Electric bikes are extremely common in many parts of New York City and yet, certain types have been banned. This dates back to 2004 when gas powered kick scooters that could reach high speeds were becoming popular and a 19 year old young man died riding a gas powered pocket-rocket mini motorcycle cycle that hit a pothole. As a result of the noise, high speeds and even pollution caused by these unlicensed vehicles, the city passed a bill to ban certain types of motorized vehicles in the city. In more recent years as technology has changed, those older laws have become relevant to throttle operated electric bikes. These bikes are commonly used by delivery people in the city to quickly get food to customers because parking is expensive and traffic can be difficult. These imported illegal ebikes can be seen on almost every street around the restaurants in Brooklyn, NY and elsewhere but are usually ignored. The delivery people wear bright reflective clothing and follow riding laws closely enough that the police and other authorities seem to let it go. Also worth noting is that the top speed of nearly all electric bikes used by delivery people and most consumers is 20 mph vs. the 40 mph mentioned in the minutes and discussion around the law for gas powered scooters.
Here’s the law referenced in the video that talks about high speed throttle operated scooters:
For those shops and riders who are using pedal assisted ebike technology, the law does not explicitly state that they are disallowed because they require human input in order to go. In fact, Propel Bikes is located in Brooklyn and sells many models that use assisted technologies but do not have throttles. You can learn more about their products at their website here:
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Why does the dude blink so much
E bikes are the future! Keep going guys and let's get those laws clarified! Pedal assist legal anywhere a regular bike is!!
…If NYC CAN'T MAKE MONEY FROM IT ..THEY MAKE IT HARD ON THE PEOPLE. THAT IS NYC FOR YA. YOU KNOW IT ..THEY GONNA STICK IT TO YOU EVERY WAY AND ANY WAY THEY CAN… PEOPLE SAVE UP TO ESCAPE NYC AND NEVER LOOK BACK! ..MANY FOLKS WON'T EVEN FLY OVER NYC!! …BOTTOM-LESS MONEY PIT.
So according with this interview things like hover-1 Xls are illegal in NYC?? I really want to buy one of those because are cheaper and don’t need a lot space..
At 948sec ahole no helmet threw redlight…and thats y gov hates ebikes aholes on them
Too bad commie mayor Diblasio of NYC is cracking down on ebikes impounding them and huge tickets and fines of $500-2500 now. They will even ticket citibike riders $250 having their front tire touch a white line when light is red even when rider is stopped. NYrs don't care because the citibikers are mostly all tourists but its messed up. As for ebikes just because a couple bad egg chinese delivery riders hit a few idiot careless pedestrians who were on their cellphones while walking and drunk. Those crooks just want everyone dependant on the MTA mass scam transit robbery prices and want to make any good form of transportation illegal. If they really cared about the safety of people in the city and accident numbers they would makes cars illegal in the city but its all about the $$$
Time NYC residents tear down all the traffic cams and put them on the corrupt politicians. Cops wear them now and usually helps them from scumbag citizens who lie and file for false lawsuits, time the scumbag politicians get monitored by camera surveillance 24hrs a day so the public can really see what crooks they are. Then things would change for the better.
I heard him on the wreless back in 52….
i been riding them for 2 yrs now, just make sure to ride with you flashing bike lights, and wear a bright reflective shirt .. Some drivers dont see well or are just speeder . i love these bikes, i make it from Ridgewood to Astoria in about 20 min compare to 1hr of takin the train .
oncasters
11 seconds ago
Look.. it's all about fuel usage…oil,oil ,oil .They don't want you to buy a clean vehicle..If New Yorkers cut their gas usage ,the other large cities would follow,everyone on bikes ,no gas Dollars spent ,the economy would suffer ,which means higher Taxes….oh and nice clean air!
REPLY
Now that's clarity thanks EBR
Things ain't lookin' too good for ebikes in NY…
E-bike laws annoy me and you just know they are being made by some sheltered politician that spends the day in a gold encrusted cotton will padded office after having be driven there by their chofer. Here in the UK they cant go faster than 15.5mph and must be limited to 250w motor and no throttle and there view is its to make them safe, well this proves they never get out into the world because my 17 year old mountain bike can hit 16mph easily and can push it to 35 mph on the flat with a tiny bit of effort and that's still slow as proper road bikes and do more than 50mph. So i do not buy the safety reason because if i travel at 35mph under electric assist or I raw pedal at 35 I am still doing 35 regardless of the bike.
Read the title of this video in a Seinfeld voice.
As german the law sound familiar 🙂 In Germany elektric Bikes where power only as pedal assist – we call them Pedelecs (PEDal ELECtric assist) – (up to this 25km/h max 250W Power – around 16mph) are legaly treated as normal bicycles – No technical check or licence plate or driving licence needed. Allowed to be driven on bicycle roads (in europe often shared with pedestrians – a reason why this slow assist speed is the limit) only normal bicycle safety regulations must be fulfilled (Lights, reflektors at front, back and side, a bell, two indipendant brakes).
The faster version of Pedelecs (up to 45km/h – 28mph?) are treated same like "small motor bikes". Need licence plate (in real it's a plate of the insurance company that for the bike a valid mandatory accident insurance exists), mirror and legaliced and certificated parts (changing safety parts by your own will result in lost of the ABE (Vehicle operating permit). Driver has to wear helmets and bicycle paths or trails in the forest are forbidden as long as not explicit alowed.
eBikes (with Throttle – means power without pedaling) directly ahndled like normal motoriced vehicles. Everything faster than 6km/h (up to 6km7h needs no licence – this is for electric powered whell chairs) needs operating permit and the driver needs a driving licence (up to 25km/h "Mofa"-licence (ago 15 or older) up to 45km/h "Mopped/Roller"-Licence (Mofa and Mopped/Roller are not official names but common used ) age 16 or older (included in normal car driver licence).
That's why many european Brands have
9:45…typical E-Bike operator. But, "the majority of riders are safe and legal", yeah, sure. As far as using a cargo bike to transport kids, that's great, unless as at 12:15 their is no protective barrier to prevent the middle child's feet from being pulled into the spokes….I've seen it, really bloody.
Go to London if you wanna see even more e bikes
IT'S BECAUSE OFF YOU HAVE TO PEDAL FIRST to use the throthle
Do u have to get a motorbike licence to ride an electric bike in Canada?
when will the councils put peoples lives back into their hands. Fine people for endangering their own life is shite. if people are suicidal or like hurting themselves, let them be.
same confusion people has concerning the law in regard to using electric skate boards, or i should say Cops were confused. Cops would fine some people for just standing on a skateboard, the cops would say "you are going to ride it, why else stand on it" i thought pre crime was not here yet
We think E-Bikes are super fun but unfortunately everyone is capable of riding them. That's why we at DC-Tri have created an e-trike. This is allows for anyone to enjoy the benefits of riding regardless of skill, age or physicality! http://www.dc-tri.com 🙂
I live in NYC and have been riding an Ebike for a few years with no problem. My bike is a regular bike with a 250 watt kit installed. I disagree with the idea of making them illegal was due to a kid getting killed on one. The reality is there were many food delivery people that use them and ride very recklessly. They are probably paid by the delivery so they need to go as fast as possible. They go on sidewalks, wrong way, etc.. Those type of riders should be targeted since they are a danger. Otherwise, if you drive responsibly and ride it like a regular bike with assistance , police don't even notice you. If you want to be a daredevil, you should get pulled over . I feel the same for people who ride regular bikes recklessly….
I used to bike approx 2hrs daily, with NYC painfully unpredictable public trans (especially rush hours and weekends) e-bike with limited top speed (20mph?) is a big plus and great option for daily commuters like me.
So technically a full pedal assist bike with no throttle is perfectly legal in NYC?
Propelo? The company that takes peoples money for non existent bikes, ship bikes that need to be set up by a licensed dealer and explained by the employee, and listing prices that are not map compliant.
People are missing the point, to operate a bike it requires human input. You use the pedal assist, or you twist the throttle. You have to balance and operate the bike safely. The bike doesn't operate autonomously! If I do not stand on or sit on the bike and use my input the bike doesn't move or operate on its own! The battery only assists my input.
Once you start asking if its ok to ride these bikes in NY the morons in office will see their opportunity to create mandatory registration and insurance..Are you sure you want to start this dialogue?
Here's the real story. New York has 2 rules for electric bicycles, and this is where it gets interesting and funny. The 2 issues are, electric bikes are NOT illegal, as long as you register them "BUT" the motor vehicle department won't offer any registration for an ebike. This is a runaround, while in the meantime, letting officers take advantage of the loop hole and pull over 100's of e-bikers. Giving them tickets and even confiscating their bikes. I think this is yet another scam (as there have been so many with NYC and NJ police forces) to allow the city to make a profit off something they say isn't illegal, but ticketing them because there is no way to follow the registration laws required to ride these Newer bikes. The law of you can own it, but to ride it you need registration… and we aren't going to allow you to register it. This is a major contradiction. This to me is just another way for the city to scam anyone using something new. Below is a link if you wish to know more:
https://dmv.ny.gov/registration/motorized-devices-cannot-be-registered-new-york
Furthermore, here's where you cannot ride e-bikes:
WHERE TO RIDE:
Electric bicycles may not be ridden on any street, highway, parking lot, sidewalk or other in New York State that allows public motor traffic.
So, where is left to ride? the forest?
trust me the city is going to come up some kind of way to make money with the e-bike situation because it's too much traffic going on in the city and through out the boroughs and that 20 miles per hour is ridiculous you have regular bikes that go more even faster than EBike especially bike pedal racing bike
They are illegal because deblasio is a jagooff.
License, Insure, Train, Test, Register. Don't slough the liability on to others. Use the technology, just do it responsibly.
If people are irresponsible, it demonstrates the need to regulate. Use the auto motive model for the auto motive.
Owing a car in nyc can be expensive.
so if I take my cargo bike to the city and pass thru central park I maybe cited or worse yet get my bike taken away?