New York City did not ban Class 3 electric bikes, but they did propose legislation that would ban the sale of and legality of riding any Class 3 electric bikes.
NYC Council Hearing on E-Bikes: Here's What Happened
Written by: Rémy Rossi | Oct 1, 2026 | Time to read 5 min
With micromobility accidents on the rise in New York City, the city council held a record-setting legislative hearing that tackled 23 safety bills. Let’s take a look at what happened and what it means for electric bikes in one of the world’s biggest cities.
More about the Author: Nick Cowie
Nick is a writer with seven years of experience in the cycling industry. In his free time, he enjoys swimming, Jiu Jitsu, and spending time outdoors.
New York City saw a 30 percent spike in micromobility crashes in the first half of 2026 compared to the first half of 2025. This statistic includes electric bikes, mopeds, and electric scooters. Because of these startling numbers and complaints from residents, the city decided to act and hold a New York City Council hearing to propose safety bills in hopes of protecting riders and pedestrians alike.
Upway has been keeping a close eye on the changing e-Bike landscape in the city, as it's all happening in our backyard— our New York City UpCenter is located in East Williamsburg.
The hearing yesterday on September 30th included discussion of a record-setting 23 safety bills, which were all discussed in a period of seven hours. These bills most heavily targeted third-party food delivery apps and Class 3 electric bikes. Here’s what happened after lengthy and intense debates and what came out of the wheely-long session.
The hearing yesterday on September 30th included discussion of a record-setting 23 safety bills, which were all discussed in a period of seven hours. These bills most heavily targeted third-party food delivery apps and Class 3 electric bikes. Here’s what happened after lengthy and intense debates and what came out of the wheely-long session.
Proposed E-Bike Bills Run the Gamut
Many of the safety bills proposed by legislators would greatly change the e-Bike scene in New York. In fact, some of the proposals would make some people’s e-Bikes suddenly illegal, though most rule changes would have a gradual introduction period. The city considered how to handle this and discussed the following proposals:
- Class 3 e-Bike Ban: We have known that this would be the most-discussed item from the meeting for weeks. Lawmakers targeted an outright ban on the sale of Class 3 electric bikes in New York City, making them illegal to ride on city streets. While they did not ban Class 3 e-Bikes at the hearing, they did make a proposal that will be considered.
- Sidewalk Speed Limit: Another aim of lawmakers is to reduce the speed limit on New York City sidewalks. They want to enforce a strict 15 mph limit on sidewalks and even mandate speed-reducing devices or automatic geofencing technology on the sidewalk.
- Trade-in Programs: A big concern with making certain bikes and equipment illegal is that tons of residents will already own the now-illegal items. To counter this, legislators proposed a free or low-cost trade-in program to allow riders to swap their uncertified equipment for newly legal alternatives.
Hearing Highlight: Targeting Delivery Apps
Some of the biggest users of Class 3 e-Bikes in New York City are delivery drivers from apps like DoorDash or GrubHub, which have skyrocketed in popularity over the past few years. These vehicles are very hard to regulate, and the local electric bike laws are not often enforced by the companies. Lawmakers aim to hold the app companies responsible for their delivery people.
- Licensing: Vehicle regulation is kind of the Wild West for delivery apps in New York City for the time being. Proposed bills would require the app companies to secure a city business operating license and verify that all employee mopeds are registered with the DMV. Registrations are not required for e-Bikes.
- Insurance: Under the proposed bill, app companies would be required to carry commercial liability insurance for their riders. Currently, this is not the case. This, in theory, would protect pedestrians and allow them financial recourse in the event of an accident.
- Pushback: Delivery worker coalitions voiced their displeasure with the laws being proposed, stating that aggressive enforcement of these laws punishes essential food delivery workers disproportionately.
Enforcement Questions & Rules
In a densely populated city with one of the largest populations in the world, it is tough to enforce electric bike laws. The police force and automation both have a hand in making sure that any laws that pass are followed.
- Data Transparency: Some of the bills under consideration would legally force the transportation department and the NYPD to disclose reporting on e-Bike traffic enforcement. They would also release accident data by device type.
- Ride-Share Rules: Citi Bike is one of the most recognizable micro-mobility networks in the world. If proposals go through, programs like Citi Bike would require their users to review and confirm that they understand the city’s rules of the road in the app before being able to unlock a bike.
- Police Criticism: The NYPD was criticized at the meeting, with many residents saying that they do not do their job when it comes to enforcing e-Bike laws. In fact, they stated that they handed out just two speeding tickets within 15 months.
E-Bike Registration Isn't On the Docket
For the time being, there is no requirement for a driver’s license or a registration to ride an e-Bike in New York City, a rule commonly known as Priscilla’s Law. This law is different for mopeds, but it is not always enforced strictly. Proposed legislation could change this, requiring e-Bikes to be registered and licensed, though it would surely receive heavy pushback. This would likely require state-level legislation rather than a city ordinance to pass. The governor will review any laws requiring vehicle registration if they pass both the House and the state legislature.
NYC E-Bike Rules: Where Things Stand
A lot can happen in seven hours, so there were obviously a ton of opinions, concerns, and feelings expressed through the hearing. After all of the bills were discussed, a few key pieces could be taken from the meeting:
- E-Bike Status: New York City could see a large shift in what is considered a bicycle and what is considered a motor vehicle. In fact, they might ban Class 3 e-Bikes altogether— in fact, NYC already has unique Class 3 rules, limiting it to 25 mph instead of the standard 28 mph speed. This would require electric bike users to register and license their e-Bike and give up any equipment they have that will become illegal.
- Corporate Accountability: The biggest legislative impact could hit the tech app industry. These apps have managed to go a long time without taking on the financial burden of street safety, insurance coverage, and vehicle registration for their delivery employees. It certainly seemed like many of the lawmakers were rallying behind this point, which seemed both actionable and likely popular among New Yorkers in general.
- Frustration: A lot of frustration was expressed from the community due to the lack of law enforcement on e-Bikes. NYPD officials stated that it is difficult to tell the legality of an e-Bike simply by looking at it. Frustration also came in the form of the absence of NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, who did not even provide written testimony.
Frequently Asked Questions
Were Class 3 e-Bikes banned in New York?
Why were delivery apps targeted?
Delivery app drivers are regularly pushing the limits of speed on the sidewalks, as the apps incentivize the fast deliveries possible, even when it can be unsafe. The companies do not provide insurance, vehicle registration, or licensing to these drivers, meaning that they do not allow financial recourse to people who are hurt by their drivers.
Why don’t police enforce e-Bike laws?
According to the NYPD, it is very hard to tell the legality of a particular bike simply by watching it go past. This has led to very little regulation on e-Bikes and very little enforcement of the laws that do exist.
Key Takeaways
- What a legal e-Bike is in New York City will change: Though no laws have gone through yet, it is safe to say that e-Bike legality will change in some capacity, whether it is a ban on Class 3 or simply registration laws.
- Laws need to be enforced to work: Even if NYC lays out a new set of laws, the NYPD needs to be given ways to identify when these laws are being broken so that they can actually be enforced.
- Find your next street-legal bike at Upway: Upway sells refurbished e-bikes at a discount. Talk to one of our experts to find out what is legal in your area and what we have to accommodate your needs.
