NYC lawmakers push legalization of e-bikes, e-scooters on city streets
NEW YORK (WABC) -- New York City lawmakers are pushing to legalize electric bikes and scooters in the city, but it could cause a political showdown with the mayor.
City Council members and advocates on Wednesday introduced a group of bills to allow e-bikes and e-scooters in all five boroughs. One of the bills would even create a pilot e-scooter sharing program.
Mayor Bill de Blasio has been a critic of electric bikes, calling them dangerous and a nuisance in the past. But a spokesperson said that the mayor is committed to reviewing the proposals.
The hope is that the legalization of the e-bikes and e-scooters will help delivery drivers and also those who will be impacted by the L-train shut down coming in the spring.
Advocates want to legalize e-scooters that go no faster than 15 miles per hour and e-bikes that go no faster than 20 miles per hour.
The bills will also create a city-funded program to convert e-bikes that are currently illegal into legal bikes.
San Francisco is already using the e-scooter sharing program.
The bills would have to be approved before e-bikes are legally allowed on the roads.
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