Revolutionizing & Legalizing the Way You Travel Around NYC
E-bikes and e-scooters have been efficient methods of transportation for years. You may have used them yourself or know people who depend on these because they’re accessible, cheap and efficient. Not to mention, they reduce vehicle congestion on the roads. Millions of people across the nation utilized these environmentally friendly means to travel around cities quickly and safely, but that unfortunately came to a halt in New York City.
In 2017, NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio cracked down on e-bikes and e-scooters and used “common sense” as a way to justify his opposition to these transportation methods. He argued that people leave e-bikes and e-scooters on sidewalks, go the wrong way on the streets and go too fast. In order to enforce his disapproval, riders got their e-bikes confiscated and received tickets for using them.
Luckily, that all changed in April 2020. The NYC Council voted to legalize e-bikes and e-scooters.
Bill Criteria
Under the new bill, e-bikes and e-scooters can be used on city streets as long as they don’t violate the legalization criteria, which prohibits e-bikes from exceeding 25 miles per hour. Prior to this bill passing, cities were given the power to regulate e-bikes and e-scooters for local use rather than the state. These new regulations not only allow New Yorkers to travel more efficiently again, but they can allow people to have peace of mind knowing they won’t get ticketed for using e-bikes and e-scooters.
The following describes the different classes of e-bikes:
- Class one: Pedal-assist e-bikes that reach a maximum speed of 20 miles per hour. These bikes are currently legal in NYC.
- Class two: Throttle-powered e-bikes that reach a maximum speed of 20 miles per hour.
- Class three: Throttle-powered e-bikes that reach a maximum speed of 25 miles per hour. These bikes are permitted in cities with a population of one million people or more.
One of the recent bills passed by the NYC Council reduces the fines for violating the e-bike legalization criteria from $500 to $250, while enforcement for such criteria was revised to focus on riders who act dangerously or threaten the safety of others.
These changes can transform transportation and save people the hassle of getting tickets. No one should have to suffer legal penalties for saving time, money and pollution when they travel via e-bikes and e-scooters. Thankfully, our traffic ticket lawyers successfully handle hundreds of cases each week and can help you achieve a favorable result should you get a traffic ticket.
We invite you to learn about your legal options during a free consultation. Contact us at (877) 803-2603 today!