NYC Wants To Make You License and Insure Your E-Bike, Sounds Like a Cash Grab

Do you think the City Council just wants a piece of the action?

Photo by: Divvy Bikes

By: Robbie Bacon

Dec 09, 2024 at 8:31am ET

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If you rely on an e-bike in any way—you ride one, your business employs people who ride them, your takeaways are delivered atop an e-bike—you might be about to get screwed by the NYC Council.

The NYC Council has proposed a bill that would require license plates and registration in the city for e-bikes and other electric micromobility vehicles. Although the bill hasn't passed the City Council yet, it very well might, as 30 lawmakers now back the bill. There'll be a hearing to advance the measure next week.

It's unknown how the process of registering the e-bikes with the DMV would go or how much it will cost, but there will certainly be a registration fee. But the financial burden of the new fee is likely to cost restauranteurs more than anyone else.

“Obviously, adding a registration fee is the city posing yet another financial burden on small businesses and workers,” said Andrew Rigie, executive director of the New York City Hospitality Alliance, before adding, “The city already has a long list of requirements for restaurants that directly employ cyclists,” added Rigie. “We don’t need to double up and make things more confusing.”

The reasoning behind the bill is safety or, more specifically, a way to monitor unsafe riding and fine riders for bad behavior.

The bill was introduced by Queens Councilman Robert Holden, who had this to say, “All you have to do is walk down any street in New York City, and especially in Manhattan, to see the problem... I dare say almost every New Yorker has been hit or had a close call. This bill is not going to solve everything, but it will start to address some of it.” But, is this just another cash grab from another city council?

I can't comment on e-bike usage specifically in NYC, but I can tell you what I see in general. I see an economy where people can't afford to buy, run, or maintain cars and e-bikes as a viable economic alternative. Moreover, some businesses are thriving thanks to e-bikes, and there are more jobs as a result. In terms of urban economies, e-bikes have been working wonders for the last few years, making them the perfect target to be slapped with a "registration fee".

If you live in NYC and want to submit written testimony against the bill, you can do so here. You can also testify virtually or go in person at the hearing on December 11, 2024.

Let us know in the comments if you think this bill should pass or if it's simply another cash grab.