New York has decided to impose a new speed limit for e-bikes, lowering it from 40 km/h to just 24 km/h. It was the idea of Mayor Eric Adams, and the goal is to improve road safety (because people who ride e-bikes only have one life). And the criticism came quickly!
For sustainable transport experts, this decision is not only counterproductive, but it could also put more lives at risk than it would save… The new rule not only affects couriers and regular cyclists in the city, but it could also increase conflicts between bicycles and motor vehicles in the middle of the road!
In fact, the city’s former Director of Transportation claims that lowering the speed of these vehicles will not reduce the number of accidents, and might even increase them! The debate goes far beyond numbers: there is a social and political dimension that is not being considered.
What does this new limit really mean?
Until now, electric bicycles could travel at 40 km/h (25 mph), a speed that allowed them to keep up with general traffic on many New York streets.
With the new regulation, that limit drops to 24 km/h (15 mph), creating a notable gap with the usual flow of cars and SUVs which, although legally limited to 40 km/h, often travel at 56 km/h (35 mph) without being detected by traffic cameras.
A change that puts cyclists in danger
Michael Replogle, former Director of Policy at the NYC Department of Transportation, explained that it is much safer for a cyclist to go at the speed of traffic than at half that speed.
The reason is easy to understand: the greater the speed difference between a cyclist and cars, the higher the risk of collision when being overtaken. This gap creates constant danger for people traveling on e-bikes.
Replogle added that this measure is a populist move without technical basis, which does not improve safety and might even be used as an excuse to criminalize delivery workers, who are mostly migrants. “It’s a war against bikes. It’s a war against immigrants,” he said.
Direct impact on essential workers
New York depends every day on thousands of bike couriers, most of them migrant people, who deliver food and packages in record time to earn a bit of money. By limiting their speed, their work slows down and the risk of fines increases, or worse, arrests under stricter immigration rules!
Most accidents with victims are not caused by bicycles, but by cars! But the media and political pressure seem to have focused on the rise of e-bikes, fueled by complaints from residents bothered by their speed on sidewalks and in parks.
Safety measure or smokescreen?
Experts accuse the Adams administration of giving in to social pressure without real technical analysis. They said that if they really wanted to protect lives, they would limit cars to 15 mph, not bicycles, easy. But they are targeting the least dangerous mode of transport while ignoring the real cause of serious accidents, it is ridiculous…
Which could be the better option?
Instead of penalizing cyclists or bikers, experts propose investing in safe bike infrastructure, traffic education, and regulations that actually reduce danger: lower car speeds, not bike speeds! Isn’t it that difficult, don’t you think?
What do people think about it?
Public opinion is divided, as always. Some users on internet argue that fast e-bikes are a real danger in shared spaces (especially where pedestrians are involved). But others believe agree with the idea that the real danger comes from cars, not bikes
It seemed like a well-intentioned decision… but it’s complete the opposite. Ineffective, problematic and risky for workers… Far from protecting citizens, it could cause the opposite effect: more accidents, less mobility, and more inequality.
