Recent statistics show a concerning trend regarding e-bikes in New York City over the past few years, especially as Mayor Mamdani plans to relax police enforcement on reckless riders.
On March 27, the mayor announced the end of the city’s crackdown on e-bike operators, a decision that has faced criticism for potentially endangering both pedestrians and riders.
In 2025, four individuals lost their lives and at least 15 others were injured in incidents involving electric bikes and scooters, according to an NYPD spokesperson.
The city’s transportation department reported that there were 16 fatalities among e-bike users that year.
During 2024, police noted the death of two pedestrians and 78 injuries, while DOT records indicate that 17 riders were killed.
In 2023, two people died and 95 were injured due to motorized bicycles, making it the deadliest year for cyclists in the city since 1999—30 cyclists died, with 23 involving electric bikes.
The overall number of e-bike accidents rose by 21.5% from 330 in 2024 to 401 in 2025, based on data from City Councilman Frank Moreno’s office.
Despite these figures, the DOT maintains that e-bikes do not pose a significant risk to pedestrians.
A spokesperson from the Department for Transport emphasized that e-bikes account for a small percentage of pedestrian injuries each year, noting that in 2025, only 113 of the 9,088 total pedestrian injuries (about 1.2%) were due to e-bike collisions.
However, Janet Schroeder, co-founder and director of the NYC E-Vehicle Safety Alliance, argues that these numbers do not accurately reflect the prevailing issues.
“There are no exact statistics,” she expressed, pointing out that even law enforcement struggles with this data.
She mentioned the challenge of holding speeding riders accountable, as they aren’t required to have licenses or license plates.
NYCEVSA, representing 1,500 residents, is against Mayor Mamdani’s plan to remove civil penalties for minor traffic violations involving e-bike riders.
They report that 119 members of their group have been victims of negligent e-bike riders, with 113 incidents involving hit-and-runs.
In a statement on March 18, the mayor claimed his commitment to treating cyclists and e-bike users fairly on the roads.
Members of NYCEVSA responded, suggesting that true fairness would include requiring licenses, registration, visible plates, and insurance for e-bikes—none of which are currently mandated.
