A group of New Yorkers, who were injured in an incident involving a reckless e-bike, plans to initiate a lawsuit against Mayor Zoran Mamdani’s administration. They are accusing him of neglecting a growing risk to pedestrians.
This legal case, set to be filed on Thursday, centers around an executive order issued in March that halts enforcement of minor e-bike infractions. Detractors argue that this has effectively turned city streets into chaotic free-for-alls where both pedestrians and cyclists are at risk.
“No mayor can simply ignore laws enacted by the City Council and State Legislature intended to protect New Yorkers. What this order does is transform our sidewalks and crosswalks into lawless zones,” stated Jim Walden, president of New York City Common Sense, who is collaborating on the lawsuit with victims of the accident and City Councilman Frank Morano (R-Island).
The lawsuit emerges as residents of the Upper West Side express concerns that Transportation Alternatives—a prominent pro-cycling and anti-car nonprofit supported by major delivery companies—has been disregarding local sentiments and prioritizing the interests of large corporations like Amazon over community safety.
Board member Jay Adolph criticized the decision, claiming that the board favored transportation interests over community concerns, especially since supporters filled seats early at the meeting.
“It’s our responsibility to look out for our community, which is largely against this plan,” he remarked before voting against the proposal.
A petition supporting the redesign gathered around 80 signatures, whereas about 60 signatures opposed it.
Adolph pointed out that many supporters were wearing T-shirts with ‘Families for Safe Streets,’ a group closely tied to Transportation Alternatives.
Transportation Alternatives receives substantial funding from delivery giants such as Amazon, Uber, and UPS, benefitting from expedited e-bike deliveries.
Janet Schroeder, a Community Board 7 resident and leader of the E-Vehicle Safety Alliance, claims that Transportation Alternatives mobilized supporters through mass emails to fill the rally.
While Transportation Alternatives rejects any wrongdoing, the conflict over 72nd Street highlights rising concerns regarding unsafe e-bike operations and a lack of regulation, with pedestrians feeling endangered as delivery services expand throughout the city.
Opponents argue that traditional bicycles aren’t the issue; rather, the increased number of high-speed electric vehicles is driving up injury rates. This is despite data showing only about 10% of New Yorkers regularly use bikes.
A recent study from NYU Langone revealed that “micromobility” crashes, including e-bike incidents, surged from less than 10% of total bicycle trauma cases in 2018 to over half by 2023. These incidents now contribute to nearly 7% of all trauma admissions.
A significant portion of those injured, especially pedestrians hurt by e-bikes, suffered traumatic brain injuries at nearly double the rate of cyclists.
Pamela Manasse, an advocate for stricter e-bike regulations, shared her own traumatic experience after being paralyzed on one side due to a collision. She mentioned that even protected lanes won’t safeguard pedestrians from those who speed or go against traffic.
In spite of increasing injuries, the Mamdani administration is enhancing cycling infrastructure for faster e-bike traffic. The mayor appointed former Transportation Alternatives officials to his team and announced plans to widen bike lanes, claiming this would benefit faster riders.
Critics argue these expanded lanes serve as high-speed routes for delivery services, further endangering pedestrians who must navigate additional lanes for crossing.
Julie Harvey, who was struck by a cyclist last month, voiced her fears, stating, “People are running for their lives just to cross the street.”
Meanwhile, Transportation Alternatives is striving to prevent further e-bike regulations. They led a campaign against Priscilla’s Law, which would mandate licensing for e-bikes, asserting it would harm delivery workers.
Financial records indicate that funding for Transportation Alternatives greatly increased following the introduction of the bill, thanks to six-figure contributions from Amazon and Uber, along with donations from Lyft and others.
Critics claim these trends undermine the organization’s reputation as a grassroots safety advocate.
Local sentiment reflects growing frustration, with community members like Janet Schroeder urging for accountability from e-bike riders following accidents.
The Mamdani administration is set to reveal more extensive plans for a 16-mile “bicycle boulevard” in central Brooklyn, which many view with skepticism.
As e-bikes proliferate in areas like Bergen Street, residents like Sandy Ryburn fear for their safety, labeling the narrative around bike safety as misleading: “It’s like a fabricated, malicious propaganda mission. The taxpayers pay for roads benefiting these companies,” she remarked.
“That’s just double-talking nonsense,” the 81-year-old added.
