Speed demons, beware — the city that never sleeps is about to become the city that never speeds.
Starting Friday, Oct. 24, a new 15 miles-per-hour speed limit will come into effect for Big Apple e-bike riders on all streets across the five boroughs, as well as on pathways inside of parks operated by the city.
But NYC officials may have their work cut out for them: a Post investigation — with a radar gun literally in hand — found that many riders on various makes and models are roaring along at nearly double that.
The Post took a radar gun out to Sixth Avenue in Midtown Manhattan, where some riders roared along at 23 m.p.h. Brian Zak/NY Post
The new rule is meant to slow down speedy cyclists, including delivery riders rushing to drop off food orders, causing chaos for drivers and pedestrians.
Mayor Eric Adams’ office has directed that the new maximum speed for e-bikes, e-scooters and pedal-assist commercial bicycles — including popular Citi Bike rentals, which previously had an 18 m.p.h. limit. However, during a recent weekday lunch rush, The Post took a radar gun out to Sixth Avenue in Midtown Manhattan, clocking some riders zipping about at 23 m.p.h., weaving dangerously between cars and pedestrians.
One anonymous delivery rider, who uses an e-bike for food drop-offs, slammed the impending speed limit, saying 15 m.p.h. is “too slow,” while a pedestrian sided with their need for speed.
“You know why they go fast, right?” the stroller asked The Post. “The more orders they drop off, the more money they make.”
The brazen biker revealed that his e-vehicle has a pedal-assist speed of 25 m.p.h., but claimed he could go even faster if he pedaled more vigorously — even admitting he won’t abide by the new rule.
Delivery drivers zoom around at speeds surpassing even 20 m.p.h. in order to drop off as many meals as possible. Stefano Giovannini
Currently, it appears e-bike riders have a free-for-all when it comes to riding wherever they want at whatever speed they see fit.
The Post also ventured over to the Hudson River Greenway on the west side of Manhattan. The greenway is a state path, and the new 15 m.p.h. rule won’t apply to that popular thoroughfare because e-bikes are already banned.
But numerous fast-moving e-riders were clocked on the road, some speeding at 23 m.p.h. there, too, flagrantly ignoring large signs saying their presence is prohibited.
E-bikes have exploded in popularity in recent years. Pedestrians are peeved by the high speeds the bikes reach, making them yet another potential hazard on busy city streets. Stefano Giovannini
While some are clearly not happy about the new speed limit, others seem to be in favor of it.
An anonymous e-scooter rider who stopped to talk with The Post praised the rule, saying, “I like it. Any faster [than 15 m.p.h.], and it’s really hard to react to potholes, pedestrians, [and] cars.”
He admitted he had previously been embroiled in a collision on his e-scooter, hit by “a small bus” as he moved along a city street.
“I was knocked to the ground,” he recalled. “I thought I was done.”
One rider rode past at 22 mph on the Hudson River Greenway. E-bike riders are already prohibited on the path, but seemingly pay no mind to the rules. Stefano Giovannini
It remains unclear how well the 15 m.p.h. rule can be enforced, given that riders don’t need registration.
“As New Yorkers adjust to this new law, our focus will be on education first and enforcement second — this includes installing new signage in key cycling corridors and issuing warnings to first-time offenders,” Mayor Adams said in a statement to The Post. “This isn’t about criminalization; it’s about creating safer, fairer conditions for all New Yorkers.”
The New York Police Department does plan to issue warnings to cyclists when they exceed the speed limit, though it would be a secondary notice when they witness other violations. Regardless, it is unclear how violators would be clocked.
Both the New York Police Department and the city Department of Transportation will be doing outreach to e-bike riders, including messaging on LinkNYC kiosks and push notifications via NotifyNYC. The DOT is also installing signage designating the new limit along cycling corridors.
Queens Councilmember Bob Holden doesn’t seem to have much faith in the new speed check, previously saying: “These riders have been ignoring traffic laws for years, and without license plates and real enforcement, the danger will only grow.”
One nonchalant rider agreed: “I don’t know how you’re going to enforce that. We’re in New York, people do what they want.”
According to the city DOT, e-bike fatalities declined in the first half of this year compared to that same time period in 2024 (six fatalities vs. nine fatalities). However, collisions are up over 11% from last year, per the NYPD’s TrafficStat report.
On the Hudson River Greenway, brazen riders were clocked speeding along at up to 23 m.p.h., flagrantly ignoring large signs saying their presence is prohibited. Stefano Giovannini
Some e-bike riders argue that it’s not the speed, but rather pedestrians, that are contributing to the spike in crashes.
“They’re always head down on their phones, distracted,” one biker told The Post. “They step out onto the street without even looking.”