“We cannot and will not accept these dangerous vehicles on our city streets,” said Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Wednesday during a news conference on illegal e-bike sales.
He said he won’t tolerate the sale of illegal e-bikes in the five boroughs. The mayor put companies on notice Wednesday, sending cease-and-desist letters to over 40 online retailers.
Currently, the speed limit for e-bikes is 15 mph. Local law forbids the sale or operation of e-scooters that exceed 20 mph and e-bikes that exceed 25 mph.
“The burden of whether or not the bike they buy is safe and legal should not fall on working New Yorkers who are simply looking for a quick and low-cost mode of transportation. It is the responsibility of the retailer to only sell vehicles permissible under New York law in our city,” Mamdani said.
Mamdani, alongside State Attorney General Letitia James and the city’s corporation counsel, Steve Banks, said companies like Amazon have two weeks to stop sales or face a fine of up to $2,000 per sale.
An Amazon spokesperson said in a statement to NY1: “Safety is a top priority and we require e-bikes sold in our store to meet applicable safety standards and Amazon policies. We are looking into the products in question and look forward to partnering with the Mayor and City Council.”
The enforcement action comes a week after a 17-year-old boy died in a collision with an SUV near City Hall. Gabriel Nacato, according to police sources, was riding an illegal e-bike.
“I am keeping these victims and their families and their loved ones in my thoughts and in my prayers. We are honoring their memory with action to ensure that no family has to lose a loved one,” said James.
“For a very large corporation, isn’t that much, but facing an injunction to comply with the law is enforcing the law and protecting New Yorkers,” said Banks.
Deliveristas Unidos, an advocacy group for delivery workers, applauded the move. Ligia Guallpa, co-founder of the campaign, said in a statement: “Delivery workers rely on e-bikes and mopeds to earn a living in one of the most exploitative — and dangerous — jobs in New York City. With little support from the app companies they work for, many are forced to navigate a confusing marketplace where illegal, unsafe vehicles are often the most accessible and affordable option. Improving street safety for all New Yorkers means ensuring those vehicles are never sold in the first place.”
The group noted that illegal e-bikes are not commonly used by delivery workers.
For Mamdani, he said the effort is about saving lives.
“We can still ensure that Gabriel’s legacy is one of saving the lives of others as we keep these vehicles off our streets in his name. That is the city we owe to every New Yorker, and that is the city we will deliver,” he said.
Along with the letters, Mamdani called on retailers to meet with the city’s transportation, law and police departments to come up with a plan to end the illegal sales.