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Council updates commercial bicycle safety rules to include e‑bikes, battery safety and stronger penalties
Summary
The council advanced Intro 20a to expand commercial bicycle safety requirements to powered bicycles, add lithium battery safety to training, and create stronger penalties, while clarifying coverage of app‑based delivery workers under section 10‑157 of the administrative code. The bill was adopted with a 39–7 vote on general orders.
The City Council advanced legislation to tighten safety requirements for commercial bicycle deliveries and to clarify enforcement for third‑party delivery services.
Intro 20a, sponsored by Council Member Gail Brewer, updates New York City Administrative Code section 10‑157 to explicitly cover powered bicycles (e‑bikes), add lithium‑ion battery and charging safety to the commercial bicycling safety course administered by the Department of Transportation, and strengthen penalties for repeat violations. The bill also narrows existing language that had allowed the police department access to delivery workers’ personal information by requiring DOT control over records.
Brewer said the bill “builds on the council's efforts to advance a sustainable delivery sector and address concerns related to delivery app services and workers.” The measure aims to ensure app‑based delivery services provide safety equipment and training and would allow license suspension or revocation for firms that fail to supply equipment or identification.
On the general orders roll call, Intro 20a passed by a recorded vote of 39 in the affirmative and 7 in the negative (0 abstentions). Several council members who voted no cited concerns about enforcement capacity and impacts on small businesses; supporters said the bill is necessary to protect pedestrians, cyclists and delivery workers as e‑bikes become more common.
The bill requires DOT to incorporate powered bicycle operation and battery safety into its commercial cyclist safety course and establishes enforcement mechanisms. Sponsors thanked Department of Transportation staff and advocacy groups, including Transportation Alternatives and the Workers Justice Project, for input during drafting. The transcript records that the bill was amended in committee and coupled on general orders prior to passage.
Implementation steps, including rulemaking timelines and enforcement protocols, were not specified in the stated meeting record. The measure was reported out of committee amended and moved to general orders; the transcript shows the vote on adoption during the general orders calendar.
