State of New York is set to legalise electric bikes and scooters

The new legislation will “authorises e-bicycles and e-scooters in New York. These zero-emission devices are safe, sustainable, and affordable, unlocking the right of mobility for a wide segment of New Yorkers. Because of the widespread appeal of these devices, over 100 cities have witnessed substantial reductions in automobile traffic that enables them to achieve their congestion, environmental, and safety goals.”

A vote on a Senate bill for the legalisation of electric bikes and scooters in New York is likely to be voted on soon: New York Governor, Andrew Cuomo is thought to be in support of the bill and consequently it is likely the bill will be passed.

The bill would mean that individual towns would still have to vote on whether to legalise the bikes and scooters or not. Equally, the state bill is likely to say that riders won’t require helmets, but individual towns would need to regulate the use of the e-scooters in their own municipality. Additionally, the rules would see no one younger than 16 riding the bikes and scooters, while the bikes and scooters will be capped to 20 miles per hour Additionally, the bill prohibits the use of them on the sidewalks and on the Hudson River Greenway.

In a radio interview, Cuomo said: “I think the general concept is a good idea. I understand the traffic concerns and you would need safety precautions, but yeah I think it’s a good idea.”

For e-bikes, the law would be in effect after 180 days of the bill being passed, while for e-scooters, the law would take effect after 270 days. 

A spokesperson for New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio, Seth Stein, told Gizmo that the mayor supports the bill. “We appreciate this commonsense legislation that clarifies the rules around e-bikes on our streets. Safety for everyone on our roads is our priority, and we look forward to working with legislators and communities as we develop plans to implement the new law.”

Despite this, Bird have told The Verge that they don’t expect to supply scooters to New York until spring 2020, but Paul Steely White, Director of safety policy and advocacy at Bird, said: “The weight of this moment cannot be overstated. New York is on the cusp of making its streets safer and more equitable for everyone — all our legislators have to do is vote yes.”