Mamdanis e-bike crackdown skips the ones already on NYC streets, critics call it impotent response

Mayor Zohran Mamdani would not commit to removing dangerous e-bikes from city streets or support legislation requiring the vehicles to be registered — even as he acknowledged the danger posed by the motorcycle-like machines.Instead, Mamdani announced at a City Hall press conference Wednesday that his administration had issued cease-and-desist orders to 42 online retailers illegally selling high-speed e-bikes and scooters in New York City, threatening $2,000 fines per illegal sale if the retailers don’t comply.“We cannot and will not accept these dangerous vehicles on our city streets.And yet, the companies that sell these vehicles continue to market them to New Yorkers who trust that the product they are purchasing is legal in the city that they call home,” Mamdani said.The announcement came a day after City Council Speaker Julie Menin unveiled a slate of legislation aimed at cracking down on lawless e-bikers, arguing the city’s existing laws aren’t being properly enforced.

Mamdani’s order targets future sales of three categories of illegal devices: stand-up scooters weighing over 100 pounds or capable of exceeding 20 miles per hour; e-bikes with motors bigger than 750 watts or able to hit speeds above 25 miles per hour; and seated mopeds lacking a valid vehicle identification number.But Mamdani demurred when asked whether he would direct his administration to go after vehicles that have already been sold.“For now, this is our focus,” he said.The cease-and-desist order requires retailers to comply by Aug.18. Mamdani said his administration would conduct ongoing inspections of both online retailers and brick-and-mortar stores to ensure compliance after that deadline.A Department of Transportation spokesperson could not say how many retailer inspections the agency had conducted this year since Mamdani took office, nor could the spokesperson clarify which agency is responsible for tracking those inspections.The mayor also declined to support legisl...