. They do many deeds that the young and able-bodied are able to circumvent with bikes. We turned this city upside down for you, and want a little bit of accountability!”

Russell Squire, the board chair, seemed to endorse Carley’s notion of registering the bikes before they left the shop (in addition to requiring insurance).

A rare speck of pro-bike support from the board came from Juno Chowla-Song. “Part of the reason why bikers go on the sidewalks is because it’s so dangerous to go on the street,” she offered, calling for more and safer bike lanes. She also remarked that delivery bikers would perhaps slow way down if they got paid adequately for trips without needing to meet timely delivery quotas.

As the meeting spiraled on, it was clear that an impasse would persist. However, given the fears expressed by many of the CB8 members and public commenters, it seems that some senior citizens may demand tougher strictures as e-biking persists.