“Hold the Apps Accountable” — Community Board Urges Crackdown on Dangerous E-Bike Behavior

Manhattan Community Board 4 is demanding sweeping changes to how the city regulates e-bikes — and placing the blame for dangerous conditions in bike lanes and on sidewalks squarely on delivery apps, not riders. The board wants app companies like Uber Eats and DoorDash held accountable for training, compliance and safety enforcement.

Delivery worker on e-bike on 9th Ave
A delivery worker on an e-bike in the 9th Avenue bike lane. Photo: Catie Savage

Their proposal calls for a more targeted, two-tier system that separates slow pedal-assist bikes from faster, throttle-powered mopeds. The goal is to keep lower-speed bikes in protected lanes while pushing high-speed models onto the road — and off sidewalks. The board also wants incentives for safer riding and realistic delivery windows built into app platforms.

The recommendations originate from a letter sent to the NYC Department of Transportation, which was written by MCB4’s Transportation Planning Committee and approved by the full board on Wednesday evening. “Too many people are getting hurt and/or are scared to walk while the apps and their venture capital supporters profit excessively,” the board wrote, urging lawmakers to act quickly.

A crossing guard stationed at the Hudson River Greenway near the Intrepid as a pedal-assist CitiBike rides by. Photo: Catie Savage

Instead of requiring every cyclist to register or license their bike — an approach the board called costly, ineffective, and a deterrent to climate-friendly transportation — MCB4 proposes:

  • Class 1 bikes (under 15mph, pedal-assist only): No registration or helmet required; allowed in bike lanes.
  • Mopeds and faster e-bikes (over 15mph): Treated like motor vehicles — requiring registration, helmets, and road use only.
Inside the JoCo delivery hub on W36th Street and Dyer Avenue. Photo: Phil O’Brien

But the heart of the board’s proposal is a push for corporate accountability. MCB4 says delivery apps must be licensed by the city, track and share safety data, offer training, and even fund their own ID scheme for riders — especially since many couriers work for multiple platforms. Incentives for safe riding, like prioritized orders, would replace pressure to deliver quickly at all costs.

“This must not wait any longer,” the letter concludes. “The city should adopt the regulatory framework described here that will also deliver increased pedestrian safety.”

MCB4 praised the city’s upcoming Department of Sustainable Delivery, which was funded in the FY26 budget, and urged it to take a lead in shaping this fast-growing industry.



Source link

Visited 1 times, 1 visit(s) today

Related Article

Stellantis’s Hydrogen Retreat Signals a Market Reality That While It May Be Better Than Plug-In EV Tech It Was Simply Too Late To The Party

Follow us today…       In a move that sent ripples through the automotive world, global auto giant Stellantis announced it was discontinuing its hydrogen fuel-cell development program. The decision halts the planned rollout of several hydrogen-powered commercial vans and marks a significant retreat from a technology once heralded as a key pillar of

Every legal question about the Tea dating app drama, answered

Facebook Tweet Email Link Tea Dating Advice is an app that has quietly existed since 2023 — but it rocketed to the top of Apple’s app store this week after getting a ton of attention on social media. Since the start of the week, the app maker says, something like a million new users have

Apple dodges new Dutch ruling on dating app fees (for now)

In June, a Dutch court upheld a prior antitrust ruling against Apple, in a case involving dating apps and the App Store commission. Today, the case was put on pause, as the country’s watchdog awaits the outcome of Apple’s DMA negotiations with the European Commission. A bit of context This case was originally brought by

India bans streaming apps you’ve never heard of — but millions watch

India has ordered the blocking of 25 streaming services — many with millions of viewers and even paying subscribers — for allegedly promoting “obscene” content, in one of the South Asian nation’s biggest digital crackdowns yet. The order affects lesser-known, but wildly popular services like Ullu and ALTT that cater to the country’s mass-market appetite for

Bullhead City Schools Cellphone, Backpack Policy Reminder

Open Audio Article Player By Bullhead City School District Text to speech audio articles made possible by CAST11 Talking Glass Media With the start of its new school year just days away, the Bullhead City School District has reminded families of updated policies limiting students’ cellphones, personal electronic devices, and backpacks. The policies are in

Women-only ‘Tea’ app could actually make dating harder, expert says

Women across social media are buzzing about Tea, an anonymous dating-safety app where they ‘spill tea’ — typically gossip, secrets and juicy information — on the men they’re dating. But the app has gone viral for all the wrong reasons. Tea was founded in November 2022 by software engineer Sean Cook to help women feel

Hey Google, What’s Even the Point of the Pixel 10 Pro?

In 2024, Google launched four flagship phones for the very first time.  The regular Pixel 9 was joined by the Pixel 9 Pro, new Pixel 9 Pro XL and a rebranded foldable in the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, and there was a clear reason to buy each one.  At £799/$799, the standard Pixel 9 was

Why Sue Storm is my Favourite MCU Character By Far

When the Fantastic Four’s introduction to the MCU was first announced, I’ll admit that I was sceptical. After all, the 2005 film wasn’t anything to write home about, and the less said about the 2015 movie, the better. A pattern had emerged where every decade, we seemed to get a new Fantastic Four reboot. At