“Many of us agree they shouldn’t be on the street, yet they are,” Williams said. “So we have to find ways to make the laws that exist a little bit more enforceable and create laws that don’t exist.”
What Can NYC Learn From California?
California Attorney General Rob Bonta, along with several district attorneys, issued a statewide warning reminding manufacturers, retailers and parents that some vehicles sold as e-bikes do not meet the legal definition of an electric bicycle.
Under California law, vehicles with pedal assistance above 28 mph, throttle assistance above 20 mph, motors above 750 watts or no operable pedals may be classified as mopeds or motorcycles instead of e-bikes.
Those vehicles may require registration, insurance and a motorcycle license.
“Sometimes, what looks like an e-bike or is marketed as an e-bike is not a bike at all,” Bonta wrote. “We are seeing a surge of safety incidents on our sidewalks, parks, and streets.”