E-scooters and e-bikes could finally be legalized in New York.
After nixing a bill permitting the juiced-up rides last month citing safety concerns, Gov. Andrew Cuomo slipped a similar proposal into his next budget — but this time with new helmet requirements for some riders.
Cuomo’s rewrite, unveiled Tuesday, would mandate helmets for e-scooter riders under 18 as well as for those riding e-bikes that can go up to 25 miles per hour. Riders on slower e-bikes could still go helmet-free.
The budget still has to be hashed out by Albany lawmakers before April 1 — and at least one local rep was opposed to keeping the e-bike green-light in.
“The city is no place to have electric scooters on our streets, where our elderly are freaked out about everything, our women with children in strollers are terrified they might get hit,” said State Sen. Liz Krueger (D-Manhattan), who noted she had not yet read Cuomo’s proposal.
Even if the measure passes, local governments will be able to opt-out of the legalization — but it’s not yet clear whether Mayor Bill de Blasio will try to backpedal.
Hizzoner has instituted a years-long police crackdown against e-bikes, claiming they’re too dangerous for busy city streets, and has previously said he would only get on board with the scooters if there is some form of helmet regulation.
De Blasio’s office said Wednesday it was still reviewing Cuomo’s proposal.
Advocates and elected officials supporting the green light for the souped-up two-wheeled rides say the move will be a boon for the city’s delivery workers, who favor the fastest forms of the bikes but have been hit with fines and confiscations under the crackdown.
“If all of this goes through it will be a big benefit for workers,” said Do Lee of the Biking Public Project, a group that has advocated for immigrant workers. “In some ways, it’s actually an improvement from the [original] bill.”
But some New Yorkers say they don’t want to see any more e-bikes on the road.
“Oh, it’s the worst. They don’t follow the rules, they don’t stop at lights, they just fly through. They want to run you over. They just keep going — I want to shove them,” said Midtown worker Laurdes Martinez, 52.
“Every day it’s the same, I have to stop and watch for the bikers, not the cars. They go wherever they want.”