Lawsuit Challenges Mayor’s E-Bike Policies
A new lawsuit was filed on Thursday, claiming that Mayor Zoran Mamdani’s approach to managing e-bike infractions has, in effect, “legalized” reckless riding, leading to increased illegal activity on the streets of the city.
The complaint, presented to the Richmond County Supreme Court by nine New Yorkers injured due to e-bikes, asserts that Mamdani’s directive from March improperly prevents officers from issuing criminal tickets to e-bike riders who ignore red lights, ride on sidewalks, or go against traffic on one-way streets.
“The absence of real safety policies seems, frankly, like a random decision and an alarming breach of public trust,” the lawsuit reads.
Mamdani’s order restricts police from issuing civil tickets to unlicensed e-bike riders, allowing them to disregard regulations without the risk of arrest or losing their licenses.
The lawsuit criticizes these changes, stating they essentially “legalize” unsafe cycling practices and create hazardous situations for elderly and disabled New Yorkers who cannot easily evade electric bikes speeding at 25 mph.
The plaintiffs claim they were hurt by irresponsible e-bike riders.
Plaintiff Bonnie Gerrard, who is 83 years old, reports that she was standing on an Upper East Side sidewalk when an e-bike mounted the curb and hit her, resulting in a concussion, a fractured kneecap, and leg injuries that continue to affect her mobility.
Another plaintiff, Harvey Goldberg, 75, was riding a Citi Bike when he was struck by an e-bike on Second Avenue, leading him to lose consciousness and break his collarbone. He has faced a long recovery, affecting his ability to work as a doctor due to the impact on his arm.
Roberta Simon recounted being knocked unconscious by an e-bike while walking in a designated pedestrian lane in Central Park, suffering multiple rib fractures and requiring brain surgery. She spent several days in a coma, and now deals with ongoing dizziness and headaches.
The lawsuit seeks a change in policy, requesting a judge to nullify Mamdani’s directive and restore the previous regulations put in place by former Mayor Eric Adams. The plaintiffs contend that proper enforcement had led to a decrease in e-bike-related collisions and fatalities by about 30%.
They reference data from New York University Langone, indicating that e-bike and scooter incidents make up 7% of all trauma hospitalizations, with brain injuries among pedestrians hit by e-bikes occurring at nearly double the rate compared to cyclists.
