NYC Council Speaker Julie Menin backs away from e-bike registration despite pressure

City Council Speaker Julie Menin is backing away from a major pillar of her proposed e-bike crackdown — as new legislation will no longer require registration, which safety advocates say is key to holding out-of-control riders accountable.Menin is punting the issue to Albany rather than include it as part of her 17 bill legislative package of e-bike safety laws, marking a reversal from when she co-sponsored Priscilla’s Law, which would require such registration.The decision to to not register the bikes bunts the impact the legal effort to stop danger from the powered personal vehicles, said Councilman Holden who sponsored Priscilla’s law in 2024.“What the Council is doing is a halfhearted measure,” he said.

“They’re not beholden to the citizens of New York City.They get their marching orders from PACs.” Menin’s move comes as PACs funded by Uber and DoorDash dropped around $170,000 in independent expenditures supporting her reelection — and critics say that money from the powerful tech companies is what is stalling reform on the bike issue, as they don’t want to face more suits.

Menin flatly denied any influence and pointed out one of the measures she backs would strengthen licensing oversight across delivery platforms.Sal Albanese, a former councilman who now works with Make Voters the Donors, said money talks.“Legally, they’re probably not talking,” he said, “but it’s a wink and a nod.”Advocates say that requiring the powered bikes to be registered and carry license plates would allow an injured pedestrian to identify a delivery rider and file an insurance claim against them or their the delivery app.New York City’s TLC already licenses both the cars and the drivers for-hire vehicles, but Menin said she wants to follow New Jersey and have e-bikes register with the state DMV. Albany has shown little appetite for Priscilla’s Law.

State bills drew just six sponsors across both chambers in the last session. Sponsor Senator Jo...