All over the world, the urban population is growing at an alarming pace. In several countries, this growth has concentrated most of the population in very large cities. This phenomenon occurs in developing and developed countries alike. In the United States, New York City (NYC) is one example of such megalopolises.
A megalopolis like NYC faces many challenges. One of the most complicated problems is urban transportation. Because of the size of the city, many New Yorkers spend a lot of time commuting to work, school, or other places. While public transportation can partly alleviate the problem, it has not been enough to tackle the problem in New York City.
In this scenario, micromobility solutions have emerged as effective alternatives to replace some of the two million cars existing in NYC. The said micromobility solutions refer to lightweight vehicles that are operated by just one person. Some examples of micromobility vehicles are electric scooters, electric bicycles, and mopeds.
Regulation Is Necessary
Micromobility vehicles can solve the last-mile problem in urban transportation. They can replace car trips in many situations. For commuters, it is much more comfortable and faster to go to work on an electric bike than to sit for a long time in the middle of a traffic jam. However, New York City still has a car-centric infrastructure. Therefore, regulation is mandatory to ensure the safe coexistence between micromobility vehicles and cars in urban areas.
Regulation is also needed to ensure the safety of the operators of micromobility vehicles and pedestrians. Fortunately, the authorities of the ‘Big Apple’ have already produced several laws that regulate the use of micromobility vehicles. Let’s review the legal requirements to ride micromobility ebike in NYC, emphasizing the use of electric bikes.
Legal Requirements to Ride Electric Scooters in New York City
To operate an electric scooter in NYC, you have to be at least 16 years old. Your vehicle should comply with the legal definition of an e-scooter in the state of New York: a vehicle with handlebars, a floorboard or seat, and an electric motor that provides motion power.
The maximum allowed speed for scooters in NYC is 15 mph. You should ride your e-scooter on roads and streets with a maximum speed limit of 30 mph. On roads with bike lanes, you should use those lanes to ride your e-scooter. The use of safety helmets is recommended. For riders younger than 18 years old, the use of a helmet is mandatory.
Legal Requirements to Ride Electric Bicycles in New York City
Electric bicycles are allowed in the streets of NYC. However, to ride legally, your e-bike should comply with the definition adopted by the state of New York: a bike not wider than 36” powered by an electric motor of a maximum of 750 Watts with fully functional pedals. Moreover, to simplify the regulation, the state of New York has adopted the following classification:
· Class 1. Electric bicycles with only pedal assistance and a maximum speed of 20 mph.
· Class 2. Electric bicycles with pedal assistance, a throttle, and a maximum speed of 20 mph.
· Class 3. Electric bicycles with pedal assistance, a throttle, and a maximum speed of 25 mph.
In New York City, you can ride any e-bike that belongs to one of the three classes above. However, you should be at least 16 years old to operate an e-bike in this city. The good news is that you don’t need a driver’s license. You don’t need to register your electric bike either.
You can ride your electric bike on roads and streets with a maximum speed limit of 30 mph. Also, you can ride your e-bike in any bicycle lane in the city. The use of a safety helmet to ride an e-bike is strongly recommended. It is mandatory for all e-bike riders under 18 years old. Delivery cyclists riding a Class 1 or Class 2 e-bike have to wear a helmet too. All riders operating a Class 3 e-bike have to wear a helmet. Insurance is not required by law if you ride an electric bike.
