Mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo in New York City has proposed legislation to register e-bikes with special city plates and hold food delivery apps responsible for accidents to reduce reckless driving and deadly crashes. E-bikes were responsible for 75% of bicycle-related deaths in 2023 and caused over 7,200 injuries, including nearly 500 pedestrian injuries according to the city Department of Transportation. Cuomo believes that there are currently no rules or regulations governing e-bike use in the city, leading to numerous injuries and fatalities.
Cuomo’s safety plan involves requiring all e-bikes and e-scooters to be registered with the city Department of Transportation and have city identification plates to make enforcement easier. He also wants to change the payment regulations in the food delivery industry, claiming that current rules incentivize reckless driving by encouraging workers to accept more trips and travel longer distances faster to maximize their pay. By holding food delivery apps liable for damages caused by their drivers during deliveries and recording registration numbers when assigning delivery jobs, Cuomo aims to create a safer environment for pedestrians and riders.
The delivery worker is paid only for the time that they have accepted a trip and until it is completed in the app, incentivizing them to accept more trips and travel faster, often exceeding the speed limit to meet the deadline for deliveries. Cuomo’s proposal seeks to eliminate these financial incentives and encourage safer driving practices among e-bike delivery workers. By making food delivery apps responsible for the actions of their drivers and requiring them to record registration numbers during deliveries, Cuomo hopes to reduce the number of accidents and injuries caused by e-bike and scooter delivery workers.
The City Council is currently considering legislation to address e-bike and e-scooter safety, with Cuomo’s proposed plan aligning with Councilman Robert Holden’s previous proposal that would require license plates and registration for electric bikes and scooters due to the high number of fatalities in e-bike crashes in recent years. Cuomo’s safety plan is part of a larger public safety initiative that also includes hiring an additional 5,000 police officers to increase the NYPD force by 15%. The proposed legislation aims to regulate the use of e-bikes and e-scooters on city streets, with a focus on improving safety for pedestrians and riders. By implementing registration requirements and holding food delivery apps accountable for the actions of their drivers, Cuomo hopes to reduce accidents and injuries caused by e-bike and scooter use in the city.
